HC division bench stays HBT order

Calcutta High Court stayed today a trial court order which had allowed unfettered use of equipment by Haldia Bulk Terminals Ltd (HBT) after removal from Haldia Dock Complex of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) over a dispute related to termination of contract by HBT.
A division bench comprising Justice Asim Banerjee and Justice Dipak Saha Roy passed an interim stay on the single bench order of March 22 and directed that the matter be listed for hearing on Monday.
The bench also stayed a penalty of Rs four lakh imposed by the single bench on KoPT.
The single bench had on March 22 allowed HBT to remove all equipment, including cranes, dumpers and other machinery under the supervision of court-appointed special officers.

KoPT moved the division bench during the day challenging the order, claiming that it would be difficult for it to get any compensation from HBT for termination of contract between the two parties.
HBT, a venture between ABG group of India and LDA of France, had announced its immediate exit from West Bengal's Haldia port on October 31, citing unsafe work condition.
Problems had been brewing at Haldia Dock Complex, run by KoPT, after HBT sacked 275 employees on the grounds that they were surplus.
Operations of HBT, which handled cargo with cranes and other specialised equipment at berth No 2 and No 8 in Haldia Dock Complex, were stopped in mid-September.