NEW DELHI: After his predecessor was removed by the then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on 21 September, 2016, Justice Satyendra Singh Chauhan of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court was on Friday appointed as chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), an official said.
Chauhan's appointment was approved by L-G Anil Baijal, according to a letter issued by Delhi's Special Secretary (Power).
Chauhan, a Lucknow University law graduate, will retire from the bench on July 4.
At present, the commission has just one member, BP Singh, owing to which no major decisions are being undertaken.
DERC is a statutory body of Delhi government, which fully regulates all disputes of distribution companies regarding power supply in the Capital.
The Commission is Delhi's power regulator and is responsible for fixing tariffs, apart from making other important power-related decisions.
It is pertinent to mention that former L-G Jung had rejected the appointment of Krishna Saini from the post of DERC chairmanship.
During Jung's tenure, Saini was removed after the August 4, 2016, ruling by the Delhi High Court, stating that "L-G was the administrative head and all government decisions needed his approval."
"The Council of ministers of Delhi government had
constituted a selection Committee to select the chairperson and members of DERC without the approval of L-G, which is mandated as per rules. Further, the Council of ministers appointed Saini, as DERC chairman without the approval of the L-G," the L-G's office had then said.