The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded that the Election Commission should debar KD Chaudhri, CMD of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd from working during the duration of the election code of conduct because he is working like an extension of the ruling Akali Dal by doling out reckless favours in the constituencies of top Akali leaders like Chief minister Prakash Singh Badal, his son Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia. Stating this here today, Chander Suta Dogra spokesperson of AAP said, Mr Chaudhri is also probably the only government official in the entire country whose retirement age has been extended upto the age of 67 years on December 20th. Even persons on constitutional posts like judges of SC cannot work after the age of 65 years. (Notification attached) His extension is aimed at helping the Akali Dal candidates during the election campaign because he has posted friendly PSPCL officials –some on 4th January the day the election code of conduct came into force – in key areas as part of the Akali dal’s election strategy.
K.D Chaudhri was appointed as CMD of PSPCL for of 1 year on 3.6.2010. Before the expiry of one year he was given extension for another three years or 62 years of age whichever is earlier. Just a day before he was to attain the age of 62 years (the retirement age of CMD), on 8.2.2104, the age of retirement of CMD was increased from 62 to 65 years and he was given another extension of one year. After expiry of one year i.e 8.2.2105, he was allowed to continue till further orders without any term.This term was to end on 8.2.17 when he attains the age of 65 years. However, this date was falling during the period of election code and Govt would not have been able to do any thing at that time. So in order to subvert the election code, age of retirement of the CMD was increased to 67 years on 20.12.2016 to continue Chaudhri as Chairman after 65 years. As consequence he has been paying back to the Akali Dal with full vigor, said Ms Dogra.Getting a tubewell connection takes upto 25 years but the SAD- BJP government has increased the CMDs quota to more than double the general category to favour farmers in constituencies of Sukhbir Badal and Majithia with out of turn connections. These connections are being released only on the recommendations of Akali Dal candidates, jathedars and halqa incharges and farmers are being charged three times the normal rate for them..
According to the policy for 2016-17 of the total 1 lakh connections, only 10,000 (10%) are to be released under the general category and 50,000 under the chairman's quota. Of this, the maximum connections have been released in Majitha 2300, and Jalalabad 1500. Other Akali bastions like Talwandi Sabo (2,000), Bathinda-Rural (1,500), Mansa (1,000), Maur (900) and Nakodar (800) are also being given connections in violation of the model code of conduct. Referring to media reports Ms Dogra said, that a day prior to the code of conduct on January 3rd the chairman’s quota was hurriedly increased by another 5000 connections out of which 3000 were approved the next day on January 4th, but shown in back date.On January 4th on the day the code of conduct came into force, Chaudhri recruited 150 persons as helpers in the PSPCL mainly from Lambi the constituency of chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad.