Chandigarh: The Haryana govt will challenge the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) decision granting an electricity distribution licence for Gurugram and Nuh to a private entity, energy minister Anil Vij announced on Wednesday.




The state will file an appeal along with a stay petition before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) within five to six days, ahead of the 45-day statutory deadline.




Vij told the media that the govt stands firmly with state power employees and is prepared to take the legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court if required. His statements come amid a strike call issued by the Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Sanyukt Sangarsh Morcha in protest against the licensing decision.




Vij clarified that the state govt had neither invited private proposals nor initiated privatisation efforts.




The application was submitted directly by a private party under provisions of the central Electricity Act, 2003, which permits eligible entities to seek distribution licences independently through HERC.




Vij emphasised that state utilities strongly contested the petition before HERC through senior legal counsel.




Though rules permit 45 days, the energy department has been instructed to complete filing requirements within 5 to 6 days to seek an immediate stay on the order.




Urging protesting workers to reconsider their proposed agitation, the minister highlighted that the govt’s legal opposition aligns with the employees’ concerns.




“Every problem can be resolved through dialogue, and my doors are always open,“ Vij stated, inviting union representatives to collaborate with state legal teams or propose alternative strategies.




Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini held high-level meetings with senior officers to assess the situation and is expected to interact with power union leaders to resolve the impasse and safeguard worker interests.