Agartala | Tuesday, December 22, 2025: A major administrative crisis is brewing within the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL). What was once a transition aimed at modernizing the state’s power sector in 2005 has now turned into a battlefield of seniority disputes, alleged “misguidance” of authorities, and broken promises made to the original Power Department employees.
At the heart of the TSECL Engineer Promotion Controversy is a glaring disparity: engineers who served the Power Department for over 30 years are now reportedly forced to work under their junior diploma engineers —some of whom joined the corporation decades later.
The Broken Promise of 2005
When the Power Department was corporatized into TSECL in 2005, a clear condition was set. The service benefits, seniority, and career progression of the existing Power Department engineers and staff were to be protected. However, nearly two decades later, those engineers—mostly from the Diploma cadre recruited in the 1990s and early 2000s—claim they have been completely abandoned.
While these veterans remain stuck in their entry-level posts as Junior Engineer Grade V(B), the “Corporation Cadre” recruited in 2008 and 2014 is witnessing a meteoric rise.
“Double Promotions for Diploma of TSECL” and the Rise of the In-Charge Culture
The resentment reached a boiling point following the 2023 promotion cycle. According to internal sources, Diploma engineers from the TSECL cadre received promotions last year, effectively jumping over their much senior counterparts from the Power Department.
More shocking are the latest allegations that a group within the corporate office is pushing for a second upliftment (Senior Manager In-charge) for these same junior candidates and few of them succeeded.
“It is a harsh reality,” said a frustrated senior engineer. “On one side, Power Dept. diploma people are retiring as Junior Engineers without a single promotion in their entire life. On the other side, junior Diploma from the 2014 batch aslo are being prepped for double promotions. “
Seniority vs. Corporation Cadre: A Snapshot of the Disparity
| Recruitment Batch | Cadre | Status | Promotion Record |
| 1990s / 2000s | Power Dept. | Senior | Zero Promotions (Many retired as Junior Engineer) |
| 2008 / 2014 | TSECL Corp. | Junior | 1st Promotion (2023); 2nd in progress and became Senior Manager (in-Charge) |
| Current Scenario | Mixed | Conflicted | Seniors reporting to Juniors |
The “Power Group” of Three: Allegations of Manipulation
The controversy has taken a darker turn with reports of a small “clique” of three individuals within the TSECL Diploma cadre who are allegedly misguiding the management and creating TSECL Engineer Promotion Controversy. Sources claim this small group has successfully secured double promotions for themselves despite questions over their eligibility.
By creating a “trap” of misinformation, this group is accused of compelling the authority to bypass seniority lists. However, the tide seems to be turning. Many engineers within the TSECL diploma cadre itself are reportedly beginning to realize that this small group’s actions are creating a long-term legal and ethical crisis for the entire corporation.
Distrust and a Possible Legal Showdown
The growing distrust is not just between the Power Department veterans and the engineers from Corporation , but also within the corporation’s diploma cadre itself. Many are starting to distance themselves from the influential group, fearing that these “ineligible promotions” will eventually be struck down in the eyes of law, potentially stalling everyone’s career.
As the TSECL management remains under pressure, the question remains: Will the government honor the 2005 agreement, or will the “backdoor” promotion culture continue to demoralize the backbone of Tripura’s power sector?
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