After High Court’s intervention, electricity restored in Chandigarh

The ongoing strike by power department employees in Chandigarh ended on Wednesday following a High Court order. Owing to the strike of the employees, the power was cut off in Chandigarh city due to which the people had to face a lot of trouble. On Tuesday, Military engineering Services took charge of the city after the administration sought help from them.

Employees are adamant not to privatize the power department. People faced the burnt for the battle between the administration and the employees. Following this, the High Court, while hearing the case, reprimanded the employees of the power department and said that the matter was under consideration in the court and that the strike should not have been called.

At the same time, the High Court has made it clear that the matter is a gross violation and it is wrong to go on strike when the matter is under consideration in the High Court. Harassment of people will not be tolerated at all, the court added.

The High Court adjourned the case till Thursday and said that first the power supply to the entire city should be restored. The next hearing will be held after this. The administration also claimed that power would be restored soon. Following the High Court’s reprimand, the power department employees called off the strike.

The employees have since returned to duty and are working to restore power supply. The High Court has fixed March 10 for the next hearing in the case. In this regard Banwarilal Purohit, Administrator, UT, Chandigarh held a meeting with Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator, Col. Jasdeep Sandhu Adviser-cum-Principal Director, Civil Military Affairs, Western Command and other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration to review the ongoing situation of power break-down in the city.

Purohit appreciated the efforts of Western Command Army authorities in extending their support in restoring the power supply in various pockets of the city in a record time by deploying technical manpower throughout the night with complete synergy. The Essential Services (Maintenance) Act was imposed yesterday in the city to prohibit the strike of the employees of Electricity Department for a period of six months.

The decision was taken in public interest, as the essential services faced a setback due to the ongoing strike.

The Chandigarh Administration has already imposed Section 144 in the city. The Administration resumed discussions with the representatives of Power Union. The Administrator again assured the employees of Electricity Department that their wages and benefits will not be hampered with any administrative decision. He also appealed them not to repeat any act which is not in public interest.

The electricity has been restored in most of the areas after verifying the faults. The Administration is thankful to the residents for their co-operation and regrets the inconvenience caused to them.

Union leader Subhash Lamba said that we have reached an agreement with the administration.

He said the union would take legal action to enforce its demands.