Coal news and updates

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to explain why certain private firms were preferred over others and what was the criteria behind it. 

 

The apex court also asked the Centre how the screening committee added some private companies on its own without these having come through the recommendation process. 

 

The court raised serious doubts about allocation of coal blocks by screening committee in 2007-08 when the Prime Minister was holding charge of the coal ministry. 

 

SC also questioned the manner in which players were added to the list of allottees without they being part of the short listing process. 

 

In reply, the Attorney General told the court that the Centre will permit within 4-6 weeks 61 private parties allocated coal blocks to clear deficiencies and obtain a mining lease or face de-allocation. 

 

The CBI has sought the SC's permission to put forward to the home ministry the proposal for issuance of Letters Rogatory to foreign countries in its probe into the coal scam.

 

 

Source: ToI