Former IAS and existing member of Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission Rajesh Sharma has been appointed as the chairman of the commission.
He will remain in the office till July 1, 2027 – the day he turns 65.
The state government was scouting for a suitable candidate for last 6 months. It had to extend the date of receiving application once.
The energy department had first invited application till June 28, 2024. Little more than 30 applications were received. Then the last date was further extended till August 23, 2024.
“More than 40 applicants including a couple of senior retired IAS officers and two existing members of RERC – Rajesh Sharma and Hemant Kumar Jain applied. Sharma was finally selected after the post remained vacant for six months post retirement of then chairman B N Sharma in July last year,” said an official.
Why it took so much time when in-house offices had to be elevated?
Experts are asking why the state government took so much time in finalising the name when existing member Rajesh Sharma had to be appointed chairman.
“Why the application date was extended and why applications were invites from across the country? Sharma could easily had been the natural choice looking at his performance as the member,” the official added.
Sharma was appointed as member in 2022 after superannuation from IAS as secretary RERC. It was Gehlot government that time. Now in BJP government, he has been appointed as the chairman, hinting at the fact that he is an ‘apolitical' person.
Who is Rajesh Sharma?
Rajesh Sharma is a veterinary doctor. He had served in the animal husbandry department as director and was elected as IAS through special selection quota.
A 2003 batch former IAS officer, Sharma has distinction of serving in RERC as secretary while in service, as a member post retirement and now as the chairman.
According to sources, besides Sharma only Shanti Prasad, an electrical engineer had the opportunity in past to serve both as member and the chairman of the commission.
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