Delhi HC quashes Tatas' plea on Sasan coal diversion

The Delhi High Court today dismissed Tata Power's petition challenging the Government's decision to allow Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power to divert coal from the captive mines of Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project for use in other projects.

A division Bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Siddharth Mridul dismissed the petition filed by Tata Power after observing that the company has no locus standi to file this petition and was not maintainable.

"The writ petition suffered from delay ... We do not see any warrant for exercising our power. This writ petition stands dismissed," said the Division Bench.

Tata Power, which was one of the bidders for the Sasan project, had moved the High Court in the first week of January, terming the Government's decision "arbitrary" and "illegal," and requested the government be directed to produce all records along with the Letter of Intent issued to RPower on August 1, 2007, for the Sasan UMPP.

Opposing it, RPower had submitted that the Sasan UMPP is a Rs 24,000-crore project and lots of international funding have been done it and any intervention or stay on the project would affect it badly.