SC verdict on coal blocks allocations signifies democracy in action: Former CBI chief

Lauding the Supreme Court for its bold decision to scrap the allocations of 214 of 218 coal blocks, former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Joginder Singh on Wednesday said the verdict signifies democracy in action and should be welcomed by all right-thinking people.

"This is really democracy in action. I salute the Supreme Court for its decision, particularly in asking a SC judge to review. Even the CBI cases will have to be reviewed which they have closed for one reason or the other. It should lead to better governance in the country. In any case, the present government cannot be faulted for the simple reason that all this happened in the past," Singh told ANI here.

"It is not a setback, but a step taken for the common man. It is a step taken to ensure that the government functions as per the law of the country and not as per discretion. This decision is lesson not only for the present but also for the future and the past. I think it gives a chance to people to assert themselves," he added.

The apex court pronounced its verdict this afternoon on coal blocks in which government claimed that Rs two lakh crore investments have been made.

The apex court, however, granted a breather of six months to companies whose blocks were cancelled to wind up business.

The Supreme Court also directed that the companies will have to pay the loss incurred due to non-operation of the mines as compensation.

The coal blocks allocated to SAIL and NTPC and two for Ultra Mega Power Projects are saved from being quashed.

According to reports, the apex court has accepted the CAG's estimate that there was loss of 295 rupees per mega tonne due to the non-operation of the mines. The observations and findings on the issue will have no bearing on the CBI probe into Coalgate.

A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha had earlier on August 25 held that all coal blocks allocations since 1993 by various regimes at the Centre have been made illegally and arbitrarily.