Stating that it felt cheated by the officials regarding the appointment of a corporation head against the court’s order, the Uttarakhand High Court demanded an explanation from senior IAS officer and principal secretary Meenakshi Sundaram.
Hearing a petition from former Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) director Praveen Tandon, the high court remarked that prima facie it appears the court was cheated by handing over the headship of Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (PTCUL) to the official despite a high court order against him.
Hearing the contempt of court petition, the court ordered Meenakshi Sundaram, principal secretary of power, and Additional Secretary Meharban Singh Bisht to explain the allegation levelled by Tandon: that former Managing Director of PTCUL PC Dhyani was handed over charge of Corporation head even after he was expelled after a judgement passed by the HC in February 2026. In its ordered passed on Wednesday high court also asked for explanation of Dhyani along with other officials.
The petitioner alleged in the single bench court of Justice Pankaj Purohit that Dhyani was removed as MD of PTCUL following the High Court’s cancellation of his appointment on February 26, 2026. Petition stated that after Dhyani’s removal IAS officer Mehraban Singh Bisht was given charge of PTCUL MD as a part of interim arrangement by the state government. At the same time HC also disposed off contempt of court petition.
However, Tandon alleged in his new contempt petition that Meharban Singh Bisht again handed over the charge of PTCUL head on May 15, 2026. It’s also alleged that the state government prepared a new manual for the appointment of MD PTCUL to reinstate Dhyani after the High Court ordered his removal due to inadequate qualifications. High Court had ordered his removal saying that as per norms 2021 Dhyani was not qualified for being appointment as MD PTCUL.
The High Court has ordered next hearing on July 28 in the matter when Meenakshi Sundaram, Meharban Singh Bisht and PC Dhyani will have to submit their explanation before the court.