IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR MONDAY, THE 31ST MARCH 2008 / 11TH CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 10153 of 2008(H) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ DR. A.K.VASANTHA, RETIRED CIVIL SURGEON 'VASANTHAM', CHETTAMKUNNU ROAD, THALASSERY. BY ADV. SRI.R.PARTHASARATHY RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER KERALA WATER AUTHORITY, P.H. SUB DIVISION THALASSERY. 2. THE SUPERINTENDENT, GENERAL HOSPITAL THALASSERY. 3. THE TAHSILDAR (REVENUE RECOVERY) THALASSERY. BY SC. SMT. AMBIKA DEVI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31/03/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: C.N. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. -------------------------------------------- W.P.C. NO.10153 OF 200 -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 31st day of March, 2008 JUDGMENT The Kerala Water Authority gave a private water connection to the petitioner in her official residence which is attached to the Government Hospital, Thalassery. Petitioner's case is that during her period of stay she paid water charges and for later period she has no liability. In the first place, the Water Authority went wrong in giving private connection in the official quarters of a doctor, which belongs to Government. However, even if connection is given in the name of the petitioner, such connection being in the official capacity, as the Resident Medical Officer staying in quarters, successive occupants are liable to pay water charges. W.P. is therefore disposed of directing the first respondent to collect information about the period of occupancy of the quarters periodically by successive Resident Medical Officers from the Superintendent of the Hospital and issue notice and recover the arrears of water charges for the period for which each one of them resided in the quarters. Regular bills hereafter should be issued in the 2 name of the RMO and the doctor who enjoys water connection at the relevant time should pay water charges. There will be direction to the first respondent to change the name of the subscriber as the Superintendent of the Government Hospital or the Resident Medical Officer. The demand against the petitioner should be withheld for a period of two months from now and in between there will be direction to the first respondent to demand and recover arrears from all those who resided there and if any amount is payable by the petitioner during the period of her stay, the same will be demanded and recovered from the petitioner also, after details are furnished by the first respondent to the petitioner and others. (C.N. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR) Judge kk 3