HP CM Office condoles death of HERC chief Nand Lal Sharma
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh expressed deep condolences on 23 July 2026 on the passing of Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission and former CMD of SJVN Limited, calling the news extremely saddening and offering sympathies to his family.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh posted an official condolence on 23 July 2026 on the death of Nand Lal Sharma .
Sharma was serving as Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) at the time of his passing.
He had previously served as Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited , a central PSU with major hydroelectric operations in Himachal Pradesh.
The HP CMO extended 'deepest sympathies' to Sharma's bereaved family.
His passing creates a leadership vacancy at HERC , which regulates electricity across Haryana under the Electricity Act, 2003.
The condolence reflects institutional ties between Himachal Pradesh and SJVN, in which the state holds a joint-venture stake.
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, 23 July 2026 expressed deep condolences on the passing of Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and former Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited.
The official post, shared from the CMO Himachal Pradesh account, stated: 'हरियाणा विद्युत विनियामक आयोग (HERC) के अध्यक्ष, एसजेवीएन लिमिटेड के पूर्व अध्यक्ष एवं प्रबंध निदेशक श्री नंद लाल शर्मा जी के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।' ['The news of the passing of Shri Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and former Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited, is extremely saddening.'] The office added that its deepest sympathies are with the bereaved family.
Context
Nand Lal Sharma held one of the most consequential dual-role careers in India's public power sector. He served as Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Limited, a central public sector enterprise engaged primarily in hydroelectric power generation, before being appointed Chairman of HERC, the statutory body that regulates electricity generation, transmission, and distribution across Haryana.
His career trajectory — from leading a major hydro PSU to heading a state electricity regulator — exemplifies the cross-institutional movement of senior technocrats that characterises India's power sector governance. The condolence message from the Himachal Pradesh government underscores the institutional ties that bind the hill state to SJVN, which operates several major hydroelectric projects within HP's borders.
Policy Backdrop
SJVN Limited, incorporated as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, has been a cornerstone of the state's energy economy since its formation. The company's projects on the Sutlej river and its tributaries have made it central to both Himachal Pradesh's revenue stream and northern India's power grid.
HERC, meanwhile, operates under the Electricity Act, 2003 and carries quasi-judicial authority over tariff determination and licensing in Haryana. The appointment of a former PSU CMD to head a state regulator reflects a well-established practice of deploying seasoned power-sector executives in regulatory oversight roles after their executive careers.
Stakeholders and Impact
Sharma's passing leaves a vacancy at the top of HERC at a time when Haryana's power sector faces ongoing challenges around distribution losses, renewable energy integration, and tariff rationalisation. His experience bridging central PSU operations and state regulatory functions made him a distinctive voice within the commission.
The condolence from Himachal Pradesh's CMO signals the regard in which he was held across state boundaries, reflecting the cross-state professional networks that senior power-sector figures typically cultivate over long careers.
What's Next
The Government of Haryana and the Ministry of Power are expected to initiate the process of appointing a new HERC chairman to ensure continuity of regulatory functions. Any statement from the SJVN board or the Ministry of Power paying tribute would further reflect the stature Sharma held in the national power sector. The vacancy also draws attention to the broader question of succession planning within India's electricity regulatory commissions.
Point of View
Where Sharma built his executive career. Such cross-state tributes signal that senior power-sector technocrats occupy a shared professional ecosystem that transcends state political boundaries. Sharma's trajectory from PSU CMD to state regulator also illustrates a recurring pattern in India's energy governance, where operational expertise is recycled into regulatory oversight. His vacancy at HERC will test how swiftly the Haryana government can fill a role that demands both technical depth and quasi-judicial authority.
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 central public sector hydroelectric power company.
Why did the Himachal Pradesh CMO condole the death of a Haryana official?
Sharma served as CMD of SJVN Limited, a joint venture between the Government of India and Himachal Pradesh, giving him strong institutional ties to the hill state before his move to HERC.
What is HERC and what does it do?
The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) is a statutory body under the Electricity Act, 2003 that regulates tariffs, licensing, and the overall electricity supply framework in Haryana.
What is SJVN Limited?
SJVN Limited is a joint venture public sector enterprise of the Government of India and Himachal Pradesh, primarily engaged in developing and operating hydroelectric power projects, with major assets on the Sutlej river.
What happens to HERC now that its chairman has passed away?
The Government of Haryana is expected to initiate an appointment process for a new HERC chairman to maintain the regulatory body's functioning; the Ministry of Power may also issue a formal response.
