The public hearing of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for the State of Goa and Union Territories came under the radar of the election authorities here.
The flying squad members with the District Election Officer recorded the proceedings and obtained clarifications from the organisers of the meeting in view of the election code of conduct.
JERC chairman S K Chaturvedi, during the course of the meeting, clarified that such public hearing meetings were held during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections also. The public hearing is held to ascertain the consumers/public views on the proposed tariff, which is routine. The JERC has to complete the hearings by March 31 and should publish the new tariffs effective from April 1, he said.
Chaturvedi said the JERC was not taking any decisions now, but hearing the views of the customers only.However, he did not make it clear that the Commission would publish the new tariffs with effect from April 1 as the model code was in effect. The flying squad officials, however, recorded the proceedings before leaving the premises.