HPSEBL officials face disciplinary action

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) has initiated disciplinary proceedings for major penalty against Superintending Engineer Lokesh Thakur and Accounts Officer Hira Lal Verma. Both officers have also been transferred from their current posts and locations.

Notably, the two officials serve as Convener and Co-Convener, respectively, of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing HPSEBL employees, engineers and pensioners. According to the JAC, the disciplinary action was triggered by a recent press conference held in Hamirpur, during which the committee issued a 21-day ultimatum to the board management to address its long-pending demands.

Efforts to reach the Executive Director of HPSEBL for comments remained unsuccessful. In response, the JAC has written to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, asserting that the press conference was conducted within the framework of lawful and democratic rights. “It was a part of the well-established rights of registered unions and associations,” the letter stated. The JAC emphasised that the event was held with complete decorum and involved no personal remarks against any official.

The committee further alleged that the functioning of HPSEBL is increasingly being monopolised by a few individuals, leading to arbitrary decision-making. “The board is being run according to the whims and fancies of select officials,” the JAC claimed.

The letter to the CM urges him to intervene in the matter and take corrective steps to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability in HPSEBL’s operations. This development has stirred considerable unrest among employee associations.

Himachal Tribune