HC notice to AAP govt on appointment of directors in discoms

The Delhi High Court today sought reply from the AAP government on a plea challenging the appointment of nomineee directors on the boards of three power distribution companies in the capital without the approval of Lieutenant Governor (LG).
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to Delhi government and Delhi Power Company Limited and tagged the matter with one other similar petition challenging constitution of a commission of inquiry in CNG fitness certificate scam.
"Issue notice to the respondents. This is a matter similar to the petition challenging commission of inquiry in CNG fitness certificate scam," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing on September 23.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate Kirti Uppal, appearing for petitioner Sandeep Tiwari, said Delhi government had appointed nominee directors on the boards of DISCOMs through June 18 notification, which should be declared null and void as no prior approval of LG was taken.
He said that as per the Union Home Ministry notification of May 21, 2015, all the executive appointment are required to be made by or with the approval of the LG, Delhi.
"It is therefore submitted that the said appointment of private members/non-bureaucrats as the nominee directors on the board of three DISCOMs is complete arbitrary and in violations of the constitutional and statutory provisions and such liable to be quashed by this court," the PIL said.

It asked the court to declare the nomination on the boards of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd as illegal and unconstitutional.
"These appointment of nominee directors have been made in complete departure to the prevalent practice of appointing senior government officials of the ranks of chief secretary, principle secretary and chief financial secretary etc, on the board of DISCOMs as the nominee directors of GNCTD," the plea said.