The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) has notified the JSERC (Terms and Conditions for Appointment of Consultants) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2025, introducing key changes to the framework governing the appointment, tenure, remuneration, and disengagement of consultants.
The amendment has been issued under Section 91(4) read with Section 181 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and will take effect from the date of publication in the Jharkhand Gazette, unless reviewed or extended earlier by the Commission.
📘 Background
The principal regulations — the JSERC (Terms and Conditions for Appointment of Consultants) Regulations, 2024 — define how the Commission engages individual and institutional consultants to assist with regulatory, administrative, and technical functions.
The 2025 amendment, being the first to these regulations, aims to:
- Clarify circumstances for engaging consultants,
- Streamline tenure and disengagement provisions, and
- Introduce a structured fee and age policy for staff consultants.
🔍 Key Amendments at a Glance
1. New Grounds for Consultant Engagement
Two new clauses — (vii) and (viii) — have been added to Clause 3.1 of the principal regulations.
Consultants may now be engaged:
- For routine or day-to-day work when no in-house facility is available; and
- To assist the Commission in case of increased workload or vacant regular posts due to administrative constraints.
This gives JSERC greater flexibility to maintain workflow efficiency despite staffing shortages.
2. Revised Tenure: Minimum One-Year Engagement
Clause 4 has been fully substituted.
- Consultants shall be appointed for a minimum term of one year.
- Extensions may be granted based on:
- Performance, and
- Operational necessity of the Commission.
3. New Disengagement Clause Introduced
A new Clause 4.1 provides JSERC the power to disengage consultants — whether corporate, institutional, or individual — for:
- Misconduct,
- Negligence or dereliction of duty,
- Unsatisfactory performance, or
- Non-requirement of services.
This provision formalizes accountability and performance-based retention.
4. Revised Provisions for Staff Consultants (Clause 7.1)
The updated clause empowers JSERC to engage Staff Consultants when:
- There’s an increase in workload,
- Regular positions remain vacant, or
- There’s a need for routine operational support not covered by in-house staff.
Engagements will be made as per the expediency of work, ensuring the Commission’s activities are not hindered by manpower shortages.
5. New Age Criteria for Consultants
Under Clause 7.4, the age limits are now defined clearly:
- Minimum age: 30 years (as on April 1 of the advertisement year)
- Maximum retention age: 70 years
This ensures experience-based hiring while maintaining an upper age limit for engagement continuity.
6. Structured Fee Framework Introduced
The revised Clause 7.5 classifies Staff Consultants into four categories based on qualification and experience, with corresponding consolidated fee ranges:
| Category | Consolidated Fee (₹ per month) |
| Group A | ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000 |
| Group B | ₹30,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Group C | ₹25,000 – ₹35,000 |
| Group D | ₹20,000 – ₹30,000 |
Additional provisions:
- 10% fee escalation every three years, or as deemed appropriate by the Commission.
- Performance-based increments may be granted.
- In exceptional cases, extra fees up to 25% may be approved by the Commission.
This marks a shift toward transparent, structured, and merit-linked remuneration.
⚙️ Impact and Implications
The First Amendment Regulations, 2025 reinforce JSERC’s focus on:
- Institutional flexibility, allowing quick response to staffing gaps,
- Performance-based consultant management, and
- Rational fee structures aligned with qualifications and experience.
These changes aim to ensure regulatory efficiency, professional accountability, and cost optimization in consultant engagements within the Commission.