HC Rejects plea against Adani Power Contract and Fines Petitioner Rs 50000

17 Dec 2024 CW Team

The Bombay High Court dismissed a petition challenging a contract awarded by the Maharashtra government to the Adani Group for the supply of renewable and thermal power electricity. The court stated that the plea was "unsubstantiated and reckless." A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar also imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner, Shriraj Nageshwar Aepurwar, for filing a vague petition.

Aepurwar had alleged that the contract for supplying 6,600 megawatts of renewable and thermal power violated his fundamental right to access fair electricity at a reasonable rate. The plea also accused former state chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is currently the deputy CM, of involvement in corrupt practices related to the awarding of the contract to the Adani Group.

However, the bench rejected these contentions, observing that petitions containing unsubstantiated and reckless claims risk undermining even valid causes. The court also noted that the petition contained "vague and unsubstantiated" assertions about the contract being a scam involving government authorities. The HC further emphasized that the petition did not provide any supporting evidence to demonstrate that Shinde was involved in any corrupt practices.

The court pointed out that the petitioner had not participated in the tender process for the contract and criticised the petition for lacking substantiating material, labelling the allegations as "bald and vague." As a result, the HC dismissed the plea and ordered the Rs 50,000 cost to be deposited by the petitioner with the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority.

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