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4mo ago

Punjab Expands Eligibility for PSPCL CMD to Include Secretary-Rank IAS Officers

The move follows a court query on whether the post is reserved for IAS officers.

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Amid growing opposition from officials and engineers of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) against the appointment of a “junior-level IAS officer” as the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD), the Punjab government has amended the eligibility rules for the post, diluting the qualification criteria for the top position in the power utility.

Overview

  • A December 22 notification allows serving or retired IAS officers who have held the rank of secretary or above to be appointed chairman-cum-managing director of PSPCL.
  • The revision replaces earlier criteria that limited the role to technocrats or IAS officers at least at principal secretary or additional chief secretary rank.
  • Basant Garg, a secretary-rank IAS officer given charge after AK Sinha’s removal in late October, now falls within the updated eligibility.
  • Engineers and employee associations say the change violates a tripartite agreement requiring consultation with signatory unions and have demanded that the rules be withdrawn.
  • Engineers had already challenged the secretary-level appointment in court, which on November 20 asked the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit on the post’s status, and sources say the rule change was issued before that response.