HC rejects PIL challenging Sambit Patra's appointment as director of ONGC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL challenging BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra's appointment as an independent director in the ONGC, saying the plea was “unsubstantiated” and “without merit”. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also rejected the opposition to the appointment of Shashi Shanker as the Chairman and Managing Director of ONGC.

The petition by NGO Energy Watchdog had challenged Shanker's appointment on the ground that he was suspended in February 2015 for six months in connection with a probe into the award of a contract by ONGC. The bench rejected the NGO'S contention saying it was “completely untenable and devoid of any factual or legal merit”.

It also noted in its order that there was no allegation in the entire petition that Shanker was not eligible or competent to hold the post in question or that he did not have the requisite experience.

Patra's appointment to the post of independent director in ONGC was challenged by the NGO on several grounds, which included that the procedures was not followed, his alleged lack of relevant experience and qualifications and his proximity to the ruling party at the Centre. With regard to the contention that he was closely related to the ruling party in power, being its spokesperson, the court said the NGO has not alleged that Patra or his relatives have or had any pecuniary relationship with the PSU or its subsidiaries, holding company or promoters.

Therefore, to doubt his independence to discharge his duties and functions as a director, merely because he is a spokesperson of BJP “would be highly inappropriate”, the bench said.

The court also brushed aside the NGO'S contention that Patra ought not to have been appointed. DOHA: Qatar Airways announced on Monday it has bought a stake in Cathay Pacific, giving the Doha-based airline a toehold in the potentially lucrative Asian aviation market.

The state-owned Gulf carrier said it had acquired a 9.6 per cent stake in Cathay, which would make it the third largest shareholder in the HongKong based airline. Bloomberg News said the deal was worth $662 million. Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al-baker said in a company statement that Cathay was "one of the strongest airlines in the world", adding it had "massive potential". The acquisition comes during the ongoing political crisis in the Gulf, the worst to hit the region in years. Since June, Qatar has been isolated by neighbouring countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As part of that dispute, Qatar Airways has been stopped from flying to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, previously popular destinations for the carrier.