High Court asks Centre to explain its stand on strategic sale of VSP
The Hindu
Decision unilateral, alleges petitioner; alternatives suggested, says State
A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, comprising Justices J. Bagchi and M. Ganga Rao, issued a notice to the Union government on Thursday directing it to file a counter affidavit on the proposed strategic sale of its stake in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) in response to a PIL filed by CBI former Joint Director V.V. Lakshminarayana. The petitioner’s argument was that the Central government could not take a unilateral decision to divest its stake from a public entity without ensuring compliance with the promise of jobs made to the land oustees, and send them for negotiations with a private party. Appearing for Mr. Lakshminarayana, senior counsel B. Adinarayana Rao said the court was bound to look into the Central government’s decision since it was affecting the fundamental rights of not only the land oustees but also a large number of others who were employed in the PSU directly and indirectly.More Related News