High Court Directs Punjab Govt To Take Decision On Gujarat State Petronet's Representation Against Stalling Of Gas Pipeline Project By Farmers
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday directed Punjab government to take a decision on the representation moved by Gujarat State Petronet Limited, a Gujarat government-owned Public Sector Undertaking against the local authorities' failure to extend support in implementation of the Central Government sanctioned Mehsana-Bathinda-Jammu Gas Pipeline Project. A single bench of Justice...
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday directed Punjab government to take a decision on the representation moved by Gujarat State Petronet Limited, a Gujarat government-owned Public Sector Undertaking against the local authorities' failure to extend support in implementation of the Central Government sanctioned Mehsana-Bathinda-Jammu Gas Pipeline Project.
A single bench of Justice Aman Chaudhary, while passing the order, said:
“In view of the limited prayer made and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent no. 1 to look into the representation … and decide the same expeditiously, preferably within a period of 03 weeks from today, in accordance with law.”
The matter had reached the High Court with GSPL filing a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC praying for the issuance of directions to the police and Bathinda administration for reasonable security to the company and its workers to enable them perform the function of laying pipelines for the purpose of transporting natural gas. The company was represented by Senior Advocate Bipan Ghai and the petition was filed through Advocates Anupam Bhanot and Nikhil Ghai.
The company, as per a Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India approval dated 04.01.2017, has been sanctioned to lay pipelines throughout Punjab as per the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right User in land Act), 1962, in furtherance of which, work had begun.
However, in the Bathinda area of Punjab, even after paying higher-than-market value compensation, farmers were not allowing pipelines to be laid in their fields, the company alleged.
As per GSPL, representations were made to the local authorities on a previous occasion, however, the same were not responded to.
“Despite writing various representations and letters, the local administration was not able to provide any help or protection to carry on the laying of the gas pipeline in Punjab,” the petition stated.
As per the petition, the farmers had been allegedly putting forth unreasonable demands, threatening to kill the workers performing their duties and to burn the vehicles of the company.
Case Title: GSPL India Gasnet Ltd. and Another v. State of Punjab and Others
Citation: CRM-M-375-2023 (O&M)
Coram: Justice Aman Chaudhary