Basant Verma vs Delhi Jal Board (DJB) & Anr.

MINI PUSHKARNA, J (ORAL):

The present writ petition has been filed seeking directions to the respondent-Delhi Jal Board (“DJB”), to rectify the water charges/penalties pertaining to the water meter of the petitioner, i.e., K. No. 9193641000, in respect of the property bearing No. H-6, Ground Floor, Green Park, New Delhi-110016.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that petitioner is a widow aged 90 years and has been coerced to run from pillar to post for correcting an error on part of the respondents, leading to an unjustified demand being raised in her water bill, for water connection bearing K. No. 9193641000.

It is submitted that the aforesaid property had remained vacant from 10^th August, 2017 to 18^th November, 2021. Despite zero consumption, respondent-DJB continued to raise bills, leading to an exorbitant demand in the form of water bill. As on 29^th July, 2025, the petitioner has been burdened with an exorbitant bill of Rs. 10,06,830/-.

It is submitted that the petitioner had earlier applied for deletion/rectification on 27^th September, 2024. Upon enquiry, the case of the petitioner was found meritorious and it was proposed that a sum of Rs. 5,41,860/-, later revised to Rs. 5,24,449/-, be reduced from the bill raised against the petitioner.

Attention of this Court has been drawn to the Office Noting made on behalf of the DJB, as attached with the present petition by the petitioner, received through Right to Information Act, 2005 (“RTI Act”), which is reproduced as under:

Perusal of the aforesaid Office Noting shows that it has already been recommended by the concerned official of DJB with regard to reduction of amount of Rs. 5,24,449/-, from the total bill of the petitioner.

Responding to the present writ petition, learned counsel appearing for the DJB submits that she is yet to receive any instructions in this regard.

Having heard hearing counsel appearing for the parties and considering the fact that the DJB itself had recommended reduction of certain amount from the bill raised against the petitioner, it is directed that the DJB shall consider its proposal with respect to reduction of the aforesaid amount of Rs. 5,24,449/- from the total water bill of the petitioner, on account of its earlier Report, as reproduced hereinabove.

The DJB is directed to make fresh calculation and raise a fresh bill upon the petitioner, with respect to the water charges for the premises in question.

Let the needful be done by the DJB, within a period of six weeks, from today.

In case need be, the concerned official of the DJB shall also call the petitioner for personal hearing.

In case any documents are required to be submitted by the petitioner, the petitioner shall duly submit the requisite documents before the concerned official of the DJB, as and when, so called upon.

With the aforesaid directions, the present writ petition, along with the pending application, stands disposed of.