Haryana power strike: Anil Vij appeals to DHBVN workers, cites Section 108
Synopsis
Haryana's Energy Minister has put striking power workers on notice — return to duty or face Section 108 action — even as Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh have been in the dark since Wednesday night. The standoff over electricity privatisation in Gurugram and Nuh has now triggered street protests by residents, putting the government under intense pressure to either negotiate or escalate.
Key Takeaways
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij on 23 October 2026 called on striking DHBVN employees to end their protest and return to duty.
The government signalled readiness to invoke Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 if the strike continues.
Workers are protesting the Haryana government's plan to privatise power distribution in Gurugram and Nuh .
Widespread power outages across Gurugram , Faridabad , and Nuh have persisted since approximately 10 pm on Wednesday .
Residents' protests have caused traffic disruptions in several localities; villagers vowed not to vacate roads until power is restored.
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij on Friday, 23 October 2026, appealed to striking electricity department employees to call off their agitation and return to work, stating that the state government was open to discussions on all available options — including invoking Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The appeal comes as power outages continue to batter Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh, where blackouts have persisted since around 10 pm on Wednesday.
Minister's Appeal and Key Warning
In a post on X, Vij urged workers of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) to resume duties immediately. 'Appeal to the employees of Haryana who have gone on strike: End the strike and return to duty. We are ready to hold discussions on all options. This includes taking action under Section 108 of the Electricity Act 2003,' Vij said.
Section 108 of the Electricity Act empowers state governments to issue policy directions to distribution licensees and their employees, and its invocation is widely interpreted as a legal mechanism to compel workers in essential services to return. The minister's explicit mention of the clause signals that the government may be prepared to escalate if the strike continues.
Why Employees Are Striking
The DHBVN workers launched the strike in protest against the Haryana government's decision to privatise power distribution in Gurugram and Nuh. Employees fear that privatisation will undermine their job security and alter existing service conditions. The agitation has since intensified, with the disruption spreading across multiple districts and drawing growing public anger.
Scale of Disruption Across Three Districts
The outages have dealt a severe blow to daily life, commercial establishments, and industrial operations across Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh. Residents reportedly attempted to reach electricity department officials repeatedly to request restoration, but their calls went unanswered, prompting many to take to the streets in protest.
In several localities, demonstrations by residents have also disrupted vehicular movement, triggering traffic congestion. Protesting villagers reportedly declared they would not vacate roads until power was restored, further compounding pressure on authorities. This marks one of the more prolonged electricity disruptions in the region in recent memory, with industrial and residential areas equally affected.
What Happens Next
The Haryana government's offer to negotiate — while simultaneously flagging legal tools — presents a dual-track approach aimed at breaking the deadlock. Industry bodies and residents' associations in Gurugram are closely monitoring developments, as continued outages risk lasting economic damage to one of India's most commercially active districts. Whether the employees' unions accept the government's dialogue offer or hold firm will likely determine how quickly power supply is restored across the three affected districts.
Point of View
But it may not be enough. Privatisation of power distribution in Gurugram, one of India's most economically consequential urban zones, is not a routine administrative decision; it touches job security for thousands of utility workers and service reliability for millions of residents. The government has not yet publicly addressed the core employee grievance — what happens to existing workers post-privatisation — and until it does, any negotiation risks being cosmetic. The precedent matters beyond Haryana: several states are watching how this standoff resolves as they weigh their own distribution reform agendas.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Haryana electricity employees on strike?
DHBVN employees are striking against the Haryana government's decision to privatise power distribution in Gurugram and Nuh, fearing the move will affect their job security and service conditions. The agitation began and has since caused prolonged outages across Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh.
What is Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003?
Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 empowers state governments to issue binding policy directions to electricity licensees and their employees. Its invocation in the context of a strike is widely seen as a legal mechanism to compel workers in essential power services to return to duty.
Which areas are affected by the Haryana power outage?
Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh are the three districts most severely affected, with widespread blackouts reportedly beginning around 10 pm on Wednesday night. Daily life, commercial establishments, and industrial operations in all three districts have been disrupted.
What did Anil Vij say about ending the strike?
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij, in a post on X, urged striking employees to 'end the strike and return to duty,' adding that the government was ready to discuss all options, including action under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
What are residents doing in response to the power outage?
Residents in the affected districts have taken to the streets to protest the prolonged blackouts after their calls to electricity department officials reportedly went unanswered. In several areas, demonstrations have disrupted vehicular movement, and protesting villagers have stated they will not vacate roads until power is restored.
