SC Fines RIL ₹10 Lakh for Delaying NTPC Gas Supply Suit
The Supreme Court of India has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Reliance Industries for delaying a lawsuit by NTPC Ltd related to a natural gas contract. The lawsuit was filed in 2005, and despite several directions from the court to expedite the proceedings, it has made little progress over the years.
The bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe criticized Reliance Industries for its role in obstructing the progress of the suit at every stage. They noted that the company's power to litigate seems unlimited and that it raises objections at every stage, which leads to further litigation.
The court also expressed frustration with the delay in resolving the case, saying that seven years have passed since they directed the suit to be disposed of within nine months. The fine was imposed on Reliance Industries for its appeal against the Bombay High Court's decision to redact certain portions of examination-in-chief affidavits of NTPC's witness B.K. Ganguly.