Delhi High Court seeks govt opinion on gas pipeline licences

The Delhi High Court has sought the government’s opinion on allegations that the newly formed Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has issued licences for the city grid pipelines without the authority to do so.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah on Wednesday directed the central government to file its submission on the allegation of an NGO called Voice of India.

The NGO alleged that the board and its Chairman L Mansingh did not have the authority to issue licences for CNG retailing in cities.

“Let it be scrutinised by the government of India. The question is what would be the stand of the government over grant of authorisation. We should wait (for) what it says on it,” ruled the court’s Division Bench.

The High Court also directed the son of PNGRB Member (Technical) Bhagwant Singh Negi to file an affidavit on the NGO’s allegation, that the consultancy firm he is running has a connection with the job profile of his father.

Voice of India, in its petition alleged that Negi is running a consultancy in the name of his son Akhilesh Negi, giving advice to firms applying for the PNGRB licence.

“Let your son file an affidavit (on this) that he has nothing to do in this regard,” the Court added.

The Court’s direction came after it could not be satisfied with Negi’s submission that his son provides consultancy to infrastructure companies. “The business profile shows that you are only in the business of petroleum consultancy only,” the Court observed.

Moreover, it has also rejected Negi’s submission that his son’s business has nothing to do with the PNGRB.

The NGO, which alleged that Negi and son has common interests, submitted the address and fax numbers of the son’s consultancy firm, which happened to be the same as that of Negi’s.