AG seeks more info on HPCL, BPCL

Attorney General Soli Sorabjee has sought further information for framing an opinion on the privatisation of the two public sector oil companies - Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation.

Sorabjee sought more information from divestment secretary Pradeep Baijal, when the two met on Thursday and had detailed discussions, sources said.

The opinion on whether the government could privatise the two oil PSUs, acquired through Acts of Parliament, through an executive order is now likely to be given next week.

Sorabjee is flying to Mauritius this weekend and is expected to return on Wednesday, sources said.

The Cabinet Committee on Divestment at its meeting on December 27 had deferred the issue of quantum and modalities of divestment in the two oil corporations for want of AG's opinion.

Divestment Minister Arun Shourie, who had promised in Parliament that AG's opinion would be taken on whether there was a need for the government to seek either repeal or amendment in the concerned Acts under which the two PSUs were acquired in 1970s, had also met Sorabjee on Saturday last in this connection.