The Supreme Court has decided to look into a request regarding the lack of regular appointments for the chairperson and members of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). A group called Energy Watchdog, represented by lawyer Pranav Sachdeva, filed the request. They argued that without proper leadership and members, DERC cannot function effectively. This could cause problems for people trying to resolve issues related to electricity in Delhi.
The petition pointed out that the current setup of DERC is not following the law. It has only two temporary members and no chairperson. There is also no legal expert on the commission, which is required by Supreme Court rules. The petition said this makes it impossible for DERC to handle its duties fairly and independently.
Mr. Sachdeva explained that the temporary setup is causing delays in appointments. He emphasized that regular, long-term appointments are necessary to ensure DERC operates without government interference. Without proper leadership, the commission cannot make decisions or resolve disputes as intended by the Electricity Act.
The petition also mentioned a previous Supreme Court case where it was noted that problems in DERC were due to a lack of autonomy. The absence of a legal expert on the commission makes it unable to perform its judicial duties, violating principles like separation of powers and independent judgment.
This situation, the petition argued, affects people’s rights under the Constitution and their ability to seek justice through the Electricity Act. Without proper DERC functioning, petitions related to electricity issues are not being addressed, leaving consumers without a fair process.