SC issues notice to Centre, CBI, RIL on gas controversy

The Supreme Court today issued notice to Centre, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and others on a PIL seeking cancellation of contract for exploration of oil and gas concerning the KG block and to impose penalty for failure in adhering to commitments.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam sought response from CBI on the petition filed by Civil society members including former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian and ex-Naval chief Admiral L Ramdas seeking probe by the agency in the alleged "collusion between RIL and the political establishment".
The bench, which had earlier also issued notice to the Centre on a PIL filed by CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta, asked the parties to file their response within four weeks and tagged the case with Dasgupta's petition.

The petitioners, also including former Secretary Ramaswamy Iyer and NGO Common Cause, challenged the Centre's decision to raise the price of natural gas.
"Issue order directing a thorough investigation by an SIT or CBI under the supervision of this court, into the high level collusion between RIL and the political establishment and the corruption involved, as has been highlighted in the instant petition, including on the aspects of not taking any action against RIL for its misconduct," the petitioners said.
They also sought direction for a thorough audit by CAG of the working of the production sharing contract (PSC) governing KG block, gold plating by RIL, the underproduction by RIL and all related issues.