Delhi high court seeks govt opinion on gas pipeline licence
Delhi high court seeks govt opinion on gas pipeline licence
New Delhi: The Delhi high court has sought the government’s opinion on allegations that the newly formed Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has issued licences for the city grid pipelines without the authority to do so.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice A.P. Shah on Wednesday directed the government to file its submission on the allegation of an organisation called Voice of India, which said that the board and its Chairman L.Mansingh did not have the authority to issue licence for CNG retailing in cities.
“Let it be scrutinised by the government of India, the question is what would be the stand of the government over grant of authorisation. We should wait for what it says on it," said the division bench.
The high court also orally directed the son of Bhagwant Singh Negi, PNGRB member (technical) to file an affidavit on the NGO’s allegation that the consultancy firm he is running has a connection with the job profile of his father.
In its petition the NGO had alleged that B.S. Negi is running a consultancy in the name of his son Akhilesh Negi, giving advice to firms applying to the PNGRB for licence.
“Let your son file an affidavit that he has nothing to do in this regard," the court said.
The court’s direction came after it could not be satisfied with Negi’s submission that his son provides consultancy to infrastructure companies.
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