CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while disposing of a petition filed by the Chief Engineer of the Ropar Thermal Plant, has directed the Board of Directors of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to consider and decide his appeal through a detailed, speaking order within two months. The court clarified that since the suspension order was issued by the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), he will not be part of the decision-making process on the appeal. The petitioner has been granted one week to submit his appeal before the Board.
The Chief Engineer argued that he has served for over 34 years with an unblemished record and that the CMD is not the competent authority to suspend an officer of his rank. He further contended that the November 1 suspension order violated the prescribed procedure and appeared to have been issued in a predetermined manner. According to him, the allegations are baseless as he has no role in fuel price fixation or procurement.
Challenging the grounds of suspension, the petitioner stressed that the fuel cost and consumption parameters of a sub-critical unit like the Ropar Thermal Plant cannot be compared with those of super-critical units that employ advanced technology. He argued that using such comparisons to justify his suspension was technically flawed and unjustified.
On the other hand, PSPCL submitted before the court that under the Punishment and Appeal Regulations, 1971, an alternative remedy of appeal is available to the petitioner. The Corporation assured that, if he files an appeal, it would be decided within one month.
Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers Association has strongly opposed the manner in which the suspension was carried out. The association stated that critical technical data of thermal plants was ignored and the decision appeared to be based on faulty logic. They also questioned the legality of decisions taken by the CMD, whose appointment, they alleged, violates the government’s own eligibility norms for the post.
Senior retired engineers have also demanded an impartial inquiry into what they termed an illegal suspension.