APPELLATE TRIBUNAL FOR ELECTRICITY

Born and brought up in Kashmir Valley of erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir (now UT of Jammu, Kashmir). Completed Degree in Law (LL.B) in the year 1989 and Post-Graduation in Law (LL.M) in year 2019. Soon after obtaining Degree in law from University of Kashmir, Srinagar in the year 1989, had to migrate to Delhi due to terrorism. Started practice as an Advocate in Delhi in the year 1990 and practiced in the District Courts as well as in the High Court on civil side.

Was inducted into Delhi Higher Judicial Services in the year 2008 and took oath as Additional District & Sessions Judge on 04.04.2008. Have presided over various Courts having diverse jurisdictions in Delhi including matrimonial/civil courts till October, 2010 in Tis Hazari Courts, General Sessions Court till January, 2013 in Dwarka Court.

Was one of the Five Judges selected by the High Court to preside over newly constituted Special Fast Track Courts to deal with rape cases w.e.f. 05.01.2013 in the wake of infamous Nirbhaya incident that had taken place in December, 2012 and continued as the Judge of Special Fast Track Court till March, 2016 before being shifted to Special Court dealing with Land Acquisition Cases in Dwarka District itself.

Served as Joint Registrar (Appellate) in Delhi High Court on deputation basis from March, 2017 to November, 2017, and as Special Judge, CBI (PC Act) till October 2021. Also presided over Special Court in Karkardooma Courts set up for dealing with cases related to infamous riots that had taken place in North East Delhi in the month of February, 2020, from October, 2021 till 12.05.2022. Demitted office of District Judge (Commercial Court) in North District, Rohini Courts, Delhi, on 20.11.2023, and assumed charge as Judicial Member, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity on 21.11.2023.

Smt. Seema Gupta, born on May 5, 1962, is a distinguished professional in the Power Sector. She joined Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) as Technical Member (Electricity) on 09.10.2023.

She has done Bachelor of Engineering( Elect) from Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) and Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IMT.She has more than 3 decades of experience in Power Sector having served in two flagship organisation of Power Sector – NTPC Limited and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and has made significant contributions to the industry.

In 1983, she embarked on her career at NTPC Limited and then moved to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited in 1991, wherein she worked under various capacities and handled multi-disciplinary functions such as system studies, Telecom, Corporate Planning, International Business, Commercial, Corporate Monitoring Group, Central Transmission Utility (CTU), as regional headand attained the position of Director (Operations) on March 1, 2018.

She has played a pivotal role and ensured development of an efficient & economical Inter-State power transmission system for smooth flow of electricity in the country.

Her exceptional leadership in the Power Sector earned her numerous awards and accolades. Notably, she received the Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Women Manager in Public Sector Enterprises (PSE), bythe Hon’ble President of India, in 2017 under Scope Excellence Award to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

Sh. Sandesh Kumar Sharma was born on 01.05.1961. He has joined as Technical Member (Electricity) Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) on 16.09.2021.Sh. Sandesh Kumar Sharma has joined Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in the year 1984 and continue to work under various capacities and sectors of the Power during the tenure of over 36 years. He took over as Member (Planning) in Central Electricity Authority on 25th March, 2019.

He did his Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) and Master of Engineering (Electronics and Communication) from IIT Roorkee. Shri Sharma has started his career in Power System Wing, CEA and worked under various capacities. He has acquired vast experience in the field of system Planning studies Generation Planning studies, Grid operations, Legal & regulation reforms, framing/ examining various Technical Regulations, appraisal of power sector projects, demand forecast etc.. He was also associated with the development of the IT infrastructure in CEA. During the assignments in North Eastern Regional Power Committee from 2005 to 2008 he was responsible for the improvement of North-Eastern grid, planning of inter-state / intra-state transmission system, planning of outages for the generating and transmission units.

During his tenure as Principal Chief Engineer in CEA, the assignments included Coordination & implementation of cyber security measures in the Power Sector, Development & launching of National Power Portal, Coordination with ISRO for implementation of Geo-Spatial Energy Portal, implementation of e-office in CEA, WiFi pilot project, Video conference facility, accreditation of training Institutes, formulating & conducting training programmes, Coordination amongst various wings etc.

Shri Sharma has also been associated with the work of framing of policies/ guidelines like Scheme on Revival of stranded Gas based Power Projects, Cross Border Trade of Electricity, Cyber Security in Power Sector, Make in India Policy for Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Tariff Policy 2016, National Electricity Policy Plan, Amendments to Electricity Act, 2003 etc.

He also held the additional responsibilities of Registrar, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity and Secretary, Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for Goa & UTs.

As Member (Planning) in CEA and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India, Shri Sharma is responsible for works related to formulation of National Electricity Plan, Integrated Resources Planning, Coordinating the activities among the planning agencies for optimization of resource utilization, Formulation of Short, Medium & Long-terms Plans, Survey for power demand growth, Collection, compilation and publication of statistics of power sector, Various policy and planning functions, Electric Power Survey Report on long term demand forecasting for the country, Mega Cities and NCR (National Capital Region), Coal and gas supply to power stations, Planning and Development of Renewable sources of energy, Formulation of Disaster and Crisis Management Plan in the Power Sector of the country, Energy Storage Applications, Integration of Renewable Energy Sources into the grid, Research and development in Power Sector, co-ordination with multiple agencies involved in research and development activities, Formulation of Technical Standards, guidelines for Electric vehicles and Charging infrastructure, Framing of orders in respect of “Make in India” Policy pertaining to Thermal, Hydro, Transmission and Distribution sectors and its implementation.