Latest news with #DHBVNL
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Gurugram's power demands clock season's highest
The Gurugram Circle 2 of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) recorded the season's highest power consumption at 322.75 lakh units on Thursday. It is a spike of over 14.05% from the 283 lakh units consumed the same day (June 12) last year. With the mercury levels soaring across the State over the past few days, the DHBVN's Delhi zone comprising Faridabad, Palwal, Gurugram, Narnaul and Rewari recorded consumption of 1024.73 lakh units, breaching the 1,000-mark for the first time this season, on Thursday. This is an increase of 4.58%, over 979.86 lakh units the previous day. The DHBVN's Hisar Zone comprising Hisar, Jind, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Bhiwani consumed 503.34 lakh units on Thursday with an increase of 1.29% over 496.94 lakh units the previous day. DHBVB spokesperson Sanjay Chugh said despite the spike in power demand, the corporation had supplied power for 23.83 hours and 23.5 hours to Gurugram Circle 2 and 1 urban areas respectively. The supply to the industrial areas of Gurugram had been for 23.5 hours on an average for both circles. However, frequent outages were reported from parts of Gurugram with residents taking to social media to express their frustration. '@DHBVNL Thank you for 3 minutes of electricity which you provided in this harsh summer after a long power cut of more than 2.5 hours before imposing another power cut in DLF phase 3, Gurugram. It was too much of a kindness from Haryana Electricity Board. 1 minute was enough. (sic),' read a post by Rajesh Singh on X. Yet another post by Divya said: 'The worst part about summers in Gurgaon? The electricity board @DHBVNL seems to go into deep sleep just when you call with a grievance - clearly unbothered by the fact that you are spending a sleepless night in unbearable heat with power cut, only to wake up early for work tomm (sic).' Mr. Chugh said the Residents' Welfare Associations were duly informed in case of scheduled power cuts to carry out any repair work, but small duration outages were sometimes caused due to unexpected faults in feeder lines or transformers due to overload and excessive heat.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Haryana engineer's double suspension sparks outrage; DHBVNL to launch stir
The employees and engineers of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHBVNL) have announced to launch an agitation in protest against the continued action against a superintendent engineer who was suspended twice within a week. Superintendent Engineer Hari Dutt was first suspended by Power and Labour Minister Anil Vij on April 16 over his alleged failure to answer another Cabinet Minister Mahipal Dhanda's phone call. As the Punjab and High Court had quashed his first suspension, the DHBVNL suspended him again on April 23. Dutt had challenged his first suspension before the High Court. Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Ashwani Talwar argued that the suspension was triggered by Dutt's failure to respond to a phone call from a minister on April 16, as reported in the media. Opposing counsel Prince Singh contended that the action was based on poor recovery rates in Dutt's division and that a charge sheet was being prepared. On April 22, a bench of Justice Jagmohan Bansal set aside the suspension of Dutt, describing the order as 'non-speaking and mechanical'. In his ruling, Justice Bansal observed: 'From the perusal of the suspension order, it is evident that no reason has been assigned for placing the petitioner under suspension. There may be many reasons for placing an employee under suspension; however, the employer is duty-bound to disclose at least one reason'. However, the court granted liberty to the respondents to issue a fresh order, if necessary, in accordance with the law. On April 23, the Managing Director (MD) of DHBVNLL issued an order to suspend the officer again 'in view of contemplated disciplinary proceedings against him under Regulation-7 of DHBVNL Employees (Punishment and Appeal) Regulations-2019 for imposition of major penalty on account of his non-performance and lack of supervision as SE/OP Circle, DHBVNL, Jind.' In the suspension order, the MD also underlined that it has been issued 'in terms of liberty granted by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in its decision' of April 22. Subhash Lamba, Vice President of the Electricity Employees Federation of India, has condemned the double suspension of the officer, calling it an act of vendetta and revenge. He stated that the officer was unable to attend the cabinet minister's call as he was engaged in a high-level official meeting at the time. Describing 'it an act of retaliation', Lamba said the authorities suspended the officer again after he secured a stay from the High Court against his initial suspension. Lamba further emphasised that meetings are being held to strategize a strong opposition against the suspension. 'A formal announcement on the course of action is expected in the coming days,' he added.
The Print
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
How HC's quashing of Haryana engineer's suspension serves as a sharp rebuke to state's ministers
The verdict, delivered on 22 April, 2025, allows the state government to issue a fresh order in accordance with the law but serves as a significant rebuke to certain Haryana ministers known for suspending officials on flimsy grounds. The suspension—ordered by Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij on 16 April, 2025, following Dhanda's complaint—was set aside by Justice Jagmohan Bansal, who described the order as 'non-speaking, non-reasoned, and mechanical'. Gurugram: The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the suspension order of the Superintending Engineer (SE) of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHBVNL), who was suspended for not answering a phone call from Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda. However, a day after the High Court order, the officer was suspended again, this time by assigning reasons for his suspension. The order issued by the Managing Director of the DHBVN on 23 April said that he was being suspended 'in view of contemplated disciplinary proceedings against him under Regulation-7 of DHBVNL Employees (Punishment and Appeal) Regulations-2019 for imposition of major penalty on account of his non-performance and lack of supervision as SE, Operation Circle, DHBVNL, Jind'. The case stems from an incident five days prior to the suspension, when Dhanda, also the chairman of the Jind District Grievance Redressal Committee, visited Jind to address farmers' issues. During this time, his calls to SE Hari Dutt, an officer with DHBVNL in Jind, went unanswered. Dhanda escalated the matter to Anil Vij. During a meeting of power corporation officials in Chandigarh on 16 April, 2025, chaired by Vij, the issue was raised, leading to Dutt's immediate suspension. The order, issued by DHBVNL in Hisar, attached Dutt to the Chief Engineer's office in Delhi, where he was required to mark daily attendance. Dutt challenged the suspension in the Punjab and Haryana High Court through a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. His counsel, Ashwani Talwar, argued that the suspension was based solely on Dhanda's complaint about unanswered calls, as reported in the media. The state government, represented by Additional Advocate General Rajni Gupta, countered, justifying the suspension and stating that a chargesheet was being prepared. However, the court rejected this argument, noting that the suspension order itself failed to mention any reason, rendering it invalid. The court's order emphasised that employers must provide at least one clear reason for suspending an employee, a standard the impugned order did not meet. The court's decision left the Haryana government with the option to issue a new suspension order against Dutt, provided it included specific reasons and adheres to legal standards, which it now has. This ruling is a setback for Haryana ministers, who have a history of suspending officials with little regard for due process. Talking to The Print, Yudhbir Singh Khyalia, a retired IAS officer, said that the High Court's decision is a welcome verdict but at the same time, he added, there couldn't have been any other decision in this case. 'There is no provision in the Haryana Service Rules that provides that an officer can be suspended for not attending a minister's telephone. There can be hundreds of compelling reasons for the officers for his inability to take calls,' Khyalia reasoned. He said that the ministers in the BJP government in Haryana have been suspending government officials at the drop of a hat, which is not only against the service rules but also demoralising for the government servants. In January this year, ThePrint had reported how Haryana ministers in the Nayab Saini government suspended 17 government officials in just 10 days. In October 2023, 372 investigating officers in the Haryana Police were suspended in one sweep after the then Home Minister Anil Vij came down on police personnel delaying investigations. In January 2024, ThePrint had reported how the then CM Manohar Lal Khattar had started cracking the whip ahead of Lok Sabha polls by suspensions, forced leaves and salary cuts on the officials. Similarly, in June 2023, ThePrint reported how Anil Vij's on-the-spot suspensions and fiery outbursts earned him the moniker of 'Gabbar' of Haryana politics. On 16 January, 2023, ThePrint detailed Vij's tendency to issue suspensions during his Janata Darbars, often based on one-sided complaints. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: In late-night police force rejig, Saini govt transfers 55 IPS, HPS officers. A look at key appointments
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HC quashes Haryana engineer's suspension for not answering minister's call
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday quashed an order by which a superintendent engineer of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHBVNL) was suspended by Power and Labour Minister Anil Vij over his alleged failure to answer another Cabinet Minister Mahipal Dhanda's phone call Superintendent Engineer Hari Dutt was suspended by Vij on April 16 following a complaint from Dhanda. A bench of Justice Jagmohan Bansal set aside the suspension of Dutt, describing the order as 'non-speaking and mechanical.' The court underscored the responsibility of administrative authorities to provide clear and specific reasons for punitive actions. The judgment came on a petition filed by Dutt, challenging his suspension. The DHBVNL directive had placed him under immediate suspension and instructed him to mark attendance at the office of the Chief Engineer (Operations), DHBVNL, Delhi. He was to receive subsistence allowance under Rule 83 of the Haryana Civil Services (General) Rules, 2016. Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Ashwani Talwar argued that the suspension was triggered by Dutt's failure to respond to a phone call from a minister on April 16, as reported in the media. Opposing counsel Prince Singh contended that the action was based on poor recovery rates in Dutt's division and that a charge sheet was being prepared. In his ruling, Justice Bansal observed: 'From the perusal of the suspension order, it is evident that no reason has been assigned for placing the petitioner under suspension. There may be many reasons for placing an employee under suspension; however, the employer is duty bound to disclose at least one reason'. He held that the absence of any stated reason rendered the suspension legally unsustainable and liable to be set aside. However, the court granted liberty to the respondents to issue a fresh order, if necessary, in accordance with the law.
