Power engineers accuse Govt of delaying regularisation

Srinagar, June 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) has reiterated its call for a one-day protest across the Union Territory on June 18 to press for the long-pending regularisation of engineers in the Power Development Department (PDD).

JKEEGA has strongly criticised the government for its failure to act on the regularisation of engineers despite holding a crucial meeting of the Establishment-cum-Selection Committee on January 20. According to the association, even after four months, the government has not released the Minutes of Meeting (MoM), leading to growing resentment and suspicion among the engineering fraternity.

“It is deeply unfortunate that a matter as critical as regularisation, which affects the morale, service security, and administrative efficiency of hundreds of engineers, is being met with such indifference. The absence of the MoM even after four months suggests a lack of sincerity and urgency on the part of the government,” said Er Pirzada Hidayatullah, President of JKEEGA.

The association warned that the repeated deferrals and administrative inaction are eroding the trust of engineers who have served the department faithfully for years. “The delay in regularisation is not just about promotions; it is about restoring dignity to those who have worked in challenging conditions to keep the power infrastructure running. Our engineers deserve clarity and timely decisions, not bureaucratic silence,” Hidayatullah said.

JKEEGA has appealed to the government to take immediate corrective steps before the protest date to avoid statewide demonstrations. The protest on June 18 will be held simultaneously in Jammu and Srinagar, with participation expected from engineers of various cadres across the power sector.

The association reaffirmed that its demand is legitimate and long overdue. It also emphasised that regularisation is not merely a career milestone for the engineers but a structural requirement for the smooth functioning and accountability of the Power Development Department.

Unless the government takes decisive action before the deadline, JKEEGA has resolved to intensify its agitation in the coming weeks, citing the widespread discontent and growing unrest among engineers across the Union Territory, he said.