UHBVN introduces Out of Court Settlement Scheme

Chandigarh, Jan 16 (UNI) In order to avoid prolonged litigations and to settle long pending court cases, the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has decided to introduce 'Out of Court Settlement of Cases Scheme' with immediate effect.

Giving detail, a spokesman for the Nigam said here today that the scheme would be available for settlement of all cases except the cases of theft of electricity and it would remain in operation till March 31, 2008.

The cases pending with Courts, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, State Commission and Arbitration as on August 31, 2007 and in which the penalty has been levied by the Nigam would be settled under this scheme, he said.

Under the scheme, the consumer/applicant will have to pay a reduced amount of 50 per cent of the amount initially assessed along with simple interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum on the unpaid amount of the reduced amount.

The Nigam has authorised its Sub Divisional Officers to settle the cases. The Sub Divisional Officers will personally contact those consumers whose disputed amount has been less than Rs One lakh.

Instructions have been given to Executive Engineers to contact those consumers personally whose disputed amount had been more than Rs One lakh.

The spokesman clarified that the cases, in which, the assessed amount was not correct and on the higher side, would be revised by the Nigam.

The scheme would not be applicable to the cases where 100 per cent payment has been made by the consumer. The benefit of the scheme would also not be available in those cases of theft of power where the Nigam had lodged the FIRs.

However, all other disputed cases, in which FIRs were not lodged by the Nigam, would be considered under the Out of Court Settlement Scheme, he added.

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