AIPEF calls for nationwide action against proposed electricity bill
The Federal Executive of the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), in its meeting held today at Dehradun, expressed serious concern and strong resentment over the reported move of the Government of India to table and pass the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session.
Shailendra Dubey Chairman and P Rathnakar Rao Secretary General said that despite large-scale objections submitted by stakeholders the Government appears to be pushing the Bill without proper discussion and democratic consultation. AIPEF strongly objected to the manner in which the consultation process has been handled. The Federation pointed out that the Ministry of Power constituted a Working Group on 30 January 2026 to examine the comments, which included the Director General of the All India DISCOM Association advocating privatization of the distribution sector.
AIPEF deplored the action of Punjab Government in selling power sector land and victimizing office bearers of the PSEB engineers Association who are opposing it.
Ajaypal Singh Atwal general secretary PSEB engineers Association said that there is no tearing hurry to adopt such drastic and shortcut methods which go against the letter and spirit of democratic functioning. All the objections raised must be clarified and made evident to all stakeholders so that their objections and points of dissent are duly considered before proceeding further.
V K Gupta media advisor informed that the meeting also expressed serious concern over the aggressive push for privatisation across the power sector. Privatisation of distribution companies is being promoted by linking central financial assistance to states with conditions such as equity privatisation, management control to private companies and listing of DISCOMs on stock exchanges. AIPEF termed these measures as coercive attempts to force privatization.
The Federal Executive reiterated that the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the National Electricity Policy 2026 appear to be instruments designed to accelerate large-scale privatisation of the power sector. AIPEF warned that such policies will weaken the public electricity system and adversely affect electricity employees, farmers and common consumers.
In view of these developments, AIPEF has given a call for nationwide lightning action on 10 March 2026. If the Government proceeds with tabling the Electricity (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, power engineers and employees across the country will boycott work and organise massive demonstrations outside offices and projects.
