Retired Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Umesh Kumar appointed DERC chairperson

President of India, Droupadi Murmu has appointed retired Allahabad High Court judge, Umesh Kumar as the chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). .“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 45D of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 (1 of 2023), read with sub-section (2) of Section 84 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003), the President is pleased to appoint Justice (retired) Umesh Kumar, Allahabad High Court as the Chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. The other terms and conditions of his service shall be governed by Section 89 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003), and rules and regulations made in this regard,” stated a notification issued on Wednesday..In May, the AAP-led government had alleged a delay on the part of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), VK Saxena in processing the name of retired Madras High Court judge, Rajeev Shrivastava, who had been proposed for this position.According to a plea filed in the Supreme Court, the LG had deferred his decision pending a legal opinion on whether the Chief Justice of the Delhi or the Madras High Court needs to be consulted before finalising the appointment of the chairperson in this case.A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had then observed that the law on this point was clear and that the LG was to act on the aid and advise of the Delhi Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers in such matters. .However, Shrivastava his expressed inability to take charge owing to “family commitments and requirements” in a June 15 communication, according to agencies..Who is Justice KumarThe former judge obtained his law degree in 1980 and was elevated to Higher Judicial Services in 2001 following which he was elevated as a District and Sessions Judge in 2014. Justice (retired) Kumar was appointed as an additional judge on November 22, 2018 and he took oath as a permanent judge on November 20, 2020. He served in office till July 7, 2022.On April, 2022, the judge had ordered the Uttar Pradesh police to take action on priority basis, in a matter concerning a girl's abduction from the chamber of a lawyer..[Read Notification]