NEW DELHI, Feb 18: The Delhi High Court today steered clear of the pricing issue of CNG and PNG (piped natural gas) saying such decisions pertained to policy matters and courts cannot look into it.
“Please keep the courts away from the decisions pertaining to policy matters. Pricing of CNG and PNG will have to be decided by the executives,” Justice Manmohan said after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) submitted the revised guidelines on the supply of natural gas for transport (CNG) and domestic usages.
The Ministry, in its revised guidelines, said, “…The allocation of domestic gas to GAIL, for supplying to CGD entities for CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic) segment, is increased to 8.32 MMSCMD with immediate effect.”
It also said the average consumption of natural gas in CNG and PNG segment in the first half of 2013-14 was 8.32 MMSCMD and hence there would be no shortfall in their supply.
Taking the guidelines into the records, the court disposed of the plea of Delhi Contract Bus Association which alleged the reduced supply of CNG to Delhi would adversely impact the cheap transport sector.
The Association, in the plea filed through lawyer Pallav Kumar, had said “the allocation and supply of domestic gas to the city of Delhi and National Capital Region through respondent 2 (Indraprastha Gas Ltd) be not reduced.”
“Now your grievance is redressed as there will be adequate supply,” the bench today said and refused to deal with the pricing issue.
Earlier also, the Centre had assured the court that there would be no shortfall in CNG supply to the national capital following new guidelines by the Ministry of Petroleum,
The earlier guidelines, which might have caused reduction in supply of CNG to Delhi, were issued in pursuance of a Gujarat High Court order that Ahmedabad should also get the fuel for domestic and vehicular usage at the same rate as applicable to Delhi and Mumbai to enforce the right to equality.
Apprehending shortfall in supply of CNG and consequent, price escalation, the Association had moved the high court.
The then Aam Aadmi Party government had expressed apprehension that the Petroleum Ministry guidelines will have an adverse impact on commercial vehicle operators and any reduction in CNG allocation to Delhi would lead to a surge in prices of CNG and essential commodities.
The plea said the “guidelines for allocation/supply of domestic natural gas” to City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities for CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic) were “arbitrary, illegal, unconstitutional” and contrary to a 2002 apex court order.
The Gujarat HC had directed the Ministry to maintain uniformity in allotment of natural gas and provide the fuel to Ahmedabad at the same rate it is supplied to Delhi and Mumbai.
According to subsequent guidelines issued on November 14, 2013, the Centre decided to redistribute 5.75 MMSCMD (which is the present share of domestic gas in the entire consumption of gas for transport and domestic sector) among all entities/ cities. (PTI)
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