HC seeks Centre's reply on Balco plea

Delhi High Court today sought the Centre's response on Bharat Aluminium Company's (Balco) plea challenging government's decision rejecting its representation to reconsider cancellation of its bid for a Chhattisgarh coal block.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva issued notice to the Coal Ministry and sought its reply to Balco's plea by September 17, the next date of hearing.
Balco, a Vedanta group firm, had initially moved the court in March this year after its bid, which was the highest for Gare Palma IV/1 coal block, was cancelled by the government amid speculation of cartelisation.
The court had thereafter asked the government to consider Balco's plea as a representation and appointed Coal India Ltd as a temporary custodian of the mine.

The government in the last week of July had rejected the representation of Balco.