Domestic consumer
Ude treatment, non-registration of refill demand

Sir,

I am domestic consumer for LPG from Bharat Petroleum through your distributor, M/S KITCHEN CARE SHAKARPUR, DELHI. My consumer No is 506688256 and I have taken this connection on 12.02.2007.

Being an old man and remaining on Nation Wide tour most of the time, my consumption of gas is quite low.

Today, on 07.05. I had requested your distributor through telephone [011-22485000] to book a refill demand. This happens to be the first refill required by me after initial installation.

The person at the other end, talked to me in a tone as if I have committed a crime by requiring refill after more than a year.

According to him, I have to submit to him an explanation in writing as to why I have not called for a refill for the last 6 months as his record shows that last refill had been supplied to me around October. I have also been directed to submit to him a photocopy of my residential proof from gazatted officer, my Identity Proof as also circumstances as to why my consumption is so low.

This has raised certain questions for your organization to ponder. These Are;

1. As per my record, after 12.02.2007 this was the first time I had requested for a refill. According to the distributor's man last refill was supplied to me in the month of October. Definitely, that goes on to establish that refills have been blackmarketed by the distributor in my name.

2. Whether it is a crime to consume less Gas? Otherwise why I, as a consumer, am being asked to give my explanation for such economy in consumption of scarce resources.

3. Once I have already submitted all requisite documents with the distributor, what is the authority under which he is asking me to again re-establish my identity, my bonafides etc just for the sake of booking a refill?

I am sure that you would chastise your distributor and advise him to be well behaved in future or else such conduct may force us, we consumers to drag the company as well as the such unscrupulous distributors to Consumer Courts.

Yours sincerely,

CAPT K M SAXENA, ADVOCATE

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA