IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.11471 of 2010 PANKAJ KUMAR NIRALA S/O SHRI GANESH PRASAD MAHTO R/O P.O.- MURLIGANJ, OLD POST OFFICE ROAD, HAT BAZAR, DISTT.- MADHEPURA- 852122 (BIHAR). … PETITIONER. VERSUS 1. THE BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VIDYUT BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, PATNA REPRESENTED THROUGH ITS CHAIRMAN, THE BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VIDYUT BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, PATNA. 2. THE CHAIRMAN, THE BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VIDYUT BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, PATNA. 3. THE CHIEF ENGINEER (COMMERCIAL), BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VIDYUT BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, PATNA. 4. THE GENERAL MANAGER-CUM-CHIEF ENGINEER, KOSHI ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AREA, SAHARSA. 5. THE ELECTRICAL SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, ELECTRIC SUPPLY CIRCLE, SAHARSA. 6. THE ELECTRICAL EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, MADHEPURA. 7. THE ASSISTANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, ELECTRIC SUPPLY CIRCLE, SAHARSA. …….RESPONDENTS. ----------- For the petitioner : Mr. Shri Prakash Srivastava, Advocate. For the respondents-Board: Mr. Prakash Kumar, Advocate. -------- 05/ 02.11.2010 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents-Bihar State Electricity Board and its authorities. The reliefs claimed by the petitioner in this writ petition is two fold. Firstly, he challenges the electricity bill dated 03.02.2009 (Annexure-5) by which an amount of Rs.9,82,593.00 was sought to be paid by him. Secondly, he challenges the bill dated 08.03.2010 (Annexure-6/A) by which the Board had demanded Rs.33,91,981.00. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he may - 2 - be permitted to deposit the amount of electricity bill dated 03.02.2009 (Annexure-5) in three equal monthly instalments amounting to Rs.3, 27, 476.00 each. He also submits that with regard to bill dated 08.03.2010 (Annexure-6/A) for an amount of Rs.33, 91, 981.00 he may be permitted to challenge before the appropriate authority as per the concerned provisions of law. In the said circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to deposit the amount of bill dated 03.02.2009 (Annexure-5) as per three equal monthly instalment fixed above. The petitioner is also at liberty to challenge the electricity bill dated 08.03.2010 (Annexure-6/A) amounting to Rs.33, 91, 981.00 before the appropriate authority within one month. The respondents will be at liberty to contest the said case filed by the petitioner and produce relevant materials. If such a case is instituted within one month from today, the authority concerned shall decide it on merits in accordance with law within six months. The question of an interim order for reconnection of the electricity to the petitioner premises shall be considered by the authority before whom the aforesaid case is going to be instituted after depositing the first instalment. Sunil (S. N. Hussain, J.)