Electricity row: AP discoms rule out settlement with R Power

"I am instructed to tell the court that we cannot settle the matter and it cannot be settled," senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Co Ltd (APCPDCL) and 10 other discoms, told a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri.

The court, however, granted a last opportunity to Coastal Andhra Power Ltd (CAPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Power, to try and settle the issue after its lawyer Rajiv Nayar submitted that they have met Union Power Ministry Veerappa Moily yesterday in this regard.

Bhushan opposed the plea for adjournment and urged the court to pass the judgement on the plea of CAPL, which has sought an order to get the dispute resolved through arbitration.

"Do one thing. We keep our judgement ready and if you settle it (the dispute), then it (judgement) will not be pronounced," Justice Sikri said, adding, "Rest assured, this bench will pronounce the order."

During the hearing, the counsel for CAPL said that on August 16, a representation was made before the power minister and subsequently the officials of the firm met the minister on August 22.

The court then fixed the matter on August 30.

Earlier, CAPL had filed the petition against the verdict of a single judge who lifted the stay on AP government's notice to encash Rs 300 crore bank guarantee as penalty and terminate the power purchase agreement with the R Power's firm. (More)