A power distribution poser

EACH CASE OF PRIVATISATION HAS BEEN A LESSON FOR THE NEXT

- SOMIT DASGUPTA

AST MONTH (DECEMBER 2, 2024), the apex court ruled in favour of the government's intent to privatise the power distribution business in Chandigarh. The Supreme Court, in its verdict, decided not to interfere in the ruling of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, which had upheld the decision of the government of India to privatise. The central government had announced in 2021 its plans to privatise the distribution business in all Union Territories (UTs), currently being undertaken by their respective power departments. The ball has been set in motion in all the UTs, and the first success was in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu where a well-known private utility took over in 2022. In all the other UTs, the matter is being pursued, although in the case of Puducherry it has gone to litigation just like Chandigarh.