RIL gets 2-weeks time to amend statement in case against NTPC

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted two weeks to Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries (RIL) to amend its written statement in a dispute with the government-owned NTPC over gas prices. The time was granted after the Supreme Court dismissed an NTPC petition, which challenged the amendment, on October 1.

The amendment could include the government���s decision regarding gas supply and pricing policies, arrived upon by the empowered group of ministers.

The government, in an affidavit submitted to the court earlier this year, with regard to a case between RIL and Anil Ambani owned Reliance Natural Resources, had said that gas should be supplied at not less than $4.20 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). The brothers are fighting a legal battle over supply of gas at a price similar to that being asked for by NTPC. NTPC claims that it has an agreement with RIL for gas supply at $2.34 per mmBtu.

Last month, Supreme Court had allowed RIL to amend its petition so as to incorporate the government���s affidavit in the RIL-RNRL case. Justice Anoop Mohta, who is conducting the trial in the RIL-NTPC dispute, has also given one week���s time to NTPC to file a response to the amendment by RIL on the gas prices. The case will come up for further hearing on November 25.

NTPC had moved SC challenging the high court���s decision allowing RIL to amend its petition to the effect that the government���s policy on pricing of gas would frustrate its contract to supply gas at a price of $2.34 per mmBtu it had quoted in a 2004 global tender.