ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH, BENCH AT SUKKUR

C.P. No.D-620 of 2020

Petitioner : Khadim Hussain Dahot

Through Hadi Bux Bhatt, Advocate

F.O. Pakistan : Through Muhammad Aslam, Standing

Counsel

Date of hearing : 16.07.2020

Date of Order : 16.07.2020

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O R D E R

ADNAN-UL-KARIM MEMON, J: In the present petition, the petitioner has mainly prayed for direction to the competent authority of the Respondent-Company to resolve his electricity related issue on priority basis. As per pleading of the petitioner, dispute has arisen between them relating to alleged issuance of detection bill amounting to Rs.205,448/- for the month of June-2020 (at page-25).

We have noticed that the detection bill has been challenged by the petitioner before this Court rather than before the Electric Inspector, who has jurisdiction to deal with the matter.

Learned Counsel for the petitioner argued that the Respondent-Company is adamant to take coercive measures against the petitioner by disconnecting electricity connection due to non-payment of detection bill in time, as discussed supra. It is also contended that the petitioner is constrained to invoke the jurisdiction of this court as the respondents had failed to redress his grievance despite passage of considerable time.

We queried from the learned Counsel as to how this petition is maintainable in view of remedy available to the petitioner with the electric Inspector, he replied to the query with the assertion that the respondents have wrongly issued the detection bill, which needs to be corrected by them, therefore, he has rushed to this Court for redressal of his grievances, however, he states that the respondents have not adopted the due procedure as provided under the Electricity Act, 1910. It is next contended that he is ready and willing to submit an application before the Electric Inspector for proper adjudication of the matter. He lastly prayed for direction to the Respondent-SEPCO not to take any coercive action against the petitioner.

Prima facie, the subject matter of this petition is detection bill, which was issued by the Respondent-Company and the matter needs to be resolved by the Electric Inspector in accordance with sub-Section 6 of Section 26 of Electricity Act, 1910.

This petition is disposed of with direction to the petitioner to avail remedy before the Electric Inspector for decision on the issue involved in this petition, who after receipt the application, shall decide the issue as raised by the petitioner preferably within four weeks after giving notice to the parties concerned. The petition may approach Electric Inspector within a period of 14 days from the date of this order, and until then no coercive action shall be taken by the respondents subject to payment of monthly electricity charges. Needless to say, once the proper approach is made, the Electric Inspector would further regulate the matter.

JUDGE

Faisal Mumtaz/PS JUDGE