The commission gave the order dismissing the DJB argument that it was supplying water through water tanks regularly as demanded by the complainant.
"The net result is that drinking facility is not provided properly to the complainant and the villagers. It may be pointed out here that harassment of a common man by public authorities is socially abhorring and legally impermissible," bench of Justice Barkat Ali Zaidi and Member V K Gupta said.
Raj Kumar, resident of Khera village in Najafgarh, had filed a complaint saying he was having a water connection and was also paying the charges regularly but the DJB was neither providing sufficient water supply nor through tankers to him.
He said the civic body was also taking sewer charges from him but there was no sewer system at his residence and despite complaining several times, no action was taken.
Kumar said around 500 illegal connections were given to various people and they used to fetch water from the pipeline in the area but no action was taken against them.
The bench said the amount awarded for harassment, mental agony and sufferings by public authorities not only compensate and satisfies an individual, but also helps in curing the "social evils".
"An ordinary citizen instead of complaining and fighting, succumbs to the pressure and undesirable functioning in the offices ...Compensation may result in improving work culture and help in changing the outlook.
"The compensation for harassment and mental agony and sheer suffering as awarded by the district forum is quite adequate and there is no justification to interfere in the impugned order," the bench said. (MORE)
