IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC THURSDAY, THE 25TH AUGUST 2011 / 3RD BHADRA 1933 WP(C).No. 23137 of 2011(N) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- MAHESH ANANDAKUTTAN,ADVOCATE, S/O.ADV.M.R.ANANDAKUTTAN,41/1209,LUCIYA HOUSE, ARANGATH CROSS ROAD,NEAR PULLEPPADY,RAILWAY GATE, ERNAKULAM. BY ADV. SMT.M.A.ZOHRA RESPONDENT(S): --------------- KERALA WATER AUTHORITY,WATER WORKS SUB DIVISION,PALLIMUKKU,KOCHI-16,REPRESENTED BY THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER,WATER WORKS SUB DIVISION,KERALA WATER AUTHORITY,KOCHI-16. STANDING COUNSEL FOR KWA M.DINESH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25/08/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).No. 23137 of 2011(N) 2 PETITIONERS EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 : TRUE COPIES OF BILLS FOR RS.229/- AS ON 13.7.2010, RS.165/- AS ON 13.9.2010, RS.75/- ON 7.1.2011 AND RS.27/- ON 9.3.2011 EXT.P2 : TRUE COPY OF BILL DATED 17.05.2011 FOR RS.18605/- EXT.P3 : TRUE COPY OF BILL DATED 14.07.2011 FOR RS.30,309/- EXT.P4 : TRUE COPY OF COMPLAINT DATED 7.6.2011 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE RESPONDENT. EXT.P5 : TRUE COPY OF BILL DATED 14.7.2011 FOR RS.14,197/- RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS: NIL //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE pm ANTONY DOMINIC, J ----------------------------------------- W.P(C) No. 23137 of 2011 ------------------------------------------ Dated this the 25th day of August, 2011. JUDGMENT Petitioner is a consumer of the respondent. Aggrieved by Exhibits P1 to P3 bills, he filed Exhibit P5 representation, to which there was no response. It is in these circumstances, this writ petition is filed. 2. I heard learned counsel for the petitioner and also the learned standing counsel for the respondents. 3. Admittedly the dispute in question is in relation to the bills issued by the respondent. For resolution of such disputes, regulation for the respondents itself provide that the aggrieved consumers can file appeal before the Executive Engineer of the Board. Therefore, I see no reason to entertain the writ petition. Writ petition is therefore disposed of, directing that it will be open to the petitioner to file appeal against the bills within a period of four weeks from today. 4. The total amount demanded is Rs.14,197/- and the petitioner has already paid Rs.3,000/-. Therefore, I direct that if the petitioner pays a further amount of Rs.4,000/-, coercive W.P(C) No. 23137 of 2011 2 action will not be initiated and appeal will be entertained and the grievance considered on merits. It is also directed that if the appeal is filed, the appellate authority shall dispose of the matter within one month thereafter. The writ petition is disposed of. sd/- ANTONY DOMINIC JUDGE rkc //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE