IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BANGLADESH HIGH COURT DIVISION
(SPECIAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION)
Writ Petition No. 13596 of 2016. In the matter of:
An application under article 102 (2) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
-And-
In the matter of:
M/s. Hotel Fortune Garden.
...... Petitioner
-Versus-
Government of Bangladesh represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and others.
. . Respondents.
Mr. Ashfaqur Rahman, Advocate
.. For the applicant-respondent No.3. None appears
. . . For the petitioner.
Present:
Mr. Justice J. B. M. Hassan
and
Mr. Justice Razik Al Jalil
The 15th May, 2024
This is an application for discharging the Rule Nisi.
The writ petitioner is the consumer of gas fuel from the Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited taking gas line in its establishment. During enjoyment of gas connection, the respondent gas company issued impugned letter asking to disconnect the Geyser line (Water Heater) from the petitioner’s Hote1. Challenging the said letter the petitioner filed this writ petition and obtained the present Rule Nisi.
Mr. Ashfaqur Rahman, learned Advocate appearing for the applicant- respondent-gas company at the very out set has drawn our attention to
1
section 40 of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act, 2003 and the regulation 3 of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Dispute Settlement Regulations, 2021 which runs as follows:
“40. Arbitration - Settlement by the Commission—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .”
Regulation No.3 of “h¡wm¡cn He¡¢SÑ ®l…mV¢l L¢jne ¢hl¡d ¢eÖf¢š fË¢hd¡ej¡m¡, ” 2021 are as follows: “3z ¢h l¡d£u ¢ho u B hce c¡¢Mmz-(1) m¡C p¢¾p cl j dÉ Abh¡ m¡C p¢¾p Hhw ®i¡š²¡cl j dÉ EáÅa ®L¡e ¢hl¡d ¢eÖf¢šl SeÉ AC el d¡l¡ 40 Hl Ad£e L¢jne hl¡hl ¢m¢Ma B hce c¡¢Mm Ll¡ k¡C hz (2) B hc el p¢qa ag¢pm-L à¡l¡ ¢edÑ¡¢la gljÉ¡V ¢ejÀh¢ZÑa abÉ-Ef¡š J AeÉ¡eÉ fË u¡Se£u c¢mm¡¢c c¡¢Mm L¢l a qC h, kb¡x-
. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .”
In view of above legal provisions, we are of the view that the
petitioner’s remedy lies before the Energy Regulatory Commission and hence the writ petition is not maintainable having the alternative forum under the statute.
Hence, the application is allowed.
Resultantly, the Rule is discharged without any order as to costs.
Communicate a copy of this judgment and order to the respondents at
once.