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Centre tells Enron probe commission it has right to intervene
Mumbai, Dec 22: The Union Government has reserved its right to intervene in the arguments advanced by various parties on jurisdiction of Enron probe commission to go into the validity of the controversial Dabhol power project even as Maharashtra government and former chief minister Manohar Joshi said they would argue on December 23.
Mumbai, Dec 22: The Union Government has reserved its right to intervene in the arguments advanced by various parties on jurisdiction of Enron probe commission to go into the validity of the controversial Dabhol power project even as Maharashtra government and former chief minister Manohar Joshi said they would argue on December 23.
Union Government's advocate told Justice S P Kurdukar, probing the legality of Enron project on December 19 that the Centre reserved its right to intervene and he would seek instructions from the Centre on filing arguments over the commission's jurisdiction to inquire into the validity of power purchase agreement, scrapping of the project and circumstances leading to renegotiation of the deal. Justice Kurdukar, however, told the government's advocate that he would not permit arguments without a prior resolution of the Union Cabinet or the Union Ministry of Power.
He said that it would not be proper on the part of the Centre to argue without a resolution or an affidavit affirming the government's stand. In another development, Manohar Joshi's advocate Deepak Nargolkar sought extension of time from December 31 to January 15 to submit arguments on opposing the jurisdiction of the commission. However, the commission declined to extend the time and directed him to file submissions on December 23.
The commission also declared that December 23 would be the last day for filing arguments on its jurisdiction to conduct the Enron probe. However, indications are that the arguments might spill over to the next day if they do not conclude on Monday.
Union Government's advocate told Justice S P Kurdukar, probing the legality of Enron project on December 19 that the Centre reserved its right to intervene and he would seek instructions from the Centre on filing arguments over the commission's jurisdiction to inquire into the validity of power purchase agreement, scrapping of the project and circumstances leading to renegotiation of the deal. Justice Kurdukar, however, told the government's advocate that he would not permit arguments without a prior resolution of the Union Cabinet or the Union Ministry of Power.
He said that it would not be proper on the part of the Centre to argue without a resolution or an affidavit affirming the government's stand. In another development, Manohar Joshi's advocate Deepak Nargolkar sought extension of time from December 31 to January 15 to submit arguments on opposing the jurisdiction of the commission. However, the commission declined to extend the time and directed him to file submissions on December 23.
The commission also declared that December 23 would be the last day for filing arguments on its jurisdiction to conduct the Enron probe. However, indications are that the arguments might spill over to the next day if they do not conclude on Monday.
Bureau Report