দায়বর্জন বিবৃতি (DISCLAIMER)

এই ওয়েবসাইটে প্রকাশিত রায় বা আদেশ আপনি google translation এর মাধ্যমে বাংলায় দেখতে পাচ্ছেন তা সুপ্রীম কোর্ট কর্তৃক বাংলায় অনূদিত নয়। জনসাধারণের বিচার-প্রক্রিয়ায় সহজ অভিগম্যতা নিশ্চিতকরণের অভিপ্রায়ে বাংলায় অনূদিত রায়-আদেশ দেখার ব্যবস্থা রাখা হয়েছে। অনূদিত রায় বা আদেশের অনুলিপি সইমোহরী/জাবেদা নকলের (certified copy) বিকল্প হিসেবে অথবা অন্য কোন উদ্দেশ্যে ব্যবহার করা যাবে না। রায় ও আদেশ বাস্তবায়নের ক্ষেত্রে মামলার নথিতে বিধৃত মূল রায় বা আদেশ প্রণিধানযোগ্য।
In the Supreme Court of Bangladesh

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BANGLADESH HIGH COURT DIVISION

      (SPECIAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION)

Writ Petition No. 4314 of 2010. 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: Md. Jashim Uddin

...... Petitioner

-Versus-

Karnafuli Gas Distribution Company Limited represented by the Managing Director and others.

None appears.

. . For the petitioner.

Mr. Lokman Karim, Advocate

. . . For the respondent No.5.

              Present:

Mr. Justice J. B. M. Hassan                and

Mr. Justice Razik Al Jalil   

Heard and Judgment on 15.11.2023.

J. B. M. Hassan, J.

In this Writ Petition, the writ petitioner is the consumer of gas from the Karnafuli Gas Distribution Company Limited taking gas line in his establishment. During enjoyment of his gas connection, the respondent gas company issued impugned letter demanding gas bills on account of different heads including increasing gas load and meter tampering. Challenging the said demand letters (gas bills) the petitioner filed this writ petition and obtained the present Rule Nisi.


1

None appears to represent the petitioner when the matter is taken up for hearing.

However, Mr. Lokman Karim, learned Advocate appearing for the respondent-gas company (respondent No.5) at the very out set has drawn our attention to 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 run as follows:

“40. Arbitration - Settlement by the Commission—

  1.   Notwithstanding anything contained in the Arbitration Act, 2001 (Act No. 1 of 2001) or any other Act, any dispute arising between the licencees, or licencees and consumers, shall be referred to the Commission for its settlement: Provided that a contract, executed between the Government or any of its agency and a private company, in respect of energy, immediate before this Act comes into force, the conditions of the said contract shall be applicable for the settlement of the disputes.
  2.   Commission as an arbitrator may, suomoto, take steps and award adjudication of a dispute or appoint arbitrator for settlement of dispute.
  3.   Methods and procedures for the said settlement shall be specified by regulations.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .”

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 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.

In the result, the Rule Nisi is discharged without any order as to costs.

Communicate a copy of this judgment and order to the respondents at

once. 

Razik Al Jalil, J                                                          I agree.