IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN THURSDAY, THE 6TH JANUARY 2011 / 16TH POUSHA 1932 WP(C).No. 34914 of 2010(L) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- PAUL JOSEPH, AGED 23 YEARS, S/O.V.G.JOSEPH, VALIYAPARAMBIL HOUSE, PULICKAPPILLY, N.K.S.ROAD, PACHALAM, KOCHI-12. BY ADV. SRI.RAJESH VIJAYAN SMT.M.REMA MENON RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VAIDYUDI BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, VADUTHALA SECTION OF THE KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VADUTHALA, ERNAKULAM. *ADDL.R3 IMPLEADED: THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, ELECTRICAL SUB DIVISION, CENTRAL, ERNAKULAM IS IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 2.12.2010 IN IA 16791/10. BY SRI.P.P.THAJUDEEN, SC, KSEB THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 06/01/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. ----------------------------------------- W.P(C).No.34914 of 2010 ----------------------------------------- Dated this the 6th day of January, 2011 JUDGMENT The petitioner is a consumer of electrical energy. He had obtained the electricity connection for domestic purposes. Later he leased out the building to a company engaged in providing dredging services. Thereupon the tariff was changed from LT-I-A category to LT-VII-A category. It is stated that the tenant vacated the building in February 2010 and thereafter it was leased out to one Elizabeth John for use as a residence. The petitioner submits that though he had submitted Ext.P6 request to the second respondent for changing the tariff from LT-VII-A to LT-I-A, till date orders have not been passed on the said request. In this writ petition the petitioner seeks a direction to the second respondent to change the tariff in respect of the electricity connection given to his building from LT-VII-A to LT-I-A category. 2. When the writ petition came up for hearing today Sri.P.P.Thajudeen, learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents, submitted on instructions that the additional 3rd W.P(C).No.34914 of 2010 -:2:- respondent is the competent authority to effect change of tariff and that till date the petitioner has not submitted any application to the said authority or paid the prescribed fee. The learned standing counsel further submitted that in the event of the petitioner submitting a proper application to the 3rd respondent and remitting the prescribed fee the 3rd respondent will conduct an inspection or cause an inspection to be conducted and take a decision on the petitioner's application for change of tariff. In the light of the said submission I dispose of the writ petition with the direction that in the event of the petitioner submitting a proper application before the 3rd respondent and paying the fee, if any prescribed, the 3rd respondent shall take an appropriate decision on the said application expeditiously and in any event within one month from the date of receipt of the application after causing an inspection to be made or after inspecting the premises himself. P.N.RAVINDRAN, Judge. ahg. P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P(C).No.34914 of 2010 ---------------------------- JUDGMENT 6th January, 2011