PIL against coal notifications admitted

Bangalore, Aug 4: The Karnataka High Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation, challenging certain notifications issued by the Union Government under the provisions of Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act regarding release and use of coal by public sector institutions only.

Mr Justices V Gopala Gowda and C Kumaraswamy admitted the PIL, filed by city advocate A V Amaranathan.

The petitioner contended that the notification issued on July 16, 2004, was illegal and defeated the very purpose of the Act and hence liable to be struck down. In issuing the notification, the Government had misinterpreted the purpose of the legislation since it had permitted a private company EMTA to operate coal trade and through that agency the Karnataka Power Corporation was obtaining coal supply.

He submitted that if KPC was permitted to obtain coal, it would be more economical since middle-men would be eliminated.

UNI