PSPCL’s Double Standard: relief for one, silence for another; powercom’s uneven action raises questions
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 25,2026
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has revoked the suspension of Chief Engineer Er. Harish Kumar Sharma and posted him as Chief Engineer (AAR & TR) in Patiala, months after disciplinary action was initiated against him. However, no decision has been taken so far regarding the reinstatement of Director (Power Generation) Harjit Singh, whose services were terminated around the same time on similar allegations.
On November 1, 2025, the Administrative Secretary (Power)-cum-CMD, PSPCL, ordered the suspension of Harish Kumar Sharma, who was then serving as Chief Engineer at Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Power Plant, Ropar, and also held additional charge of Guru Amardas Thermal Power Plant, Goindwal Sahib.
The action was based on allegations that the cost of power generation at these plants was significantly higher than at other thermal plants in the state, allegedly causing losses worth several crores to the corporation. Despite PSPCL having its own coal mine at Pachhwara in Jharkhand, the generation cost at Ropar and Goindwal Sahib plants was reportedly Rs 0.75 to Rs 1.25 per unit higher than that of other plants.
According to available information, no charges were framed, no charge sheet was issued, and no explanation was sought from Sharma during his suspension period. The corporation has now revoked his suspension without publicly detailing the findings of any inquiry.
Just three days later, on November 4, 2025, PSPCL terminated the services of its Director (Power Generation), Harjit Singh, citing alleged misappropriation of funds that reportedly led to inflated fuel costs at state-run thermal plants. Notably, the allegations cited in his case were similar to those mentioned in Sharma’s suspension order.
Despite the revocation of Sharma’s suspension, the termination order of Harjit Singh remains in place.
When contacted, Administrative Secretary (Power)-cum-CMD PSPCL Basant Garg, IAS, maintained that the two cases were not based on identical charges. “His (Harjit Singh’s) services were not terminated on the same charges that were made against Harish Kumar. Please check before taking up this issue,” he said. When informed that the charges are similar and the relevant orders would be shared, he responded, “Okay, I’ll see it.” The documents were subsequently forwarded to him, but there was no response to further calls. He avoided to take calls and to talk on this important issue.
The post of director generation is still vacant.
Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers’ Association has reiterated its demand for reconsideration of Harjit Singh’s case. General Secretary Ajaypal Singh Atwal said the association had been raising both issues since the beginning. “We took up the termination of Harjit Singh and the suspension of Harish Kumar with the management, the government, and the Chief Minister from day one. We held protests, staged dharnas, and submitted representations from time to time. Now that Harish Kumar’s suspension has been revoked, we will again take up Harjit Singh’s case, as his services were terminated on similar grounds,” he said.
