PSEB extends term of adviser despite dissent
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 8
This is one adviser the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) cannot do without. Former Chief Engineer KS Jolly, who has been given two extensions earlier, has now been given another one despite the fact that his case was not recommended by his department head or the member, distribution, to whom he reports.

According to sources, Jolly’s extension was initiated by the secretariat one day before a scheduled meeting of whole time members (WTMs) recently.

Even though one member refused to sign the circular listing the proposed extension, the case was put up in a subsequent meeting of the WTMs without listing it on the agenda. With the dissenting member not being present, the issue was discussed and later recorded as approved.

The PSEB Engineers Association has protested against what it calls the “violation” of the board rules. The association, in a letter to the board, said under the board regulations, if one or more members refused to sign a proposal put up in circulation to the WTMs, the same could be discussed at a meeting of the full board in which government nominees were also present.

It said the decision taken by WTMs was also against the March 2009 decision of the full board not to appoint or extend the tenure of reemployed officers. The association has claimed that the latest extension was done without bringing the matter before the full board despite the fact that four full board meetings were held in the past one and a half months.

It said this happened despite the board knowing the officer’s term was ending on October 31.

The association also claimed that all cases having additional financial liability on the board or involving legal issues were required to be examined by the legal/finance wings before the same were put up to the board along with their views.

However, it said the extension of Jolly was decided without getting views of any of these wings.

The association claimed that Jolly was appointed in October 2007 on a plea that the incumbent Chief Engineer needed some time to get familiar with job. However, it said after completion of a one-year term, the officer was given one more year extension. It said during this time, the board “conveniently” posted chief engineers, who were on the verge of retirement, to the post.

Seven Chief Engineers have headed this department in the past two years.

The System Operation Organisation is one of the most important and sensitive departments of the board because it is handling not only power procurement of over Rs 6,000 crore annually, but is also responsible for an optimum utilisation of available power to reduce power cuts as well as power purchase bill. Even a saving of single paise per unit on power procurement means a saving of Rs 15 crore per year.

Board Chairman HS Brar said the decision for extending Jolly’s services was within the competency of the WTMs.

He said no rules had been bent to accommodate Jolly, but refused to comment further on the issue.