(S. Abdul Nazeer, Indu Malhotra and Aniruddha Bose, JJ.)
Government of India Through Under Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Union of India __________________________ Petitioner;
v.
Vedanta Limited and Others ______________________ Respondent(s).
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 7172/2020, decided on July 22, 2020
(For Admission and I.R. and IA No. 50904/2020-Exemption From Filing C/c of the Impugned Judgment and IA No. 50906/2020-Permission to File Lengthy List of Dates
IA No. 65097/2020 – Application For Permission IA No. 64169/2020 – Clarification/Direction IA No. 64912/2020 – Condonation of Delay in Filing IA No. 65098/2020 – Exemption From Filing Affidavit IA No. 64917/2020 – Exemption From Filing Affidavit IA No. 64203/2020 – Exemption From Filing Affidavit IA No. 64170/2020 – Exemption From Filing Affidavit IA No. 50904/2020 – Exemption From Filing C/c of the Impugned Judgment IA No. 50906/2020 – Permission to File Lengthy List of Dates)
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 7172/2020; OMP(EFA) (COMM.) No. 15/2020; IA No. 50904/2020; IA No. 50906/2020; IA No. 65097/2020; IA No. 64169/2020; IA No. 64912/2020; IA No. 65098/2020; IA No. 64917/2020; IA No. 64203/2020; IA No. 64170/2020; IA No. 50904/2020; and IA No. 50906/2020
The Order of the court was delivered by
Order
1. Mr. K.K. Venugopal, learned Attorney General for India requests for one week’s time to file the Rejoinder Affidavit since the Counter has just been served on 21st July, 2020. The Union of India is permitted to file the Rejoinder Affidavit within 1 week.
2. Mr. C.A. Sundaram, Sr. Adv. for Respondent No. 1 has pressed for interim directions and modification of the Order of status quo dated 17-6-20201, in I.A. No. 64169 of 2020, wherein the following prayer has been made:
“(a) direct the Petitioner to immediately recall the direction dated 18 June, 2020 such that the oil marketing companies directly pay sale revenues to the respondent no. 1 in accordance with the Orders dated 28th May, 2020 and 4 June, 2020 passed by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, read with Order dated 17-6-20201 passed by this Hon’ble Court.”
3. The learned Attorney General for India submits that he would have no objection if the Order of status quo passed by this Court, is modified to the extent that a direction be given to the Oil Marketing Companies to directly pay the sales revenue to the Respondent No. 1 in accordance with the Orders dated 28th May, 2020 and 4th June, 2020 passed by the High Court of Delhi read with order dated 17-6-20201 passed by this Court. However, the Order of status quo must continue to remain operative with respect to the Bank Guarantees and/or Deposits, for a sum of approximately USD 93 million during the pendency of the proceedings.
4. The Order of status quo passed on 17-6-20201 is modified to the extent that there will be no stay on payment of the sales revenue by the Oil Marketing Companies, to the Respondent No. 1 Company, as per the Orders dated 28.05.2020 read with 04.06.2020, passed by the Delhi High Court.
5. Mr. C.A. Sundaram, Sr. Adv. appearing for Respondent No. 1, has made a statement that his clients will not press the I.A. filed before the High Court for the same relief, which shall be withdrawn.
6. The Special Leave Petition be posted for final hearing on 6th and 7th August 2020, as Part-heard.
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1 Union of India v. Vedanta Ltd., SLP(C) No. 7172 of 2020, order dated 17-6-2020(SC)
