The Haryana government has appointed retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Arun Kumar Gupta as the Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC). Gupta, a 1992-batch IAS officer who served as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini until about five weeks ago, will head the state’s power regulator for five years from the date he takes oath of office, or until he turns 65, whichever is earlier.
The appointment order was issued on Friday by Ashima Brar, Commissioner and Secretary of the state Energy Department, under Sections 82 and 89 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which deal with the constitution of regulatory commissions and the terms of office and service conditions of their members. According to the UNI news agency, the appointment has been made by the Governor of Haryana. His appointment will be governed by the Act and by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (Conditions of Service of Chairman and Member) Rules, 1998.
Gupta retired from service on 30 September this year after a long career in the Haryana administration. He was appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister in November 2024, and earlier held senior charges including Additional Chief Secretary of the Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates Department and of the Industries and Commerce Department, and Finance Secretary of the state government. The HERC chairperson’s post had fallen vacant following the death of Nand Lal Sharma on 23 July 2026.
Gupta takes charge of the regulator at a sensitive moment. On 19 October, the commission granted Eleven Power Private Limited a 25-year parallel distribution licence for Gurugram and Nuh, a decision that triggered protests by power employees, who went on a three-day strike from 22 October that caused power outages in parts of the state. The strike ended after Chief Minister Saini assured employees that private players would not be allowed to enter power distribution. On 26 October, the Energy Department invoked Section 108(1) of the Electricity Act to direct the commission not to create or operationalise parallel distribution licences anywhere in the state, and on 3 November the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam filed a joint review petition seeking reconsideration of the 19 October order. The new chairman will now steer the regulator through that dispute.
FAQs
Who is the new Chairman of HERC? Retired 1992-batch IAS officer Arun Kumar Gupta, who served as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
How long is the HERC Chairman’s tenure? Five years from taking oath of office, or till age 65, whichever is earlier.
Why was the HERC Chairman’s post vacant? It fell vacant after the death of Nand Lal Sharma on 23 July 2026.
Next Action: Read how the same week brought a 3 per cent dearness allowance hike for Haryana government employees and pensioners — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/haryana-da-hike-63-percent-july-2026/
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