The Supreme Court today allowed Balco to raise the issue of discrimination against it by the Chhatisgarh government in the dispute over the disinvestment of the company. The bench consisting of Justice BN Kirpal, Justice Santosh Hegde and Justice SN Agrawal was scheduled to hear the petition today, but it was adjourned till July 28.
The court also directed the advocate general of the state to file an affidavit stating the names of other companies and private parties to whom tribal land has been allotted. This is in view of the stand of the government that tribal land cannot be used for non-forest purposes under the state laws unless special exemption is granted.
Balco counsel Ashok Desai complained that the Chhatisgarh government had been issuing several notices to the company regarding the land use of the tribal land.
He pointed out certain statements by the Chief Minister who had reportedly said that he would not allow the company to function. The war of words between the state government and the company with the employees in between has been going on ever since the sale of the 51 per cent equity to Sterlite Industries for Rs 551.5 crore.
This is alleged to be a pittance by the government and the employees, who had gone on strike for some time. According to Balco, tribal land had been given to nine other companies including Daewoo Power Ltd, Essar Steel, Kelkar Products, Jindal Steel Ltd and Bagmar Bauxite Industries. Issuing notice only to Balco is discrimination, it said.
