TNERC denies charges of irregularities in power purchase

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has told the Madras High Court that there were no irregularities in purchase of power and violation of rules in revision of power tariff as made out in a PIL.
In its counter to the PIL filed by a former electricity board employee who alleged the state suffered losses to the tune of Rs one lakh crore because of delayed power projects and purchase of power from private players, TNERC Secretary P Sivanandam contended the petition was liable to be dismissed as it 'lacked merits' and contained 'baseless allegations'.
The Electricity Act, 2003 vested statutory powers with the Commission. Instead of approaching it, petitioner C Selvaraj had directly approached the high court.

As such, the petition was filed in 'complete ignorance of writ jurisdiction' and was 'abuse of power of law,' the TNERC counter affidavit submitted.
It also defended power purchase from private players saying the power generated by the state utility was insufficient.
The PIL requested the court to appoint an administrator to manage TNERC's affairs and had also sought a Special Investigation Team comprising eminent citisens such as former CAG Vinod Rai to probe his charges.
Taking note of the counter, a bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, directed the union Power Secretary, former TNEB Chairman Gnandesikan and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to file their replies on July 7.