HC summons judge for delay in case disposal

The Supreme Court yesterday summoned the joint district judge of Narayanganj to appear before it on February 13 to explain the non-disposal of a civil suit filed over faulty meters and charging extra electricity bill.

Earlier, the High Court had ordered the lower court judge to settle the case by November 30, 2008.

The four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain issued the order while hearing an appeal filed by Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company ltd against the High Court verdict.

In 2006 the plaintiff, a private company filed the civil case with a Narayanganj court praying it to declare illegal the 12 months' electricity bill that Titas Gas claimed from it.

The company argued that the meters were faulty and Titas Gas claimed extra money, and prayed to be allowed to pay Tk three lakh per month as the electricity bill. The court rejected the prayer in 2007.

The company, subsequently, moved a revision petition before the HC challenging the lower court's rejection order.

On July 4, 2008, the HC ordered the claimant to pay Tk 17 lakh per month as due electricity bill and Tk 7.5 lakh as monthly electricity bill. The court also ordered the joint district judge of Narayanganj to settle the case by November 30, 2008.

Titas Gas filed an appeal with the Appellate Division challenging the HC verdict as the original civil case was not settled in line with the HC directive, said Advocate Abdur Rahim, a lawyer for Titas Gas. The petitioner complied with the HC order and paid Tk 17 lakh per month until outstanding bill was cleared but has been paying Tk 7.5 lakh as monthly electricity bill, he said, adding, the original case is yet to be disposed by the judge of the N'ganj court.

The lawyer however could not say what amount his client had claimed from the plaintiff as 12 months' electricity bill in 2006.