Haryana power strike ends as HERC is asked to review licence

Haryana’s electricity employees called off their statewide strike on October 23 after Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the state government had directed the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission to review its order allowing private power distribution in Gurugram and Nuh. The strike’s end followed government assurances opposing privatisation; the commission’s review outcome has not been reported. The Joint Action Committee said electricity supply would be restored immediately, while Saini said employees would return to duty. At a joint press conference with union representatives, the chief minister said the government had invoked Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003, to direct HERC to reconsider its order. He said the government opposed privatisation of the power sector. The government’s direction does not establish that HERC has withdrawn the licence. Saini described the commission as an independent body operating under its own legislation, and said the state had asked it to review the matter and effectively cancel the provision permitting private distribution. HERC’s response and any final decision on the licence have not been reported. The dispute centres on...