Tamil Nadu: TNEB officials fined Rs 35,000 for irregularities in service

Virudhunagar: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Srivilliputhur directed Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) officials to restore power supply and pay compensation of Rs 35,000 to two residents of Sivakasi for irregularities in service.

The commission, comprising chairman SJ Chakraborty and member M Muthulakshmi, delivered the verdict in a petition filed by Sivakasi residents R Rajendran and R Venkatakrishnan against TNEB officials, including assistant engineer and assistant executive engineer and superintending engineer at Sengamala Nachiyarpuram. In Virudhunagar division.

The petitioner, who runs a wire cutting business, had taken two commercial electricity connections 20 years ago and 12 years ago respectively. In January 2022, their power supply was cut off without any prior notice by TNEB officials for shifting the electric poles. The petitioners claimed that since then, the authorities failed to restore their electricity connections, causing losses to them.

The commission found that based on the request of Rajeshkannan, a resident of the area, TNEB officials shifted the pole and cut power lines during the process. However, after relocating the pole, they failed to restore power connection.

The Commission directed the respondents to restore the connection within six weeks and pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the petitioners for mental agony and material loss. It also directed the respondents to pay Rs 10,000 to the petitioner, either together or separately.