Engineers cry foul over politically motivated transfers, urge CMD to halt victimisation affecting power sector
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ January 19,2026
Today, once again Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Association (PSEBEA) has raised the victimisation of powercom engineers at political behests with CMD, PSPCL and urges him to reverse ‘Arbitrary and Vindictive Transfer Orders of Engineers’.
In a letter to CMD with a copy to chief minister, power minister, directors, PSEBA said “ It is our bounden duty as a professional body of Power Engineers to caution the management of various issues being faced by the power sector. A few political leaders are taking advantage of their status to gain privileges and influence over the working of the power corporations and threatening those upright engineers/ employees, who do not toe their line, of dire consequences and transfers to faraway places.”
General Secretary of the PSEBEA Ajaypal Singh Atwal said “Your (CMD’s) attention is invited to the recent transfer orders of engineers, whereby officers have been posted to far-flung locations in a manner that appears punitive and vindictive. These transfers are being perceived as acts of harassment against honest engineers who have diligently acted to prevent theft of energy, have taken action against erring contractors causing financial loss to the Corporation. It is widely felt that these actions have been carried out at the behest of political bosses rather than on administrative or functional grounds.”
“Such transfers send a disturbing message to the engineering fraternity, that adherence to rules, protection of the Corporation’s interests, and integrity in decision-making will invite punishment, while unquestioning compliance with extraneous directions will be rewarded. This approach seeks to instil fear and compel engineers to toe the line of political bosses, even when such directions are contrary to rules and detrimental to the state power sector. Such an environment, if allowed to continue, will inevitably lead to administrative chaos and anarchy” added Atwal.
Jasvir Singh Dhiman, president PSEBEA said “Instead of leading by example, the growing tendency to control engineers through fear and intimidation demonstrates a lack of faith in established institutional mechanisms of checks and balances. This uncalled-for interference in the day-to-day functioning of the department has begun to severely demoralise honest and hardworking officers. It is adversely affecting not only the health of the power sector but also the public image of the political leadership.”
PSEBEA spokesperson said “We request that all such transfers and victimisation of engineers be immediately reversed to save Power Engineers/ employees from such a hostile environment so that the power sector of Punjab can function.”
