Court issues notice to Punjab govt, Rana Gurjit, PSPCL

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today sought response from the Punjab government, PSPCL and cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh by November 14 on a plea alleging conflict of interest in dealing with the affairs of the power distribution company.
A division bench comprising justices Ajay Kumar Mittal and Amit Rawal issued notice to the state government, Punjab State Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) and power minister Singh on the PIL filed by advocate Hari Chand.
In the plea, Chand stated that Singh be restrained from dealing with the affairs of PSPCL, particularly in the matters relating to the determination of tariff and shutting down of government thermal plants at Bathinda, Ropar, Rajpura.

He alleged that Singh and his wife Rana Rajbans Kaur were majority shareholders in Rana Sugar Mills, a company producing power.
The company has signed two agreements for sale of power to PSPCL. One agreement is of December 4, 2012, and the other is ofMay 4, 2005, each for a period of 12 years, he said.
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which determines power tariff is bound by the policy decisions of the state government.

"Thus, Singh has conflicting interest as an individual and as a cabinet minister. Such a person should not have been given the portfolio of the power ministry," he contended.

Chand had protested to the chief minister on April 22, 2017, when the power ministry portfolio was given to Singh.
He said that the state government was in the process of deciding on a proposal to shut down the thermal power plants.
The closing the plants would directly benefit private companies, he said.