No relief for IGL, HC won’t stay CNG charge cut

Denying relief to Indraprastha Gas Ltd, Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) order slashing the network tariff and CNG compression charge on sale of piped natural gas (PNG) and CNG in the Capital.

Denying relief to Indraprastha Gas Ltd, Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) order slashing the network tariff and CNG compression charge on sale of piped natural gas (PNG) and CNG in the Capital.

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“We are not staying the (PNGRB) decision. Put up for final arguments on April 19,” a bench of acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said.

Appearing for oil regulator PNGRB, additional solicitor-general AS Chandhiok assured the court that no coercive steps would be taken against the state-owned IGL during the pendency of the petition before the bench.

The IGL, sole supplier of PNG and CNG in Delhi and its suburbs, has moved the high court against the PNGRB order which has slashed network tariff and CNG compression charge and asked IGL to refund the excess amount charged by it from consumers since 2008.

Senior advocate Ashok Desai, appearing for IGL, said the gas distributor had challenged the constitutional validity of the decision of PNGRB, which had no right to decide the rate of network tariff and CNG compression charge.

Chandhiok opposed the plea saying the oil regulator is not “pocketing” the money as it has simply asked the IGL to pass on the benefits to consumers.

The high court also asked IGL and the oil regulator to file short synopsis and fixed the matter for final hearing on April 19.