QUETTA, March 5: Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai has taken a suo-motu notice of newspaper reports about consumers’ complaints against excessive billings of gas utility by the Sui Southern Gas Company.

The hearing would come up on March 7.

Meanwhile, scores of people staged a demonstration in front of the SSGC office and chanted slogans against the company’s management for excessive billings and demanded to rectify the bills.

The protestors alleged that some of the consumers had received bills amounting to Rs10,000 for a single month and demanded of the government to take action against the officials of the company for sending inflated bills.

They also accused the management of installing defected gas meters, besides the bills were delivered after the due dates for payment had passed.

But, an official of the SSGC when asked about the protest rally rejected the complaints of consumers against excessive bills and stated that the bills were prepared according to the units consumed.

The official claimed that in November, December and January gas consumption increases as people use gas heaters to keep their rooms warm.

Regarding meters, the official said that the technical staff members on routine basis replace defective meters on complaints of consumers.—Correspondent