In his PIL, the petitioner alleged that crores of Rupees were being spent by public sector companies like the Central Coalfields Limited and Eastern Coalfields Limited in the name of PRP and prayed for an order to stop the practice.
The petitioner also pleaded for a CBI inquiry into the matter as it related crores of rupees of public money.
The division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Chandra Tatia and Justice P P Bhatt granted time after the counsel of the central government and the coal companies sought time to file counter affidavits.
The court fixed February 24 as the next date of hearing.
