HC issues notice to Petroleum Secretary on contempt plea

The Gujarat High Court today issued a notice to the Petroleum Secretary on a contempt of court petition moved by an NGO over non-compliance of its earlier order on supplying CNG to the state.
A two-judge bench of Justices M R Shah and R P Dholaria issued the notice to Vivek Rae, Secretary, Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), seeking reply on the plea moved by the NGO, Dhrangadhra Prakutri Mandal (DPM).
The HC fixed January 27 as the date for the next hearing.
DPM had moved the application after Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) started supplying 9 per cent less domestic natural gas to City Gas Distributors (CGDs) than what was initially agreed under Administered Price Mechanism (APM).

"Despite the earlier agreement and assurance before this court to comply with the order passed by the Division Bench to comply with the policy/guidelines issued on November 14, 2013 and consequent agreement entered into between the gas companies and GAIL, after initial compliance of the same, GAIL is now supplying the gas to the companies 9 per cent less...,"
...Than of what was required to be supplied under guidelines for allocation of domestic natural gas to CGD entities for CNG (transportation) and PNG (domestic) in compliance of the directions issued on November 14, 2013," the Bench said today.

Issuing notice to the Oil Secretary, the HC said, "The respondent has not complied with the directions issued by this court and at least the assurance given before this court while disposing of the earlier application."

In a judgement delivered in July 2012, the High Court had asked the Centre to supply CNG to Gujarat at the same rate at which it is supplied to Delhi and Mumbai. The ruling, challenged by the Centre, was upheld by the Supreme Court.
DPM had filed a PIL in the Gujarat HC in 2011, alleging discrimination against Gujarat in allocation of natural gas under the APM vis-a-vis Delhi and Mumbai.
On December 10, 2013, the HC disposed of the petition after the Centre and state government agreed to arrive at an agreement over supply of domestic natural gas to CGD entities.

However, on December 27, 2013, the state government filed a contempt plea before the High Court stating that after initial compliance, GAIL, a central PSU, is supplying 9 per cent less gas to Gujarat than what was originally agreed.