CM Sukhu condoles death of HERC chief Nand Lal Sharma
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 23 July 2026 mourned the death of Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission and former CMD of SJVN Limited, offering condolences to the family and praying for peace for the departed soul.
Key Takeaways
Nand Lal Sharma , Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and former CMD of SJVN Limited , passed away.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed condolences on 23 July 2026 via a post on X.
SJVN Limited is jointly promoted by the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh .
HERC is a statutory body that regulates electricity generation, transmission, distribution and tariffs in Haryana .
Sharma's death creates a leadership vacancy at HERC , with the Haryana government expected to begin the appointment process.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday, 23 July 2026, expressed grief over the passing of Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and former Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited, extending condolences to the bereaved family.
Context
In his post, CM Sukhu described the news as 'atyant dukkhad' (deeply sorrowful) and wrote: 'The news of the passing of Shri Nand Lal Sharma Ji, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission and former Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited, is extremely saddening. My deepest condolences are with the grieving family.' He concluded with a prayer seeking peace for the departed soul and strength for the family in their time of immense grief, signing off with 'Om Shanti.'
Policy Backdrop
SJVN Limited is a hydroelectric power company jointly promoted by the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, making it a central pillar of the state's energy economy. The company is responsible for major infrastructure including the Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station, one of India's largest underground hydroelectric projects. Nand Lal Sharma served as CMD of SJVN before transitioning to his regulatory role as Chairman of HERC, the statutory body constituted under the Electricity Act to oversee generation, transmission, distribution, and tariff matters in Haryana.
His career trajectory — from leading a Himachal Pradesh-linked hydropower utility to chairing a Haryana electricity regulator — exemplifies the cross-state professional mobility that characterises India's energy bureaucracy, particularly among Himalayan-state power entities and their regulatory counterparts in the northern plains.
Stakeholders and Impact
Sharma's passing leaves a leadership vacancy at HERC, a body whose decisions on electricity tariffs and distribution directly affect millions of consumers and power producers in Haryana. The Haryana government will be responsible for appointing the next HERC chairperson, a process that typically involves consultation with the central government under the Electricity Act framework. Power sector stakeholders, including distribution companies and renewable energy developers operating in Haryana, will watch the transition closely given the commission's regulatory significance.
For SJVN Limited, where Sharma served as CMD, his death marks the loss of a senior figure whose tenure shaped the company's operational and strategic direction during a period of significant hydropower expansion in the Himalayan region.
What's Next
The Haryana government is expected to initiate the process of appointing an interim or permanent HERC chairperson to ensure regulatory continuity. The tribute from CM Sukhu also underscores the institutional linkages between Himachal Pradesh and Haryana through shared energy infrastructure, a relationship likely to remain relevant as both states navigate hydropower generation and inter-state power supply agreements in the coming months.
Point of View
A pattern that shapes power governance across the Indo-Gangetic plain. The condolence also reflects a political norm in which state chief ministers publicly acknowledge the passing of senior figures from central-sector entities headquartered or operationally tied to their states. The vacancy at HERC now draws attention to succession dynamics within India's electricity regulatory architecture at a time when northern states are renegotiating hydropower purchase agreements.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nand Lal Sharma?
Nand Lal Sharma was the Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and a former Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited , a hydroelectric power company jointly owned by the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Why did Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu condole Nand Lal Sharma's death?
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu condoled the death because SJVN Limited , where Sharma previously served as CMD, is co-promoted by the Government of Himachal Pradesh , making Sharma a significant figure in the state's energy sector.
What is SJVN Limited?
SJVN Limited is a hydroelectric power company jointly promoted by the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh , known for major projects such as the Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station .
What happens to HERC after Nand Lal Sharma's death?
The Haryana government is expected to initiate the process of appointing a new HERC chairperson under the framework of the Electricity Act, in consultation with the central government, to ensure regulatory continuity.
