New Delhi: The Supreme Court of Thursday asked the Central Government to clear its stand over the price of gas. It said that government have to clear its point on fixation of the price for gas from Krishna-Godavri basin as to whether it sticks to the previous UPA policy or making any departure from it.
A bench of SC which was headed by Justice TS Thakur said, “Tell us what is the situation. Whether you (government) are going to argue or stick to the old government’s policy or is it something else?”
A fresh hearing on the issue started on Thursday as earlier a bench headed by Justice B S Chauhan was not able to adjudicate the dispute as he retired before the hearing concluded.
In the new bench headed by Justice Thakur, other two judges are justices J Chelameshwar and Kurian Joseph, who were also in the bench headed by Justice Chauhan.
Senior CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta and the NGO, Common Cause, had filed the PILs in 2013, challenged the government decision to double the price of natural gas from $4.2 to $8.4 per mmbtu and seeking cancellation of Reliance Industries Ltd’s contract for exploration of oil and gas from the KG basin.
The new bench was told by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar that NDA government has deferred implementing formula for gas pricing recommended by C Rangarajan Committee, till September 30. Rangarajan was chairman, economic advisory council to the then Prime Minister.
Solicitor General said, “A committee has already been formed. Till September 30th nothing is happening. The committee can submit its report by September 30th and only after that a decision will be taken.”
Bureau Report
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