This complaint under section 25 of "The Punjab Consumer Protection Act" 2005 has been filed with the allegations that the complainant has got installed the Sui gas connection from the respondent in his house No.19 Qaid-Azam Road Sialkot under the Consumer No.67186220009, Meter No. GL 22548616, DOM-G Tariff and is paying the Sui gas bills regularly; that the Sui gas generally consumed in his house valuing ranging between Rs.150/- to Rs.1,500/- in summer and Rs.500/- to Rs.5,000/- in winter; that in the month of March 2010, complainant was sent sui gas bill of Rs.
20020/- illegally and improperly; that the complainant agitated the matter but of no avail and up- till June 2011 the billing amount raised up to Rs.36560/-; that in the month of July 2011 complainant was issued a bill of Rs. 75090/- including arrears mentioned above; that bill issued to the complainant is incorrect and liable to be corrected; that complainant is a respectable businessm an, Ex-District Nazim, Ex-President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce, Ex-Chairman Sialkot International Airport and presently is Director of Sublime Group of Industries and never indulged in any illegal activity; that Due to sending of incorrect bill he suffered business loss and mental agony, hence is entitled for damages of Rs. 100,0000/- litigation expanses Rs. 10,000/- and Lawyer fee Rs.
20,000/-; that a pre-requisite legal notice had also been given to respondent on 10.09.2011 but no response from the other side, hence, this complaint.
02. Respondent by way of submitting written reply refuted the claim of the complainant. With the averments that complainant had not paid the sui gas bills for the last two years and is defaulter since March 2009; that the complainant due to his influence and approach had not paid the Sui gas bills and has filed this baseless complaint which is liable to be dismissed.
03. I have hared the arguments and perused the record.
04. Complainant though has challenged the amount of Sui Gas bills pertaining to the period commencing from March, 2010 to July, 2011 but he has not placed on record any Sui Gas bill for perusal of the court. During arguments his attention was drawn towards non filing of the requisite bills but he has not bothered even thereafter to place on record the photo copies of the paid or unpaid Sui Gas bills. The history sheet placed on record by the respondents goes contrary to the complainant's stance that his Sui Gas bills in past was ranging between Rs.150/- to Rs.1,500/- and Rs.500/- to Rs.5,000/- in Summer and Winter seasons respectively. It is also manifest from the billing history of the complainant that he has not paid a single penny since 01-02-2010 till October, 2011. Complainant even after filling of this complaint did not deposit the current bill and it was 22- 11-2011 when his counsel under took to deposit 1/3rd of the disputed amount of bill and he paid Rs.32,000/- on 02-12-2011. Complainant seems to be a chronic defaulter of the sui gas department.
He has not ex-facie substantiated his allegations by placing on record paid or unpaid bills receipts.
Complaint apparently seems to be misconceived and attempt to put off the discharge of liability as long as it could be.
05. For reason recorded above, the instant complaint having no legal force, is hereby dismissed, accordingly, with no order as to costs. File be consigned to the record room after it's due completion.