Jung sets aside AAP govt's appointment of DERC chief

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today scrapped the appointment of Krishna Saini as chairperson of Delhi's power regulator DERC by AAP government on grounds of legal infirmities, further escalating the already intense confrontation between the two sides.
The LG's office said Saini was appointed to the top post of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) in March without approval of Jung as mandated under rules and procedures.
"In the given circumstances, the appointment of Chairperson, DERC has been declared as void, ab initio," the LG's office said in a statement.
Jung has also directed the government to initiate the process for selection of the chairperson of the DERC immediately, in accordance with law.

Saini, a former Chief Income Tax Commissioner, was appointed to head the regulator, which takes crucial decisions relating to power sector including tariff, in March without Jung's approval.
"As per Section 85, Electricity Act, 2003, the Selection Committee is to be constituted by the State Government. The power and functions of the State Government have been delegated to the LG vide government of India notification dated February 20, 2004.

"Further, the Council of Ministers appointed Sh. Krishna Saini as Chairperson, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) without the approval of the Lt Governor," Jung's office said in a statement.
It said as the constitution of the selection committee as well as the appointment of DERC chairperson was done without putting up the matter to Jung for his concurrence, the entire process has been vitiated right from the beginning and "suffers from serious legal infirmities".

While appointing Saini, the AAP government had cited a Delhi High Court order of February 24 saying it was allowed permission to go ahead with his appointment.
Saini had retired as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax in January.
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Later talking to reporters, Jung said Saini's appointment was quashed as it was "irregular".
Power experts said the LG's decision will further delay the tariff fixation process and all other directives issued by the government to DERC under Section 108 of the Electricity Act without the approval of the LG.
The government, which has time and again held the performance of the discoms as "atrocious", had ordered the DERC to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts

The Delhi High Court, in its August 4 order, had also termed as illegal the appointment of nominee directors of the Delhi government in the boards of the three discoms.