Govt wants Ambani pact declared 8216;null8217; 038; 8216;void8217;

Seeking a stay on the June 15 Bombay High Court order on gas supply on the basis of a family agreement,the Government said in a petition before the Supreme Court that the MoU between the Ambanis was blatantly illegal and in disregard to the provision of the Production Sharing Contract PSC.

8220;The MoU should be declared null and void,8221; as it would mean that all the gas from the KG basin would be owned and utilised by RIL and RNRL,said the petition,a day after the Oil Ministry filed an affidavit in connection with cross-appeals by the group firms of the two Ambanis.

8220;Obviously,the pressing needs of the priority sectors8230;cannot be allowed to be held hostage to the benevolence and mercy of these two respondents,8221; the petition said,praying for continuation of sale of gas from KG basin to users other than RNRL.

In its earlier petition,RNRL wanted immediate supply of gas at USD 2.34 per mmBtu,which is 44 per cent less than the official rate,while RIL said it cannot supply fuel without the government8217;s consent.