Gujarat HC asks Centre to comply with CNG order by October 25

Asks Union govt not to discriminate between central public sector city gas distributors and other CGDs, including Gujarat-based ones

The Gujarat High Court asked the Centre on Monday to supply Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to Gujarat by October 25 at the same price at which it is supplied to Delhi and Mumbai under the Administered Price Mechanism (APM).

The Centre, which had sought 16 weeks' time in order to comply with the apex court's directions given in its order of September 30, had filed an affidavit last week seeking time for framing policy to supply CNG to Gujarat at the same price at which it is supplied to Delhi and Mumbai.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala, also asked the Centre not to discriminate between City Gas Distributors (CGDs) promoted by central public sector units and other CGDs as well as between Gujarat-based CGDs in the matter of allocating CNG.

Upholding the Gujarat High Court ruling last July, the Supreme Court bench of Justice H L Dattu and Justice M I Iqbal had said that the Centre should provide CNG to Gujarat at the same price at which Delhi and Mumbai get it.

Dhrangadhra Prakrutik Mandal had filed a PIL on the issue in the Gujarat High Court in 2011, alleging discrimination against Gujarat in allocation of natural gas at APM, as compared to Delhi and Mumbai.

The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for Friday.