Delhi-Gurgaon toll plaza row: HC grants last opportunity

The Delhi High Court today granted last opportunity to NHAI and Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL) to settle their dispute over toll plazas at Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway by Monday.
"Either settle the issue by Monday or get ready to argue the case on that day itself," Justice Manmohan Singh said.
The court's order came when senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), the lead financier for the toll project of DGSCL and the counsel for the National Highway Authorities (NHAI), said that there was no scope left for the settlement now.
"This is complete waste of time," Salve said, adding that the matter be heard and decided by the court as DGSCL wants an "open ended" settlement where it (DGSCL) cannot be held liable for any future liabilities.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for NHAI, also ruled out the possibility of any settlement.
However, the counsel for DGSCL sought one more opportunity to settle the dispute saying that the stand of IDFC and NHAI has been "surprising".

"The draft consent order references bilateral agreement between IDFC and DGSCL which details out the responsibility and treatment of the various liabilities. These details are still being discussed between IDFC and the concessionaire in order to reach a final agreement...," DGSCL said in a statement.
Earlier, the court on February 7 had granted a week's time to parties to settle the issue and fixed the hearing for today.

Besides IDFC and NHAI, the MCD and Haryana have also joined as parties.
NHAI and DGSCL have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle ever since the former issued a termination notice to the latter over frequent complaints of inordinate delays at the toll plaza.
NHAI also found irregularities in the manner in which the DGSCL raised loans from IDFC and other financial institutions.
The resolution of the dispute would pave the way for removal of the toll plaza at Sirhaul on the expressway.