After a day-long hearing on the consequences of its earlier decision, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the coal block allocation case
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order in the coal block allocation case. However, it has not announced a date for when it will declare its judgement in the case.
The bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha reserved the verdict after a day-long hearing on the consequences of its earlier decision, holding that the process of the allocation of these coal mines by the steering committee and under government dispensation was arbitrary and illegal.
Earlier, the union government told the Court that it favoured auction of all the 218 blocks, but if the Court so considered, then 40 coal blocks, which are already in production for years and six other coal blocks in which production can commence any time, may be exempted.
Yesterday, the government left it to the Supreme Court to decide the fate of 218 coal block allocations held as illegal by it while stating that about 40 blocks are operational and another six are ready to produce 50 million tonnes coal in the current year.
"In sum and substance, cancellation of coal block allocation is a natural consequence," the government had told the apex court.
The government though reiterated its stand that licences of 46 coal blocks which are in operation or to start operations soon should be retained.
The Centre in its arguments also said that the 40 blocks, which are operational be either allowed to operate till auctions conclude or the court could give these blocks to Coal India till the conclusion of the auction, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, companies, who were allocated coal blocks, also pleaded with the SC not to cancel allocations without hearing them.
The Supreme Court had on 25th August declared that the entire allocation of coal blocks from 1993 till 2010 was illegal, arbitrary, non-transparent and without application of mind and guidelines.
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