Two members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)has moved the Supreme Court against Chairman L Mansingh, alleging "lack of transparency" on his part in giving licences for city gas distribution network and tariff fixation.
YPC Dangay and Sudha Mahalingam have approached the Supreme Court against the "arbitrary functioning" of Mansingh and raised questions over the manner in which the regulator is functioning.
They alleged Manshing was taking a "silo approach" despite the apex court directions on May 12 this year to take decisions on grant of licences for city gas distribution network by the multi-member board.
"The silo approach adopted by the Chairman in strict work division wherein eaach member functions in watertight compartments has resulted in lack of transparency in the board," they said.
"The entire process of authorisation and tariff fixation work is processed by the water-tight compartments in the board, both now controlled by the chairman, and even when proposals are finally brought to the board for its consideration, these are without any supporting data or analysis, depriving the board of the ability to make informed decisions," said the two members in their application.
They further submitted that PNGRB chairman "in contravention of the provisions of the PNGRB Act" was not allowing voting in board meetings and does not record dissent.
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"...Does not even bring on agenda, proposals made by the applicants/members for the consideration of the board, thus frustrating the collegiate principle of decision making," they said adding "chairman has perpetuated a fictitious functional division to bypass the two remaining members".
"The board continues to be controlled by a single individual, namely, the chairperson who had delegated all powers of authorisation to himself in the board meeting held on September 11, 2008 and continues to exercise the power despite the orders of the high court holding the delegation illegal," they submitted.
Earlier on May 12, the apex court had asked PNGRB to process all pending applications for grant of licences by a multi-member board.
The bench had also asked the government to fill up the vacant posts in the PNGRB within four weeks. The government has already invited applications for the post of Chairman and two members in the third week of May.
The incumbent Chairman Labanyendu Mansingh, retires on October 11, 2011, on attaining the age of 65 years.