The Union power ministry has initiated the process of selecting a Chairperson for Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). The post, currently occupied by R.K. Pujari, will fall vacant on June 12, 2022.
The power ministry has invited applications from suitable candidates, so as to reach the ministry by August 16, 2021.
A note by the power ministry observed that the anticipated vacancy of Chairperson, CERC, is required to be filled up from the field of economics, commerce or management, since there already area members from the engineering, finance and law category.
The current composition of CERC includes – R.K. Pujari (Chairman, appointed on February 1, 2018 and continuing), Indu Shekar Jha (Member), Arun Goyal (Member) and Pravas Kumar Singh (Member – Law). CERC also has an ex-officio member belonging to Central Electricity Authority.
Pravas Kumar Singh, who was earlier Member-Legal, Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC), was appointed as Member-Legal, CERC, in February this year.
It is also worth recalling that a Supreme Court ruling mandated that CERC and all SERCs should have a Member-Legal. Delay on part of the Central government in appointing such a member to the CERC had resulted in a five-month long hiatus in CERC’s functioning, starting from August 28, 2020.
The tenure of Chairperson, CERC is five years. Past chairpersons of CERC include:
- Gireesh B. Pradhan (October 22, 2013 to December 17, 2017)
- Dr Pramod Deo (June 9, 2008 to June 8, 2013)
- A.K. Basu (April 4, 2002 to March 23, 2007)
- Prof. S.L. Rao (August 3, 1998 to January 21, 2001)
CERC was constituted on July 24, 1998.
