Jammu, Aug 14: Jammu and Kashmir Power Employees and Engineers Coordination Committee (JKPEECC) on Friday called off its indefinite strike immediately after JPDCL management conceded its major demand of revocation of suspension orders during post-midnight negotiations.
The PDD employees, on the call of JKPEECC, had gone on indefinite strike on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in support of their demands including immediate revocation of suspension orders, registration of FIRs in power theft cases and a comprehensive SOP for damaged meters.
A memorandum of agreement, on the 9-point charter of demands projected by JKPEECC, was signed at around 1.45 am following hours-long deliberations and negotiations held among Sachin Tickoo, convenor JKPEECC and president JKEEGA, Sanjay Sharma president DEA and Gurpal Singh, Managing Director, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL).
Singh was also joined by Arshad Hussain Reshi, Chief Engineer (Distribution), JPDCL; Ravi Kant Kalsotra, Chief Engineer (Projects), JPDCL; Anil Verma, Superintending Engineer (Technical officer to Managing Director JPDCL) and Rohit Bhagotra, CEO (IT) during the deliberations.
With regard to demand for registration of FIRs in electricity-theft cases where the requisite cases are submitted by the concerned SDOs to the respective Police Stations or SHOs under the provisions of Section 135(1A) of the Central Electricity Act, 2003, it was agreed upon by JPDCL management that complaints as well as any other action as mandated by Section 135(1A) read with Section 151 of the Electricity Act 2003 will be filed or taken by the authorised officer of JPDCL.
The competent authority of JPDCL will authorise the officer concerned for this purpose within four weeks.
With regard to immediate revocation of suspension orders issued vide numbers 187-192/MD/JPDCL of 2026 all dated August 6, 2026, show cause notices issued vide MD/JPDCL/1605-07, 1608-10 dated August 6, 2026 along with detachment of staff of Miran Sahib sub division attached in Managing Director office and other places, the management informed that suspension orders were revoked and show cause notices have been kept in abeyance.
Besides, the attached staff (of Miran Sahib sub division) was relieved and placed at the disposal of Superintending Engineer, O&M Circle, Jammu.
Revocation of suspension orders pertained to six employees. They included two linemen, two meter-readers, one Junior Engineer (JE) and one Assistant Engineer (AE), who is presently promoted to the rank of Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE).
In case of demand for comprehensive SOP for damaged meters, Chief Engineer (Distribution), JPDCL; CEO (IT), JPDCL and Technical Officer (TO) to MD JPDCL assured to frame it (SOP) on this issue within a month’s time. For this purpose, they will be at liberty to take reference to similar SOPs issued by other DISCOMs as well as Central Electricity Authority and also hold consultation with RECPDCL.
Regarding SOP for billing of damaged or non-communicating meters in accordance with JERC regulations, it was agreed that before the next billing cycle i.e., for month of September, the matter will be taken up with the JERC for resolution.
In case of demand about contractual or penal action against REC and executing agencies where deficiencies are established in the supply, installation, replacement, communication or maintenance of meters under the relevant contracts, the management agreed that action would be taken as per contract and necessary responsibility will be fixed on the PIA or AMISP concerned.
It was agreed that suspensions against employees in cases of the detection of theft will be taken after following rules or enforcement mechanisms.
To address the concerns of employees regarding action related to solar installations performance, apart from the awareness activities carried out by DISCOM, the vendors of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana empanelled by JPDCL for the installation of solar roof top will also be encouraged to organise fairs, banners, promotion activities, in order to percolate the message for consumers. Any action, if required, will be taken only after assessing the performance.
With regard to the demand that accountability must be systemic, it was assured that the complete enforcement chain will function together i.e., detection, inspection and meter verification.
In case of violation, action will be taken under Section 135 read with Section 151 of the Electricity Act 2003.
It was assured that the DPCs of all cadres will be conducted on a fast-track basis as per the circulars of GAD.
