Coal: SC notice to Gujarat Govt on failure to provide information to CBI

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court today sought an explanation from Gujarat Government for its alleged failure to provide requisite information relating to two coal block allocations to the CBI for its probe into coalgate scam.

"Despite our order, no response has been received by the CBI and no documents have been handed over to the CBI," a bench headed by Justice M B Lokur said while issuing notice to the Chief Secretary of Gujarat.

The bench also asked the agency to take up the case and follow up with the state government on the issue of allocation of two coal blocks at Naini in Angul district of Odisha and Morga in Chhattisgarh.

The coal block at Naini was allocated to a joint venture between Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) and Pudicherry Development Corporation, while Morga coal block was given to GMDC alone.

The bench referred to its order of December 9 and noted that the CBI wanted documents from Gujarat Government which were not furnished.

"Please take care and follow it up with the Gujarat Government," the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri, asked the CBI.

It asked the Chief Secretary of the state to provide them without any further delay.