New Delhi, Nov 24: Expressing serious concern over a media report that diesel sold in national capital region was adulterated, the Supreme Court today issued notices to the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Union government asking for their response within four weeks.

A bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice Arijit Pasayat issued the notices after amicus curiae Harish Salve pointed out an article in a magazine giving photographic evidence of diesel being pilfered from oil tankers and then replenished with chlorine, kerosene or even dry cleaning agents.
Taking the photographs and the report as an interim application moved by the amicus, the bench wondered as to how the oil companies were claiming that they were supplying fuel to the retail outlets through tamper proof tankers.
Additional Solicitor General Mukul Rohtagi said that it was true that the companies were supplying fuel through tamper proof tankers but wanted time to ascertain from the oil companies about the matter reported by the magazine.
Meanwhile, the court in another matter asked Rohatagi to seek the response of the Centre regarding continuance of Bhure Lal as the head of the high-powered committee on environment despite his appointment as a member of the Union Public Service Commission as he intended to work on the environment committee without any remuneration.
Bureau Report