UP power sector protests heat up: Why have workers demanded a CBI inquiry?

Following a decision taken at a maha-panchayat of the Electricity Employees Joint Struggle Committee, an extensive public awareness campaign has been launched for the Jail Bharo Andolan (fill up the jails). 

The employees who have been protesting the privatisation of distribution companies have accused the power corporation management of oppressive tactics and have demanded the cancellation of all administratively-motivated transfers. A CBI investigation into the alleged corruption in transfer postings is also being sought.

The maha-panchayat took place on June 22, and a massive outreach programme across all districts has now been launched to inform electricity workers about its decisions.

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Office bearers of the committee said that the outreach would also target government employees, teachers, farmers, and consumers, in order to explain the dangers of privatisation to them. Detailed information on how every section of society will be impacted will be shared widely.

As decided in the electricity maha-panchayat, the Vidyut Karamchari Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti, Uttar Pradesh has demanded that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath order a CBI inquiry into the matter. The committee stated that it had come to light recently that a huge sum of money was involved in making arbitrary mass transfer orders within the Power Corporation.

The situation has been further complicated by the Managing Director of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam transferring women employees from lower positions to distant locations, allegedly to harass them.

The Sangharsh Samiti claims the Power Corporation Chairman has derailed the state’s power system during extreme heat by issuing numerous transfer orders simultaneously, potentially affecting power system operations.

The committee is demanding immediate cancellation of all transfer orders made arbitrarily without proper policy—purely on administrative grounds, and solely for harassing employees.

The organisation has pointed out that the Supreme Court intervened in 1998 regarding irregularities in transfer postings, clearly ordering that no transfers would occur without permission from a High Power Committee established by the Supreme Court itself. 

Current transfer orders are being characterised as a blatant violation of the SC's directives.

India