CHANDIGARH, Haryana’s electricity employees have called off their three-day statewide strike following discussions with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Power Minister Anil Vij, bringing immediate relief to consumers affected by disruptions in power supply. The decision came after the state government assured employee representatives that it would take action against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant a private company a parallel electricity distribution licence for Gurugram and Nuh. The government has begun steps to challenge the regulatory order and is exploring legal and administrative options to prevent its implementation. During the discussions, Saini assured the employees that the state’s electricity sector would not be privatised, addressing one of the principal concerns behind the industrial action. The strike, which began on October 22, was called by electricity employees and engineers opposing HERC’s decision to grant Eleven Power Private Limited a 25-year distribution licence for the two districts. The employees’ unions had argued that allowing a private company to operate alongside state-owned distribution utilities amounted to indirect privatisation and could affect workers’ interests and the future of public-sector power distribution. The dispute had also caused considerable inconvenience to consumers, with reports of power outages in parts of Haryana, including Gurugram and other areas. With the strike withdrawn, employees have said electricity supply should be restored immediately and normal operations resumed. The state government’s response includes pursuing legal remedies against the HERC order and considering intervention under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which provides for policy directions to the regulator in matters of public interest. The government had earlier indicated that it would approach the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) and seek a stay on the licence. However, the regulatory order has not been reported as formally stayed, and the legal process remains a key part of the dispute. The next meeting between the government and employee representatives has been scheduled for November 3 at 3 pm, when the progress of the proposed action is expected to be reviewed. The withdrawal of the strike has eased the immediate confrontation, but the underlying disagreement over the private distribution licence remains unresolved. The outcome of the government’s next steps will be closely watched by electricity employees, consumers and businesses in Gurugram and Nuh, where the proposed parallel distribution arrangement could have significant implications for the future delivery of power services.
