New Delhi: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and two other foreign firms on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that they would write to the Centre for mediation in the Krishna-Godavari basin gas migration dispute.
The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.
“All the petitioners will be writing to the Government of India today seeking mediation… We are submitting that let us attempt mediation,” the counsel appearing for the firms told the apex court.
During the Supreme Court hearing, the companies’ counsel stated they would write to the Government of India seeking reconciliation or mediation and requested a pause in court proceedings.
The Supreme Court bench declined to halt the ongoing final hearings. Chief Justice Surya Kant noted, “If you come with a successful mediation, wonderful. We will dispose of the matter then,” allowing the parties to inform the court of any mediation outcomes while proceedings continue.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Union of India, pushed back on delaying the proceedings and urged the court to continue with the ongoing arguments.
The appeals stem from a February 2025 Delhi High Court verdict that set aside a ₹12,800-crore arbitral award previously granted in favour of RIL and its partners. The underlying issue involves allegations that the companies siphoned off natural gas from ONGC’s adjoining blocks in the KG Basin.
The matter being heard by the apex court directly challenges the High Court’s ruling that invalidated the arbitral award.
