This refers to “The public in PPP”, May 10. It remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court verdict in the Ambani gas case (giving the right of pricing, supply and tenure of the natural resources to the government) will open a Pandora’s box or pave the way for an effective and clean policy in consonance with the spirit of Article 297 of the Constitution
Precedents dampen optimism. Grant of mineral rights in Karnataka; land acquisition for industry; pricing of petrol; allotment of 2G spectrum, etc. are all examples of political interests overriding public good. As such, in addition to a regulator, as the editorial proposes, there may be a need for either Parliament or the Supreme Court laying down norms for proper use of discretion in controlling natural resources.
Y G Chouksey, Pune