SRI VIJAYA PURAM | NOVEMBER 10, 2026 | DWEEP TULIKA | ANDAMAN NEWS
The Electricity Employees Welfare Union (EEWU) has sought an independent administrative enquiry into the alleged non-implementation of approved Current Duty Charge (CDC) arrangements for Executive Engineer posts in the Electricity Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
In a representation dated November 9, 2026, addressed to the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Power, Central Vigilance Commission and Union Minister of Labour and Employment, the union raised concerns over alleged administrative delays, prolonged vacancies in engineering divisions, transfer-related grievances and the deployment of Assistant Engineers for clerical assignments.
The representation, signed by EEWU President Sandip Chanda, refers to Andaman and Nicobar Administration Order No. 2157 dated August 13, 2026, through which the Lieutenant Governor approved the assignment of Current Duty Charge of Executive Engineer to three Assistant Engineers.
Government Order Assigned CDC to Three Assistant Engineers
According to Order No. 2157 issued by the Secretariat of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration on August 13, 2026, the following officers were assigned Current Duty Charge of Executive Engineer:
Shri Sandeep Mukherjee, Assistant Engineer – Degree Holder.
Shri Amarjeet Singh Saini, Assistant Engineer – Degree Holder.
Shri B. Anil Kumar, Assistant Engineer – Diploma Holder.
The order specified that the CDC arrangement for Sandeep Mukherjee and Amarjeet Singh Saini would remain for one year from the date of assumption of charge or until regular promotion, whichever was earlier.
For B. Anil Kumar, the arrangement was specified to continue from the date of assumption of charge until January 31, 2027, or until regular or deputation appointment, whichever was earlier.
The order also stated that the officers would not be eligible for financial benefits attached to the Executive Engineer post. However, service rendered under the current duty charge would be counted towards seniority for their regular promotion.
Union Alleges Posting Orders Have Not Been Issued
Despite the August 13 order, EEWU alleges that the Electricity Department has not issued the corresponding posting orders to implement the CDC arrangements.
The union questioned why an order approved by the Lieutenant Governor had reportedly remained unimplemented and sought an enquiry to establish responsibility for the alleged delay.
It also claimed that the posts of Executive Engineer in the EE (Rural), EE (NAD) and EE (ND) divisions had remained without regular Executive Engineers for nearly three years.
According to the representation, the prolonged vacancies could affect administrative supervision, technical decision-making, maintenance activities, execution of works and monitoring of electricity supply, particularly in remote and inter-island areas.
The union has requested that the Administration examine the vacancies and ensure the placement of suitable officers.
Transfer Orders and Posting Policy Also Questioned
EEWU has raised concerns over the implementation of transfer orders involving Junior Engineers.
The union alleges that several Junior Engineers transferred during 2026 have not been relieved from their existing places of posting despite the issuance of transfer orders.
It further claims that no effective transfer and posting exercise has been undertaken for various categories of employees, including Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Regular Mazdoors, through the Establishment Board or Transfer Committee.
The representation alleges selective implementation of transfer directions, with lower-category employees being transferred while officers holding higher technical and administrative positions allegedly continue at their preferred places of posting.
The union has called for a transparent and comprehensive transfer exercise in accordance with applicable policies and administrative requirements.
Four Assistant Engineers Allegedly Assigned Clerical Work
Another concern raised in the representation is the reported deployment of four Assistant Engineers in the office of the Superintending Engineer (Technical) for clerical and routine office-related assignments.
The officers named by the union are:
Shri Suresh Kumar
Smt. Usha Kapoor
Smt. Suman Kishen
Smt. Hema Devi
EEWU argues that the Electricity Department has been facing a shortage of Assistant Engineers for nearly two years, particularly in inter-island divisions.
The union contends that assigning technically qualified engineering personnel to clerical and establishment-related duties could reduce the availability of manpower for field inspections, supervision of electrical installations, maintenance, development works and monitoring of power supply.
It has asked the authorities to examine the administrative orders under which these assignments were made and whether the duties are consistent with the officers' technical responsibilities.
Union Seeks Independent Enquiry and Accountability
In its representation, EEWU has requested the authorities to:
Initiate an independent administrative enquiry into the alleged non-implementation of Government Order No. 2157 dated August 13, 2026.
Fix responsibility for any failure to issue the necessary posting orders.
Examine the prolonged vacancies in the three Executive Engineer divisions.
Investigate why transferred Junior Engineers have reportedly not been relieved.
Examine the deployment of the four Assistant Engineers for clerical assignments.
Direct a transparent transfer and posting exercise covering engineering and other employee categories.
Examine allegations of administrative delay, favouritism and selective implementation of orders.
Provide the union with a time-bound action-taken report.
The representation has been addressed to the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Power, Director of the Central Vigilance Commission and Union Minister of Labour and Employment. Copies have also been marked to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary and senior officials of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
Questions Awaiting Administrative Clarification
The documents raise several questions concerning the functioning of the Electricity Department.
First, whether the three CDC assignments approved in August have been implemented through posting orders and, if not, what has caused the delay.
Second, whether the three Executive Engineer divisions have remained without regular incumbents for the period claimed by the union and what temporary arrangements are currently in place.
Third, whether the four Assistant Engineers named in the representation have been assigned clerical duties through formal administrative orders, and whether such deployment is justified by departmental requirements.
The union's representation contains allegations and requests for investigation; it does not establish misconduct or prove that any named official deliberately withheld an approved order.
The documents made available to Dweep Tulika do not include a response from the Electricity Department or the Administration addressing the union's allegations.
The issue is significant because the Electricity Department is responsible for maintaining an essential public utility across the Islands, including remote and inter-island areas. Clarification from the Administration on the implementation of the CDC order, staffing arrangements and transfer policy would help establish the actual administrative position.
Dweep Tulika will follow the matter and seek the Administration's response.