In a bid to corner the government from its dispute with Reliance Industries (RIL), Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) firm Reliance Natural Resources (RNRL) has told the Supreme Court (SC) that the government has no role to play either in the utilisation or the fixation of gas price in its contract with RIL.
The RNRL counsel said RIL had complete marketing freedom for sale of gas within India on such terms and at such price that RIL deems fit and proper. RNRL has blamed RIL of changing its stance with regard to the 2004 family agreement.
RIL moved to the SC after a decision by the Bombay High Court directing RIL to provide 28 million cubic metres of gas per day to RNRL at $2.34 per mmBtu and asking the parties to sign a necessary agreement for the same within a month.
RIL, on the other hand, has pleaded contending being only a contractor for the gas from the Krishna-Godavari basin’s D6 block and has no right to fix the price. Also the government has also filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the dispute contending its right to pricing and distribution of natural gas.