JOIN USThe Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Centre’s plea to transfer to the court the cases challenging Coal Ordinance pending before different high courts.
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice H L Dattu noted that the definition of previous companies and its promoters, who were barred from participating in the proposed auction of 207 coal blocks, was a “debatable” issue.
The bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri and Arun Mishra, told Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to defend the ordinance before the high courts, saying, “a litigant has a right to seek for quashing a particular provision” barring him to participate in the bidding process to be held on February 13.
Of the five petitions, two petitions each have been filed by Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and BLA Power in the Delhi High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court respectively, while a petition by Sova Ispat Ltd is pending before the Calcutta High Court. Rohatgi cited the apex court’s judgments to contend that the process for fresh auction was to be completed by March 31.
He challenged an interim order passed by the Delhi HC for grant of permission to the BLA Power to participate in the bidding process. He submitted the coal blocks allocated to BLA Industries has been cancelled so it should not be allowed to take part in the bidding process.
“New regime has to be put in place from April 1, the whole things would go for a six if such types of orders are allowed to pass. We are actually implementing the judgment passed by the Supreme Court,” he contended.