Haryana power employees call off strike as government seeks cancellation of private distribution licence

Haryana electricity employees on Friday (Oct. 23) called off their strike with immediate effect after the State government decided to seek a review and cancellation of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) order granting a parallel power distribution licence to a private company in Gurugram and Nuh. 

The employees had launched a three-day strike on October 22 to protest against the grant of the licence. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini assured them that the government stood with them in opposing any move to privatise the power sector. 

Addressing a joint press conference in Panchkula alongside Energy Minister Anil Vij and representatives of power employees’ unions, Mr. Saini said the government had invoked Section 108 of the Electricity Act to direct the HERC to review and cancel its order granting the licence to Eleven Power Private Limited. 

“We have taken the decision and signed it as well. The government has directed the HERC under Section 108 to review its decision and cancel it. The HERC has the power to review its decisions under Section 94 of the Act,” Mr. Saini said. 

He said the government had earlier made its opposition to the move clear, including through Mr. Vij in the State Assembly. However, the HERC, an independent statutory body, had issued the order after receiving an application from the private company. 

Following the assurance, union representatives announced the withdrawal of the strike and said the employees would resume work and take steps to restore normal electricity services. 

Welcoming the decision, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) patron Sampat Singh expressed hope that the government would follow through on its assurance against privatisation. 

The INLD had raised 112 objections to the proposed licence at a hearing on June 8, after the HERC invited objections and suggestions through a public notice on May 30 on Eleven Power Private Limited’s petition seeking a distribution licence for Gurugram and Nuh. 

Mr. Singh also criticised the Congress for not submitting any representation at the HERC hearing despite being the principal Opposition party, accusing it of shedding “crocodile tears” over the issue. 

On Thursday, Mr. Singh had suggested that the State government invoke Section 108 of the Electricity Act to challenge the grant of the parallel distribution licence.