Of Petroleum is God?
SC asks if Ministry
Does the Petroleum Ministry consider itself to be 'God' or a 'super government' and think that the "unemployed" judges are at their mercy, an anguished Supreme Court bench observed on Monday.
The scathing remarks by a bench of Justices Madan Lokur and Deepak Gupta came when the top court was informed that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had only on Sunday apprised the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change about the issue of ban on import of pet coke, which is used as industrial fuel.
The court, which was hearing a matter relating to air pollution in the -National Capital Region, slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the ministry for "laxity".
The top court also imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the Delhi government for not filing a status report giving a timeline for removal of traffic bottlenecks on several corridors in the city.
The strong observations against the ministry came when Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, told the bench that they had received a response from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on the issue only on Sunday.
"Is Ministry of Petroleum a God? Are they God? They would respond whenever they want? Tell them to change their name from Ministry of Petroleum to God".
"Is the ministry a super government? Is it above the Government of India? What is the status of Ministry of Petroleum, tell us. Why are they not complying with any order," the bench asked.
When the ASG said that their affidavit was ready and he should be allowed to file it during the day, Justice Lokur shot back, "if they do not feel like complying with the orders, they do not comply, and think that the unemployed judges of the Supreme Court will give them time. Are we supposed to be at the mercy of the ministry?"
The bench allowed the ASG to file the affidavit during the course of the day, but said, "We are surprised at the attitude of the ministry in taking its own time in responding to the MoEF's communication. The delay is entirely because of the laxity of the MoPNG."