The Bombay High Court today allowed the central government to implead itself in the RIL-RNRL case on gas supply after the Anil Ambani group company, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd [Get Quote], said it had no problem to the government being a party in the matter.

The hearing of the case is now likely to continue after the Diwali vacation.

Earlier, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd was opposed to allowing the government to intervene, but its counsels said on October 21 they have withdrawn their opposition. Reliance Industries [Get Quote] had already said they do not object to the government being made a party.

Mukesh Ambani-led RIL and Anil Ambani's RNRL are locked in a dispute over the terms of the gas supply master agreement, whereby RIL is to supply gas for RNRL's power projects. Earlier, the division bench of Justices J N Patel and K K Tated had said it would like to finish the hearing before Diwali, so that the judgment could be written during the vacation. But now, with the government's entry into the litigation, the hearing may not get over before the Diwali vacation.

While RIL and RNRL are squabbling over the price of gas, the government counsel had earlier endorsed RIL's stand that price must have government's approval.

The court will pass the formal order impleading the government as the third party to the case on October 22.