JEs, power corp at loggerheads
Eligibility criteria for Assistant Engineer’s post
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, November 20
The Junior Engineers (JEs) and the power corporation are at loggerheads on the issue of some change in the eligibility criteria for the posts of Assistant Engineer (AE) in the two power utilities of the state - Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL). While the JEs have alleged that the power corporation has debarred the serving JEs from applying for the post of AE, the management claimed that "only some of the eligibility conditions" have been changed.

Talking to The Tribune, general secretary of the Council of Junior Engineers, PSEB, Davinder Singh alleged, "The power corporation has debarred the serving JEs from applying for the post of AE. It is working to safeguard the interests of the graduate engineers only." The president of the council, Swaran Lal, said the recruitment criteria being adopted for the post of the AE and JE indicated that the PSPCL/PSTCL management was only concerned to induct more graduate engineers for the post of the JE and even below the supervisory level posts. "We want that the state government should intervene and safeguard their interests", he demanded.

Earlier, a diploma holder JE with 12 years of experience were eligible for the post of the AE but now the eligibility criteria has been changed.

"The decision to revise the eligibility criteria is in the interest of the PSPCL/PSTCL because the diploma holder JEs are not competent enough to handle computers and advanced equipment", said a power corporation official, while preferring anonymity. However, PSPCL Director HC Seth though admitted that there had been some changes in the eligibility criteria but didn't specify any reason.