Avinav Verma
Jammu: The standoff between the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) management and the Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) intensified on Thursday as power-sector employees began an indefinite strike over the suspension of six employees and raised issues concerning electricity theft, smart meters, billing, performance targets and departmental procedures.
Led by JKEEGA president Sachin Tickoo, around 200 engineers, technical and line staff, clerical employees, PDL workers and daily wagers gathered at the JPDCL MD Complex at Panama Chowk.
The immediate dispute centres on the suspension of six JPDCL employees—two linemen, two meter-readers, one Junior Engineer (JE) and one Assistant Engineer (AE), who has since been promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE).
JPDCL Managing Director Gurpal Singh, speaking to The News Now, said the suspensions were ordered after inspections by the corporation’s Special Enforcement Team following complaints of electricity theft in certain areas.
He said reports received by the corporation indicated instances where meters had allegedly been bypassed, following which accountability was required to be examined.
However, Singh stressed that suspension was a temporary administrative measure and did not amount to a final finding of guilt.
“The committee has been constituted to re-examine the entire issue. If it finds that the employees are not responsible for the power theft and had taken all possible action under the prescribed procedure and law, their suspension will be revoked immediately,” Singh said.
A committee headed by a Chief Engineer and comprising three Executive Engineers has been given seven days to submit its report. Singh said seven days was the outer limit and the panel could submit its findings earlier after examining records, documents and, if required, inspecting the sites.
He said the committee would also examine the employees’ contention that they had taken necessary steps to prevent theft.
On the allegation that employees were suspended without being heard, Singh said suspension was an immediate and temporary measure intended, among other things, to ensure that records were not tampered with.
He said employees would get an opportunity to present their cases before the investigating officer during the departmental inquiry initiated under the prescribed procedure.
JKEEGA, however, has challenged the basis of the suspensions and sought their revocation or review. The association said it was not seeking immunity for employees but wanted responsibility to be established after due process and identification of specific lapses.
The association has also raised the issue of pending electricity-theft cases. Tickoo claimed that around 2,000 cases submitted by field officers to police stations and SHOs for registration of FIRs were awaiting action.
Singh said he had subsequently learnt of some attempts to register FIRs but had not earlier received records establishing that such efforts had been made. He said the committee would also examine the issue of FIRs and submit its findings.
JKEEGA has demanded stronger enforcement against electricity theft and urged JPDCL to take up the matter with senior police authorities, arguing that accountability should not rest solely with field employees when action against consumers allegedly involved in theft remains pending.
The association has also claimed that around 25,000 smart meters are defective or burnt and that some affected consumers are being billed on an average basis. It has sought a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) covering inspection, verification, replacement and billing of damaged, defective and non-communicating meters.
Singh said JPDCL was considering the demand for an SOP but maintained that it was a technical and regulatory matter that would have to conform to the Electricity Act, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) guidelines and other applicable rules.
He said the corporation was also considering constituting a committee, with the approval of the competent authority, to frame the SOP and sought the cooperation of the engineers who are currently on strike.
JKEEGA has further raised concerns over performance targets under the PM Surya Ghar programme, seeking consideration of field conditions and manpower shortages before punitive action.
Singh said salaries of employees that had been temporarily withheld in June and July over comparatively poor performance in achieving PM Surya Ghar targets had been released on August 12 after a review of their genuine constraints and improvement in performance.
He said the issue had been resolved before the present agitation.
The association has also demanded regular Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings, claiming that delays had affected promotion and regularisation-related matters, including those concerning PDL/TDL employees.
While defending the action taken in the theft-related cases, Singh acknowledged manpower shortages and the workload faced by field employees. He referred to restoration work carried out by employees in Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar and Doda during recent heavy rainfall.
On the strike, Singh said one round of talks had been held before the agitation and maintained that his doors remained open for further discussions on the fresh charter of demands submitted by the employees.
“After the constitution of the committee and release of salaries, there remains no issue for observing the strike,” Singh said, while urging the employees to return for talks and deliberate on their remaining demands in a reasonable manner.
Meanwhile, a Power Development Department communication dated August 12 asked JPDCL to examine JKEEGA’s representation in accordance with applicable rules and administrative discipline while expediting the ongoing inquiry. The communication also referred to government rules concerning demonstrations and strikes by employees.
The protest continued at the MD Complex on Thursday. JKEEGA maintained that the agitation would continue until its demands were addressed, while JPDCL said the review process was underway and its doors remained open for dialogue.
Power outage sparks protest
Jammu: Residents of Roop Nagar and adjoining areas of Jammu blocked a road and staged a protest on Thursday over a prolonged power outage, raising slogans against the power department and demanding immediate restoration of electricity.
According to residents, power supply in parts of the area remained disrupted for several hours, with some locals claiming the outage began around 2 pm. They said electricity had been restored in several other parts of Jammu while their locality continued to face disruption.
The prolonged outage, amid hot weather, caused inconvenience to households, including children and elderly residents. Protesters also alleged that they were not receiving a clear response from the concerned department regarding the restoration of power.
The road blockade led to traffic congestion in the area as residents demanded that electricity supply be restored at the earliest.
The protest comes amid the ongoing agitation by power employees in Jammu and Kashmir, with residents questioning why some areas were receiving electricity while others continued to face outages.
Officials from the power department could not immediately be reached for a response.
