Jammu, Aug 11: J&K power employees will go on strike from August 13 against the suspension of PDD engineers and employees by MD JPDCL without inquiries and withholding of salaries for alleged inaction against the habitual offenders in terms of power theft and execution of Surya Ghar scheme.
J&K Power Employees and Engineers Coordination Committee (JKPEECC) convener SachinTickoo, in a press conference at Jammu while giving an ultimatum of 48-hours to Managing Director JPDCL, announced that the strike would continue till the revocation of order related to suspension and withholding of salaries.
Tickoo, who is also the president of JKEEGA, stated, “Yesterday Power Employees and Engineers Coordination Committee tried to meet the Managing Director (MD) JPDCL to raise this issue. We conveyed that it was an arbitrary move to suspend engineers and other employees, without any inquiry and giving them an opportunity to present their case.”
He stated, “Despite the fact that stringent measures, including disconnection of power supply, have been taken against habitual offenders of power theft and applications have been sent to SSPs and SHOs for registration of FIRs. But no concrete action has been taken in case of those FIRs against the habitual offenders since 2024. Ironically, action is being taken against the employees and engineers. They are being suspended.”
Tickoo alleged that the salaries of PDD employees were being withheld for not making Solar (Surya) Ghar scheme a success in Dharmari, Reasi, Pouni, Rajouri, Poonch, Kotranka, Ramban and Banihal.
“Committee members asked the MD JPDCL to revoke suspension orders within 48 hours, otherwise all J&K Power employees will go on strike from August 13,” Tickoo said.
He alleged that MD JPDCL concealed information from the administrative department about the action taken by PDD employees and engineers.
“The suspensions were made although their (employees’) superior officers, including Chief Engineer did not indict them. 25000 smart meters are damaged. Has any action been taken on that account? MD JPDCL, on moral ground, should resign for not taking any action against the (smart meter) agencies,” Tickoo demanded.
JKPEECC members present in the presser sought immediate revocation of the suspension orders on the basis of the action taken reports submitted by the concerned Chief Engineer Distribution and Superintending Engineer O&M Circle-I in the instant case vide Chief Engineer and Superintending Engineer, O&M Circle, JPDCL, Jammu letter No SE-J/O&M/4062-64 dated June 25, 2026 and July 3, 2026 and July 19, 2026.
They demanded immediate accountability for the damaged and non-communicating 25000 smart meters “Secondly Immediate action should be taken for registration of FIRs in all pending cases of electricity theft where the requisite cases have already been submitted by the concerned SDOs to the respective Police Stations and SHOs. Approximately 2,000 such cases are awaiting registration,” they stated.
“If Engineers and officials are being held accountable for theft, the statutory enforcement mechanism must simultaneously be made functional. Further despite hard work, for reducing AT&C losses in Jammu region to below 30 percent, instead of accolades, suspension orders are being issued against our officers and officials,” they rued.
They pointed out that the salary of engineers and officials in various divisions and sub divisions of JPDCL had been withheld for the last two months on account of not being able to meet the targets set by JPDCL for solar installations.
JKPEECC appealed to the Chief Minister, who is also holding the charge of Power Development Department (PDD) and Financial Commissioner (ACS) JKPDD to intervene in the matter, so that the issue was resolved without further loss of precious time.
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