Telangana HC orders review of power utility promotions since 2014

The Story in Brief

The Telangana High Court has directed all electricity utilities, Transco, Genco, Southern Power Distribution Company and Northern Power Distribution Company, to review every promotion granted since 2 June 2014 and complete the exercise within six months. The order, passed by Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka, came on petitions filed by BC and OC employees’ associations challenging the manner in which promotions and seniority were handled after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The dispute arose when several employees received conditional promotions, which were later cancelled following litigation over employees allocated from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, causing reversions and prolonged seniority fights. The court ordered the review in line with the principles laid down in State of Telangana v. S. Prakash. It directed management to consider BC and OC employees who were deprived of promotions, but also made clear that no employee adversely affected by the review can be displaced without being heard. The court also permitted review of a 2019 judgment and closed contempt proceedings against the utilities’ CMDs. The matter returns on 18 February 2027.