IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.13237 of 2010 Date of Decision : July 29, 2010. Harbans Kaur and another .....Petitioners versus State of Punjab and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.N.K.Singla, Advocate, for the petitioners. -.- 1. Whether Reporters of Local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? --- Surya Kant, J. (Oral) In this civil writ petition, the petitioners seek quashing of the memos dated 1.10.2007 and 24.7.2007 and the appellate order dated 27.5.2010 (Annexures P-2, P-3 & P-4 respectively). The memos dated 1.10.2007 and 24.7.2007 pertain to the demand of Rs.71,602/- raised by the Assistant Execution Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, Talwandi Sabo Sub Division, alleging that on a raid conducted in respect of the electric connection No.TC92-128 installed in the premises owned by petitioner No.1 and let out to petitioner No.2-Organization, it was found that the consumer had completely stopped the electric meter by inserting the outgoing wire in the incoming thereby committing theft of electric energy. The raid was conducted by Mr.Gulab Singh, Junior Engineer, who C.W.P.No .13237 of 2010 2 prepared the report on 20.9.2007 (Ex.D-1), pursuant to which the impugned demand was raised against the petitioners. The petitioners preferred an appeal against the above stated demand but their appeal has also been dismissed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Talwandi Sabo vide the impugned order dated 27.5.2010 (Annexure P-4). It is urged on behalf of the petitioners that the only evidence led against them is the report (Ex.D-7) submitted by Mr.Gulab Singh, Junior Engineer, but said Gulab Singh has contradicted himself while deposing before the authorities. Reference is made to the affidavit dated 13.1.2010 tendered by Gulab Singh in his examination-in-chief (Annexure P-9) and his cross-examination reproduced in the writ petition, to contend that actually the meter was not checked in the presence of any one and that the Junior Engineer failed to obtain the signatures of any one even when a Chowkidar and one more person were sitting in the office of petitioner No.2 at the time of the alleged checking. I have gone through the contents of the affidavit of Mr.Gulab Singh, Junior Engineer as well as his cross-examination. In my considered view, there is no contradiction at all and at the best it is a case of minor discrepancies. Similarly, the plea that the meter was not sent to laboratory for its checking is not tenable for the reason that it was not a case of slowing down of the meter which might require laboratory test. As per the Junior Engineer, the petitioners have completely stopped the meter by inserting outgoing wire in the incoming. C.W.P.No .13237 of 2010 3 There is not a whisper as to why Mr.Gulab Singh, Junior Engineer would submit a false report against the petitioners without an actual surprise check by him. Be that as it may, having regard to the scope of interference in exercise of writ jurisdiction of this Court, I do not find any merit in this writ petition. Dismissed. July 29, 2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE