HC notice on OERC Chairmans appointment

CUTTACK: Acting on a PIL challenging the appointment of the Chairman and Secretary of OERC, a division bench of the Orissa High Court comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra has issued notice to the State Government and the OERC. Petitioner Dillip Kumar Mohapatra, an advocate and social activist of Cuttack, has filed the petition alleging that the State Government did not follow laws while appointing  the Chairperson and the latter too in appointing the Secretary of the Commission.  It has been alleged by the petitioner that the Commission without framing regulation under the Electricity Act had given several appointments without open advertisement and without following the procedures. The Commission had given appointments to unqualified and incompetent persons, paying exorbitant salary and service benefits at the cost of the public money.  The petitioner stated before the court that in 2008-09 the Commission had spent a little more than ` 1.5 crore towards salary whereas in 2009-10 the expenses towards salary were more than ` 4 crore. Indicating other aspects, he has appealed to the court to quash such appointments and direct the State Government to frame Rules and Regulations forsmooth functioning of the Commission.