Himachal HC adjourns hearing in Adani Power upfront payment refund case

Shimla, June 21 (Bureau) Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing on the state’s request in the matter of returning of upfront payment to Adani Power here. A division bench of Chief minister M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel adjourned the matter till July 11 on the request of State counsel.Making oral submission on the issue, Additional Advocate General Pranay Pratap Singh stated negotiations are on between the parties concerned on the matter. Passing a two-page order, the court stated that as a last chance, on the request of the Additional Advocate General, hte matter has been adjourned to July 11. The court made it clear that no further adjournment would be granted to the Advocate General in the matter. Court has clubbed the the letter patent appeal of the state on single judge decision on the matter of State of Himachal Pradesh versus Adani Power Ltd. and connected matter.

Earlier to this State sought adjournment in the matter that a red corner notice was issued by the interpol against the Brakle power director Gester Kamp. It is worthwhile to mention that single judge bench of Himachal Pradesh High court justice Sandeep Sharma had asked the government to refund the upfront premium of Rs. 280.06 crore to Adani Power Ltd. Justice Sandeep Sharma passed the order last week on a petition filed by Adani Power Ltd, challenging the communication of the Special Secretary (Power) on December 7, 2017, whereby it was conveyed that due to various legal intricacies and contractual complications involved in the matter, the Council of Ministers had reconsidered and reviewed the decision taken at its meeting held on September 4, 2015, to refund the amount of upfront premium deposited by the petitioner for the Jangi-Thopan-Powari power project.