Hon'ble Saumitra Dayal Singh,J.
The petitioner Ms. Vina Singh @ Veena Singh has appeared (In Person), learned Standing Counsel for the State and Shri Narendra Kumar Tiwari, learned counsel for the respondent-Corporation.
Dispute in the present case is with respect to the electricity dues being claimed by the respondent under Bill dated 26.07.2021.
While the respondent claims Rs. 1,50,309/- including the current dues/arrears against the petitioner, the petitioner claims that the bill amount is exaggerated and that, in any case, relief may be granted against the interest so claimed and also some time may be granted to pay the amount of electricity dues in easy installments.
Having heard learned counsel for the parties and after considering the facts of this case, we find no useful purpose in keeping the present petition pending or calling for a counter affidavit, at this stage.
In view of the offer made by the petitioner, the writ petition is disposed of with the following directions:-
(i) the petitioner shall pay the amount of Rs. 95,000/- towards electricity dues in six installements such that the first installment of Rs. 35,000/- may be paid on or before 30 September 2021.
(ii) as to the balance amount i.e. Rs. 60,000/- is concerned, the same may be deposited by the petitioner in five equal installments each of Rs. 12,000/- payable on or before 31 October 2021, 30 November 2021, 31 December 2021, 31 January 2022 and 28 February 2022 respectively.
(iii) upon depositing the first installment of Rs. 35,000/-, the electricity connection of the petitioner, that may have been disconnected, may be restored without any further delay.
(iv) subject to the petitioner's paying the aforesaid defaulted amount and her continuing to pay the current dues, as and when they become due, the petitioner shall further be entitled to file a representation claiming relief against the disputed amount of electricity dues and interest being demanded. That representation may be considered by the respondent no. 3 sympathetically in terms of the policy of the respondent-Corporation as the petitioner claims financial stress on account of the circumstances prevailing from the spread of pandemic COVID-19.
(v) such decision may be communicated to the petitioner within a period of two weeks' from the date of filing of such representation.
(vi) any amount of electricity dues and interest that may be claimed from the petitioner, may be paid by the petitioner by way of last installment on or before 31 March 2022.
In case of any default of the conditions as mentioned above, the present order shall stands automatically vacated and recovery proceedings shall revive from that stage.
Order Date :- 25.8.2021/Saurabh