Supreme Court Refuses To Defer Hearing in KG Basin Gas Dispute
The appeals challenge a Delhi High Court verdict that set aside an arbitral award in favour of the companies in the dispute with the Centre over alleged gas migration
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2026-05-20 16:14 GMT
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a request by Reliance Industries Ltd to defer hearing in the Krishna-Godavari basin gas migration dispute, even as the company and its partners sought mediation with the Centre.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, is hearing appeals filed by RIL, BP Exploration (Alpha) Ltd and Niko (NECO) Ltd.
The appeals challenge a Delhi High Court verdict that set aside an arbitral award in favour of the companies in the dispute with the Centre over alleged gas migration.
Counsel for the companies told the court, "All the petitioners will be writing to the Government of India today seeking mediation... We are submitting that let us attempt mediation."
The lawyer sought a pause in the final hearing to facilitate mediation, stating that discussions with the government were ongoing.
However, Attorney General R. Venkataramani opposed the request and urged the court to proceed with the hearing.
“If you come with a successful mediation, wonderful. We will dispose of the matter then,” the bench said, declining to halt proceedings.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for RIL, commenced submissions before the court.
The matter relates to a February 14, 2025 order of the High Court that set aside a single-judge decision upholding the arbitral award in favour of the companies.
In July 2018, an international arbitral tribunal had rejected the government’s claim of $1.55 billion against RIL and its partners over alleged unauthorised gas extraction, and awarded $8.3 million compensation to the companies.