The High Court (HC) has ordered an investigation into the electricity purchase agreement with India’s Adani Group and asked for a report within 30 days.

The court issued the order after a preliminary hearing on a writ petition filed concerning the validity of the agreement on Tuesday (November 19). 

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued a rule in this regard.

Additionally, the court directed the formation of a high-powered committee, consisting of international energy and legal experts, to submit a detailed report on the agreement. The committee has been asked to form within a month and submit their report within two months.

The court also instructed that all documents related to the negotiation of the agreement be submitted to the court.

Lawyer M Abdul Kayum appeared for the petitioner in the court, while Deputy Attorney General Tanim Khan represented the state.

According to lawyer M Abdul Kayum, the Adani Group had signed an agreement with the Power Division to import 1,600 MW of electricity. The agreement has faced criticism from various quarters, with claims that it is one-sided and goes against the country's interests. The lawyer issued a notice to reconsider or cancel the agreement, but as there was no response, a writ petition was filed in the High Court.

Kayum further explained that the court has issued a rule, questioning why an order should not be given to cancel this unjust and unfair agreement, which is detrimental to the country's interests. The court has also made three interim orders:

1.    The court instructed the submission of all documents related to the negotiations with Adani Group, to be submitted within a month before the signing of the agreement.
2.    The court ordered the formation of a high-powered committee with international energy and legal experts to analyze the terms of the agreement and determine if they are against the country’s interests, with a report to be submitted within two months.
3.    Another committee will be formed to investigate the proper process followed for this agreement and submit a report to the court.
4.    The court has set the next order date for February 25.

Earlier, Supreme Court lawyer M Abdul Kayum filed the writ petition on November 12 as the petitioner.

BDST: 1915 HRS, NOV 19, 2024
MSK