Breaking: Power employees serve fresh 3-day strike notice over privatization, sets Dec 1 deadline
Babushahi Bureau
Kurukshetra (Haryana), October 16, 2026: The Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Struggle Front has served a fresh three-day strike notice on the state government, warning of a strike from December 1 to 3 if its demands, including opposition to power sector privatisation, are not accepted.
Joint Front leader Ravindra Ghanghas said in a letter to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini that power employees and engineers would go on strike if the government failed to address their demands before December 1.
He said the front had earlier postponed its planned strike from August 11 to 13 for two months following a meeting with Power Minister Anil Vij on August 10. However, none of the employees’ demands had been accepted so far, he added.
The front has raised concerns over the government’s plans for power sector restructuring. It said the dismantling of the State Electricity Board had been justified on the promise of improving efficiency, but departmental losses had continued to mount.
The proposed establishment of an ‘Agro-DISCOM’, a separate distribution company for the agricultural sector, has also drawn opposition from the employees’ body. The front argued that dedicated feeders for farmers already exist.
It has also expressed concern over the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s move to grant a parallel electricity distribution licence to a private company in Gurugram and Nuh.
The Joint Front has warned that any notification related to privatisation or the on-ground implementation of smart meters would be treated as a notice for an indefinite strike.
Meanwhile, V K Gupta, media adviser to the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), said the Joint Front would organise a state-level convention of farmers, workers, employees, engineers and consumers in Rohtak on October 17.
The employees’ other demands include restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for all power sector employees, relief for contractual and temporary staff, and a policy to regularise daily-wage workers.
They are also seeking adequate monthly risk allowances for employees performing hazardous duties, timely promotions, cashless medical insurance and free electricity units for employees.