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DERC chief concedes son worked in BSES

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 9. In a counter affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) Chairman, V. K. Sood, has conceded that his son worked in the BSES, the power company, which is responsible for the distribution of electricity in two-thirds area of the Capital against whom the DERC issues tariff order.

Mr. Sood has filed the counter affidavit in response to a writ petition filed by the DERC Director (Administration), Aruna Bhatia, challenging the Chairman's repatriation order. A one-judge bench of Justice Vijender Jain stayed the repatriation order till the next date of hearing of the case on November 12.

In his counter affidavit, Mr. Sood termed as "mischievous and baseless'' allegation of Ms. Bhatia that he misused his official status to get a job for his son, Vishesh Sood, in BSES, which she alleged was in violation of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. At the same time, the DERC Chairman said his son `upon being duly selected' joined BSES as Management Trainee at a consolidated stipend of Rs. 10,000 per month for a year.

Holder of MBA degree (2002), Vishesh, "however tendered his resignation soon after,'' Mr. Sood claimed. However, the dates of joining of Vishesh, tenure of his job and date of his resignation is not mentioned in the affidavit.

Mr. Sood claimed all the authorities concerned knew this information. As per the Section 5(2) of the Delhi Electricity Reforms Act, members of Regulatory Commission including Chairman should inform the Selection Committee and divest their -- including relatives-- interest months in any company which is in the business of generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity, manufacture, sale or supply of any fuel for generation of power, manufacture, sale lease, hire or otherwise supply of or dealing in machinery or plants for generation, transmission and power distribution or any entity providing professional services to such companies. This divestment of interest should be done within three months of taking charges, the Act says.

In his counter affidavit, Mr. Sood denied all charges of Ms. Bhatia and urged the Court to vacate the stay. He claimed Ms. Bhatia's pre-mature repatriation was mainly because of "abysmal performance coupled with bad behaviour''. He claimed that all the allegations were "baseless'' and "contain no specifics''. Mr. Sood refuted Ms. Bhatia's charges that he demanded $ 500 per day as DA for his trip to the U.S. against the entitlement of $75, regularisation of his driver who was over age and not qualified, claimed LTC of his son.

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