Leaders’ kin got coal blocks: SC

The Supreme Court today gave eight weeks to the government to explain if it followed any guidelines while allocating coal blocks to private firms, some of which are connected with members of Parliament.

The Supreme Court on Friday gave eight weeks to the government to explain if it followed any guidelines while allocating coal blocks to private firms, some of which are connected with members of Parliament.

Taking note of a public interest litigation (PIL), a bench comprising justice RM Lodha and justice AR Dave asked the Centre’s counsel, solicitor general Rohinton Nariman: “Is it a coincidence that the relatives of politicians benefited?”

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said the country lost up to Rs. 1.86 lakh crore as a result of allocating coal blocks without going through the bidding process.

The bench dismissed Nariman’s objection to the court hearing the PIL. His contention was that the public accounts committee of Parliament was studying the CAG’s report.

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