Tribunal's direction came after the petroleum regulator headed by Lalit Mansingh submitted that the applications submitted by the Reliance Fuel Resources, a Anil Ambani Group company, was still valid as the Officer on Special Duty who signed the letter asking the company to apply afresh was not actually authorised to do so.
PNGRB's counsels appearing before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) submitted that OSD Ramesh Samtani who returned the application of RFRL was not actually authorised for it.
They further submitted that the regulator did not own the rejection letter directing Reliance to apply afresh and hence it was not a decision taken by regulator.
In the letter dated December 10, 2007, OSD had directed RFRL to apply afresh for a licence to lay a pipeline from Kakinada to Dadri as there were no guidelines existing at that time. It asked the company to apply in compliance with new regulations which were to be framed.
Also Read
The APTEL bench comprising Justice Manju Goel and M B Lal said, "the only interpretation of this statement that these three letters 'non est' (not my deed) in the eyes of law, and as a consequence there is no obligation but to say that application made before PNGRB are still pending," said .
The bench also directed the board to take decision on RFRL application soon.