The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition challenging the government's decision to divest equity in the oil public sector units Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited as the findings of the Supreme Court relating to privatisation of profit making Balco came in its way.
The petition was dismissed as withdrawn by a division bench comprising Justice Usha Mehra and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog.
The bench observed that the petition was not maintainable as the questions raised were the same as those in the Balco case which was discussed threadbare. "We are bound by the Supreme Court findings in the Balco case," the bench said.
Solicitor General Kirit Rawal along with Naveen Chawla appeared on behalf of the government, while Arun Maitri appeared for the petitioner, Federation of All India
Petroleum Traders, who questioned the government's decision on the ground that Parliament was bypassed and views of the divestment commission were not obtained.
Apprehending any such move, the divestment ministry had filed caveats in the Supreme Court and in High Courts in Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai while asking its Standing Counsel in Delhi High Court to be on the guard.
