The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) on Sunday urged the government to withdraw cabinet decision on privatization of electricity distribution in UT Chandigarh as the matter is still sub judice.

V K Gupta Spokesperson AIPEF said that the legal challenge filed by UT employees is still sub judice as the matter was first referred to Supreme Court which then directed it to High Court. The next date of hearing is January 20 and High Court is yet to decide the case on its merit.

It seems that the UT administration has not brought the full facts of the cast before the central government.

It may be mentioned Union Cabinet approves the bid of the highest bidder on January 6 to privatize the electricity department of the Chandigarh administration.

The decision to privatize electricity in UT Chandigarh has been opposed not only by the employees but also by the consumers whereby all the Resident Welfare Associations have strongly opposed the privatisation move.
The government must scrap the Privatisation move as all stakeholders are strongly opposing it.

Meanwhile, the UT Powermen Union has called a protest rally in Sector 17 on January 11. Gopal Dutt Joshi, general secretary of the body, said, “We are still awaiting High Court decision on the petition filed on the issue, but the administration has finalised the privatisation. We will announce a strike call against UT’s decision during rally.

Section 133 of the Electricity Act 2003 makes it compulsory that under the favorable transfer scheme the service conditions of employees and staff must not be less favorable.

Electricity consumers have serious apprehension that after privatizing the department the electricity tariff will be hiked to give more profits to a private party at the cost of consumers.

The policy of the government to give profitable avenues to the corporate to make more and more profit at the cost of the public is condemnable. Under Electricity Act 2003 the Govt has to take the advice of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission where major changes in policy are involved, and which has not been done in case of UT Chandigarh.