Pricing of CNG, PNG is policy matter, can't be decided by it: Delhi HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today steered clear of the pricing issue of CNG and PNG (piped natural gas) saying such decisions pertained to policy matters and courts cannot look into it.

"Please keep the courts away from the decisions pertaining to policy matters. Pricing of CNG and PNG will have to be decided by the executives," Justice Manmohan said after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) submitted the revised guidelines on the supply of natural gas for transport (CNG) and domestic usages.

The Ministry, in its revised guidelines, said, "...the allocation of domestic gas to GAIL, for supplying to CGD entities for CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic) segment, is increased to 8.32 MMSCMD with immediate effect."

It also said the average consumption of natural gas in CNG and PNG segment in the first half of 2013-14 was 8.32 MMSCMD and hence there would be no shortfall in their supply.

Taking the guidelines into the records, the court disposed of the plea of Delhi Contract Bus Association which alleged the reduced supply of CNG to Delhi would adversely impact the cheap transport sector.