SC lashes out at MoPNG, asks if the ministry is 'God'

Does the Petroleum Ministry consider itself to be 'God' or a 'super government' and think that the "unemployed" judges are at their mercy, an anguished Supreme Court bench observed today.

The scathing remarks by a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta came when the top court was informed that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) had only yesterday apprised the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) about the issue of ban on import of pet coke, which is used as industrial fuel.

The court, which was hearing a matter relating to air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the MoPNG for "laxity".

The top court also imposed a cost of Rs one lakh on the Delhi government for not filing a status report giving a time-line for removal of traffic bottlenecks on several corridors in the city.

The strong observations against MoPNG came when Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), told the bench that they had received a response from the MoPNG on the issue only yesterday.

"Is MoPNG a God? Are they God? They would respond whenever they want? Tell them to change their name from MoPNG to God".

"Is MoPNG a super government? Is it above the Government of India? What is the status of MoPNG, tell us. Why are they not complying with any order," the bench asked.

When the ASG said that their affidavit was ready and he should be allowed to file it during the day, Justice Lokur shot back, "if they (MoPNG) do not feel like complying with the orders, they do not comply, and think that the unemployed judges of the Supreme Court will give them time. Are we supposed to be at the mercy of MoPNG."
The bench allowed the ASG to file the affidavit during the course of the day, but said "we are surprised by the attitude of the MoPNG in taking their own time in responding to the MoEF's communication. The delay is entirely because of the laxity of the MoPNG."