Lobbying picks up for post of PSERC chairman, members

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 12

Lobbying for the post of chairman and members of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has gained momentum as the high-powered selection committee to pick up the chairman and two members of the commission is all set to meet on January 18.

According to sources, Dhanbir Singh Bains, retired IAS officer, and Suresh Kumar, serving as Additional Chief Secretary, whose retirement is due in April, are the top contenders for the post of the chairman.

Surinder Pal, Director, and GS Dhaliwal, Chief Engineer, PSPCL, along with RS Loomba, Accountant General, Himachal, are the main contenders for the posts of members of the commission. It is learnt that over 48 candidates had applied for the three posts.

One post of member has been lying vacant for the past 13 months and two posts of chairman and the other member will fall vacant in February this year with the retirement of present incumbents.

The process to select the chairman and two members of the commission had repeatedly been delayed in the past for one or the other reason.

According to sources, the three-member selection committee comprising retired Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court GC Garg as Chairman and Chief Secretary Punjab Sarvesh Kaushal and Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission as members will shortlist the candidates for the three posts and forward the same to the state government for the final decision.

The last meeting of the selection panel was to be held in November last year, but it was postponed a day before the scheduled date.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had already issued a notice to the state government for January 15 on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Padamjit Singh regarding the delay in appointing members of the PSERC.

As per the Section 85 of the Electricity Act 2003, the state government was required to take action six months in advance and the selection committee was required to give its recommendation within three months.

For the two posts of members, it will be the prerogative of the government to select members with technical background or financial background. At present, one post is occupied by a technical person, while the post lying vacant was also held by a person of technical background.