CERC to resume operations as government appoints member law

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is soon expected to resume operations as the government late on Friday approved appointment of Pravas Kumar Singh as member law of the regulatory body.

CERC has not held hearings since August 28, after the Supreme Court asked two of its members to go on leave till the time a member-law is appointed. This left the regulator with just chairperson P K Pujari while the quorum for hearings is two members, besides the chair.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal for appointment of Pravas Kumar Singh, member (legal), Jharkhand SERC to the post of member (law) in the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, an official statement said.

Interestingly, the appointment has been made for a period of five years while the tenure of Pujari and other recently appointed members was fixed as three years. Pujari’s term ends next month.

Sources said Singh’s appointment tenure is based on recommendations from the ministry of power.