The Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed Michael Hudson McHugh, former Judge of the High Court of Australia, as the third arbitrator who will head the board of arbitrators to solve the KG basin dispute between Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) and the government.
The top court had earlier withdrawn its order appointing Australian Judge James Spigelman as an arbitrator between the government and Reliance in the KG basin dispute.
This happened after the Centre pointed out that the arbitrator appointed by the top court figures in the Reliance's list of ordered arbitrator and hence someone else should be appointed.
The Supreme Court had said it was a mistake and withdrew the order.
The Oil Ministry and Reliance Industries are locked in a dispute over recovery of cost for developing the country's key natural gas field in the KG basin. Reliance blames geological factors for lower gas output while the Oil Ministry has sought to penalise the company for lower gas output.
Reliance had moved the Supreme Court for appointment of an arbitrator from a foreign country with which parties in disputes are not connected with. Reliance has nominated former Chief Justice of India SP Bharucha as its arbitrator while the Centre has chosen former Chief Justice of India VN Khare as its representative.
The top court had earlier withdrawn its order appointing Australian Judge James Spigelman as an arbitrator between the government and Reliance in the KG basin dispute.
This happened after the Centre pointed out that the arbitrator appointed by the top court figures in the Reliance's list of ordered arbitrator and hence someone else should be appointed.
The Supreme Court had said it was a mistake and withdrew the order.
The Oil Ministry and Reliance Industries are locked in a dispute over recovery of cost for developing the country's key natural gas field in the KG basin. Reliance blames geological factors for lower gas output while the Oil Ministry has sought to penalise the company for lower gas output.
Reliance had moved the Supreme Court for appointment of an arbitrator from a foreign country with which parties in disputes are not connected with. Reliance has nominated former Chief Justice of India SP Bharucha as its arbitrator while the Centre has chosen former Chief Justice of India VN Khare as its representative.