IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN THURSDAY, THE 9TH JUNE 2011 / 19TH JYAISHTA 1933 WP(C).No. 14000 of 2011(Y) --------------------- PETITIONER : -------------------- A.MANAF, KODIVILA VEEDU, NJAVELIKONAM, KILIMANOOR, THIRUVANANATHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.AJITH KRISHNAN RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- 1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY VIDHYUTHI BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 004. 2. DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER, ELECTRICAL CIRCLE (URBAN) POWER HOUSE BUILDING, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 036. 3. ASSISTANT ENGINEER KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD KILIMANOOR - 695 601, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 TO R3 BY ADV. SRI. P.P. THAJUDHEEN, SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/06/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 14000 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 9th day of June, 2011 J U D G M E N T Th petitioner a consumer of electrical energy has filed this writ petition challenging Ext.P1 final order of assessment, Ext.P2 demand notice and Ext.P7 letter whereby he was called upon to deposit the amount demanded in Ext.P2. The main contention raised by the petitioner is that though an appeal was filed challenging Ext.P1 and it was dismissed, a copy of the appellate order has not so far been served on him as a result of which he is disabled from canvassing the correctness of the appellate order. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that in such circumstances till such time as the appellate order is served on him, disconnection of electricity supply may be kept in abeyance. 2. Sri.P.P.Thajudeen learned standing counsel appearing for the Kerala State Electricity Board submitted on instructions that after the appellate order was passed on 28.4.2011, a copy thereof was sent to the petitioner through courier on 10.5.2011 and that the courier service provider informed the Assistant Engineer that notwithstanding repeated requests the petitioner refused to take WPC No.14000/2011 2 delivery of the letter. The learned standing counsel submitted that such being the situation, there is no merit in the contention raised by the petitioner. The learned standing counsel also furnished a copy of the appellate order to the petitioner, who received the same. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner thereupon prayed for permission to withdraw the writ petition reserving liberty with the petitioner to challenge the appellate order and to keep the demand in abeyance for a short time to move the appellate authority for interim orders. In such circumstances, in order to enable the petitioner to challenge the appellate order, a copy of which has now been served on his counsel, I direct that for a period of one week from today, the electricity supply to the petitioner's residential building shall not be disconnected for non-payment of Ext.P2 bill. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps