Suspended MSEDCL Officer Challenges Action Over Kharghar Blackout, Alleges Violation Of Due Process

A senior officer of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), suspended in connection with a massive power outage in Kharghar, has formally contested the disciplinary action, alleging that it was taken without due process and in violation of employee service rules and constitutional safeguards.

Chandrakant Dahiphale, Additional Executive Engineer of the Kharghar Subdivision, was suspended on June 27, 2025, following an internal assessment into the June 24 blackout that left over 25,000 low-tension consumers in the dark for more than 22 hours.

In a written representation addressed to the Chief Engineer of the Bhandup Division, Dahiphale claims that he was not given any prior notice, explanation opportunity, or formal hearing before the suspension—an act he says violates Rule 88(A) and Schedule G of the MSEDCL Employee Service Rules. He also invoked the Supreme Court's ruling in Ajay Kumar Choudhary vs. Union of India (2015), which mandates that suspensions must adhere to principles of natural justice and should not be executed without investigation.

“The power system operates under collective responsibility, and I was not solely responsible for the outage,” Dahiphale stated. He cited Technical Circular No. Tech/O&M/2019/023 to support his claim that multiple personnel were involved in decision-making. The officer also highlighted the mental distress and reputational damage caused by the abrupt order, calling it unjust and prejudicial.

The suspension stems from a severe power disruption on June 24, when a fault in a high-voltage underground cable linked to the Extra High Voltage (EHV) substation in Kharghar triggered a chain reaction. Critical feeders supplying Adhiraj and Roadpali substations, along with 33 kV substations in Sectors 27, 29, and 35, were affected.

The officer has sought for Immediate revocation or stay of the suspension, transfer to a waiting post during the inquiry and personal hearing to present his defense.

As per MSEDCL, though alternate supply routes were available, the delayed response allegedly worsened the situation. Even   Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Kharghar reportedly remained without power for over 43 hours, raising alarms over patient safety.

A subsequent fire near Central Park damaged the cable duct, affecting 55 high-tension and 25,000 low-tension consumers. 

MSEDCL’s Chief Engineer (CE) Sanjay Patil held Dahiphale responsible for failing to take timely corrective action and issued the suspension. " The action was based on the preliminary findings and further Departmental procedure is underway," said the engineer.