Legal Objections Raised Over Implementation of EWEDC Privatisation; 22 Cases Pending Before CAT.

Legal Objections Raised Over Implementation of EWEDC Privatisation; 22 Cases Pending Before CAT.

Chandigarh 28 January ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Employees have raised serious legal and procedural objections over the implementation of the privatisation of the distribution business of Electricity Wing of Engineering Department Chandigarh (EWEDC) under the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, alleging deviations from statutory provisions and the terms of the government notification.

According to informed sources, the notification approving the transfer of the distribution business had explicitly excluded transmission assets from the scope of transfer. However, the scheme prepared and finalised by the administration is stated to have included transmission assets for transfer to CPDL, which employees have described as contrary to the Electricity Act, 2003. It has further been alleged that EWEDC employees were transferred to CPDL without their consent, despite the absence of any cadre-wise or functional distinction between transmission and distribution duties in the erstwhile EWEDC. Employees were deployed on transmission as well as operation and maintenance works on an alternate basis.

It is also pointed out that, at the time of issuance of the notification, several transmission assets were under erection, and due to the alleged defects in the scheme, both the administration and CPDL are now laying claim to these assets, resulting in legal and administrative disputes. Concerns have also been expressed over the proposed employees’ trust for disbursement of retirement benefits such as GPF, gratuity and leave encashment. While the trust was initially envisaged for around 540 employees, it is now proposed to function for only 110 employees,covered under old Pension  Scheme,which experts say may increase administrative and record-keeping burdens.and no cleraty on benefits and and rout of 225 covered underNPS.

It has been stated that nearly 22 cases are presently pending before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) arising out of these issues, which, according to employees, could have been avoided had the scheme been implemented strictly in accordance with the notification and statutory provisions. Employees have indicated that they are seeking vigilance scrutiny and CVC inquiries against officials involved in finalising and presenting the scheme before the competent authority. They have clarified that they are seeking rectification of deviations and legal clarity in its execution and their status as a Government Employees.