New Delhi, Oct 22: The Delhi High Court today deferred hearing on a petition challenging the Union government's decision to disinvest its stake in the public sector undertaking Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). A bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice A K Sikri deferred the hearing till next week saying the outcome of a disinvestment matter which is likely to come up for hearing shortly in the supreme court, will have a bearing on this petition.
The petition filed by forum for justice and peace contended that the government's notification calling for purchase of 51 per cent shares in SCI and transfer of management thereof was in violation of the recommendations of the Disinvestment Commission.
Senior advocates Parag Tripathi and Vanita Bhargava, appearing for the petitioner submitted that the Disinvestment Commission had recommended that SCI ought to be disinvested in favour of government-owned oil companies and in view of the recent Supreme Court judgement on HPCL, it was contrary to the law.
The apex court is likely to hear government's plea that its recent verdict halting privatisation of oil PSUs on the ground of prior parliamentary approval, needed "serious reconsideration" as it has "cast clouds" over the entire disinvestment process.
The Supreme Court will hear government's plea while taking up the petition filed by employees association challenging Centre's decision to privatise rail coach manufacturing PSU Jessop and Co Ltd in West Bengal.
Bureau Report