<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — apex judicial body responsible for interpreting the Constitution and ensuring rule of law (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has issued a notice in a <span class="key-term" data-definition="Public Interest Litigation (PIL) — a legal petition filed in the interest of the public to enforce rights or address policy failures (GS2: Polity)">PIL</span> filed by the NGO Energy Watchdog. The petition seeks directions to the <strong>Government of NCT of Delhi</strong> to constitute a <span class="key-term" data-definition="Selection Committee — a body mandated to recommend appointments to statutory posts, ensuring transparency and merit (GS2: Polity)">Selection Committee</span> for regularising appointments to the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) — statutory body that regulates electricity supply, tariffs and consumer protection in Delhi (GS3: Economy)">Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC)</span>.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>The bench comprising <strong>CJI Surya Kant</strong> and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order after hearing counsel Pranav Sachdeva.</li>
<li>The petition invokes <span class="key-term" data-definition="Section 84 & Section 85 — provisions of the Electricity Act that prescribe the composition and appointment procedure for members of electricity regulatory commissions (GS3: Economy)">Sections 84 and 85</span> of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Electricity Act, 2003 — central legislation governing generation, transmission, distribution and regulation of electricity in India (GS3: Economy)">Electricity Act, 2003</span> and the assurance given by the Delhi government in 2025 to complete regular appointments "expeditiously".</li>
<li>The petitioner urges that at least one member of the commission be a person of law, as mandated by the Supreme Court in the 2018 <em>State of Gujarat v. Utility Users' Welfare Association</em> judgment.</li>
<li>Current composition of DERC is limited to two pro‑tem members, with no Chairperson and no judicial member, contravening the statutory requirements.</li>
<li>Complaints against <span class="key-term" data-definition="DISCOMs — Distribution Companies responsible for delivering electricity to end‑consumers; regulated under the Electricity Act (GS3: Economy)">DISCOMs</span> under Section 142 of the Electricity Act have not been listed since 15 July 2025, violating consumer rights under <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 14 of the Indian Constitution — guarantees equality before law and equal protection of the laws (GS2: Polity)">Article 14</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 21 of the Indian Constitution — guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, interpreted to include the right to a healthy environment (GS2: Polity)">Article 21</span>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<ul>
<li
Loading page, please wait…