CHAPTER VI
APPEALS TO APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
30. Appellate Tribunal.-(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act,
the Appellate Tribunal established under section 110 of the
Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003) shall be the Appellate Tribunal
for the purposes of this Act and the said Appellate Tribunal shall
exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on it by or
under this Act:
Provided that the Technical Member of the Appellate Tribunal for the
purposes of this Act shall be called the Technical Member (Petroleum
and Natural Gas) and shall have the qualifications specified in subsection
(2) of section 31.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Electricity Act, 2003
(36 of 2003), the Central Government may, for the purposes of this
Act, appoint one or more Technical Members (Petroleum and Natural
Gas) on the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity or designate a
Technical Member of the said Tribunal having the qualifications
specified in sub-section (2) of section 31 and when a Technical
Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas) is appointed, he shall be in
addition to the three other members appointed under the said Act.
31.
Technical Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas).
31. Technical Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas).-(1) The Technical
Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas) shall be appointed from the panel
prepared by the Search Committee constituted under sub-section (2) of
section 4.
(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Technical
Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas) of the Appellate Tribunal unless
he-
(i) is, or has been, a Secretary for at least one year in the
Ministry or Department of the Central Government having adequate
experience in energy sector, especially in matters relating to
Petroleum and Natural Gas sector; or
(ii) is, or has been, a person of ability and standing, having
adequate knowledge or experience in dealing with matters relating to
exploration, production, transmission pipelines, marketing or
regulation of petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas,
economics, commerce, law or management.
32.
Terms and conditions of service of Technical Member (Petroleum and
Natural Gas).
32. Terms and conditions of service of Technical Member (Petroleum
and Natural Gas).-The term of office, the salaries and allowances
payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of the
Technical Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas) shall be the same as
applicable to the other members of the Appellate Tribunal.
33.
Appeals to Appellate Tribunal.
33. Appeals to Appellate Tribunal.-(1) Any person aggrieved by an
order or decision made by the Board under this Act may prefer an
appeal to the Appellate Tribunal:
Provided that any person preferring an appeal against an order or
decision of the Board levying any penalty shall, while filing the
appeal, deposit the amount of such penalty:
Provided further that where in any particular case, the Appellate
Tribunal is of the opinion that deposit of such penalty would cause
undue hardship to such person, it may dispense with such deposit
subject to such conditions as it may deem fit to impose so as to
safeguard the realisation of penalty.
(2) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within a period
of thirty days from the date on which a copy of the direction or
order of decision made by the Board is received by the aggrieved
person and it shall be in such form, verified in such manner and be
accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after
the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that
there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period.
(3) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Appellate
Tribunal may, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard,
pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit.
(4) The Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by
it to the parties to the appeal and to the Board.
(5) The appeal filed under sub-section (1) shall be dealt with by the
Appellate Tribunal as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall
be made by it to dispose of the appeal finally within ninety days
from the date of receipt of appeal:
Provided that where any such appeal could not be disposed of within
the said period of ninety days, the Appellate Tribunal shall record
its reasons in writing for not disposing of the appeal within the
said period.
(6) The Appellate Tribunal may, for the purpose of examining the
legality or propriety or correctness of any order or decision of the
Board referred to in the appeal filed under sub-section (1), either
on its own motion or otherwise, call for the records relevant to
disposing of such appeal and make such orders as it thinks fit.
34.
Procedure and powers of the Appellate Tribunal.
34. Procedure and powers of the Appellate Tribunal.-The provisions of
sections 120 to 124 (both inclusive) of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36
of 2003) shall mutatis mutandis apply to the Appellate Tribunal in
the discharge of its functions under this Act as they apply to it in
the discharge of its functions under the Electricity Act, 2003.
35.
Power of Appellate Tribunal to make rules.
35. Power of Appellate Tribunal to make rules.-The Appellate Tribunal
may, by notification, make rules consistent with the provisions of
this Act as to the conduct and procedure in respect of all
proceedings before it under this Act.
36.
Orders passed by Appellate Tribunal to be executable as a decree.
36. Orders passed by Appellate Tribunal to be executable as a
decree.-(1) Every order made by the Appellate Tribunal under this Act
shall be executable by the Appellate Tribunal as a decree of a civil
court, and for this purpose, the Appellate Tribunal shall have all
the powers of a civil court.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the
Appellate Tribunal may transmit any order made by it to a civil court
having jurisdiction and such civil court shall execute the order as
if it were a decree made by that court.
37.
Appeal to Supreme Court.
37. Appeal to Supreme Court.-(1) Notwithstanding anything contained
in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) or in any other law,
an appeal shall lie against any order, not being an interlocutory
order, of the Appellate Tribunal to the Supreme Court on one or more
of the grounds specified in section 100 of that Code.
(2) No appeal shall lie against any decision or order made by the
Appellate Tribunal with the consent of the parties.
(3) Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a
period of ninety days from the date of the decision or order appealed
against:
Provided that the Supreme Court may entertain the appeal after the
expiry of the said period of ninety days, if it is satisfied that the
appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the
appeal in time.
CHAPTER VII
FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
38. Grants by Central Government.-The Central Government may, after
due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, make to
the Board grants of such sums of money as are required to pay
salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and the other
members and the administrative expenses including the salaries,
allowances and pensions payable to the officers and employees of the
Board.
39.
Fund.
39. Fund.-(1) There shall be constituted a Fund to be called the
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Fund and there shall be
credited thereto-
(i) all grants, fees, penalties and charges received by the Board
under this Act; and
(ii) all sums received by the Board from such other sources as may be
approved by the Central Government.
(2) The Fund shall be applied for making payments towards-
(i) the salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and other
members and the administrative expenses including the salaries,
allowances and pensions payable to the officers and employees of the
Board;
(ii) the expenses incurred or to be incurred in carrying out the
provisions of this Act.
(3) The Central Government shall-
(i) constitute a committee consisting of such persons as it thinks
fit to recommend to that Government the budgetary requirements of the
Board for salaries, allowances and all other expenses; and
(ii) fix the budgetary ceiling of the Board on the basis of the
recommendations of the committee.
40.
Accounts and audit.
40. Accounts and audit.-(1) The Board shall maintain proper accounts
and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of
accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government
in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him
and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be
payable by the Board to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
Explanation.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that
the decisions of the Board taken in the discharge of its functions
under this Act, being matters appealable to the Appellate Tribunal,
shall not be subject to audit under this section.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person
appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the
Board shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in
connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in
particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books,
accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and
inspection of offices of the Board.
(4) The accounts of the Board as certified by the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this
behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded
annually to the Central Government and that Government shall cause
the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
41.
Annual report and its laying before Parliament.
41. Annual report and its laying before Parliament.-(1) The Board
shall prepare once every year in such form and at such time as may be
prescribed, an annual report giving a summary of its activities
including information relating to the proceedings and policies during
the previous years and such report shall also contain statements of
annual accounts of the Board.
(2) A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the Central Government
and the Central Government shall cause such report to be laid, as
soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.
CHAPTER VIII
POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
42. Power of Central Government to issue directions.-(1) The Central
Government may, from time to time, by writing issue to the Board such
directions as it may think necessary in the interest of the
sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
friendly relations with foreign States or public order.
(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing provision, the Central
Government may, if it finds necessary or expedient so to do in public
interest or for maintaining or increasing supplies of petroleum,
petroleum products or natural gas or all or any of them or for
securing their equitable distribution and ensuring adequate
availability, issue policy directives to the Board in writing and
such policy directives shall be binding upon the Board:
Provided that no such directive shall relate to any day-to-day
affairs of the Board:
Provided further that the Board shall, as far as practicable, be
given an opportunity of expressing its views before any directive is
issued under this sub-section.
(3) The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one
of policy or not shall be final.
43.
Taking over control and management of facilities and business
premises of any entity and retail outlets in public interest.
43. Taking over control and management of facilities and business
premises of any entity and retail outlets in public interest.-(1) In
the event of war or natural calamity or such other similar
circumstances leading to disruption of supply of petroleum, petroleum
products or natural gas, the Central Government may, for ensuring the
continuous supply of petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas, by
notification, either take over the control and management of any
storage site, facilities and business premises of any entity and
retail outlets or suspend its operations or entrust, to any agency of
the Central or State Government for such time and manage it in such
manner, as may be specified in that notification:
Provided that the affected entities shall be given an opportunity of
being heard before issuing orders to take over the control and
management of retail outlets and other business premises:
Provided further that in case of any urgency or in cases where the
circumstances do not permit serving of notice for want of sufficient
time or otherwise upon the entity against whom the order is directed,
the opportunity of hearing may be dispensed with in public interest
in order to maintain the uninterrupted supply of petroleum, petroleum
products or natural gas for a specified period.
(2) The collector of the revenue district in which the property
referred to in the notification issued under sub-section (1) is
situated shall determine the amount of compensation payable for
taking over of the property.
(3) The form and manner in which an application for claiming
compensation under this section shall be made, the procedure for
determining the compensation and the time within which such
compensation shall be payable, shall be such as may be prescribed.
CHAPTER IX
OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT
44. Punishment for contravention of directions of the Board.-If a
person contravenes the directions of the Board, such person shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees and
in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may
extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which the
contravention continues.
45.
Penalty for willful failure to comply with orders of Appellate
Tribunal.
45. Penalty for willful failure to comply with orders of Appellate
Tribunal.-If any person wilfully fails to comply with the order of
the Appellate Tribunal, he shall be punishable with fine which may
extend to one crore rupees and in case of a second or subsequent
offence with fine which may extend to two crore rupees and in the
case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may
extend to twenty lakh rupees for every day during which such default
continues.
46.
Punishment for unauthorized activities.
46. Punishment for unauthorized activities.-If any person, being an
entity, markets any notified petroleum, petroleum products or natural
gas without a valid registration, or authorisation such person shall
be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or
with fine which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees or with both,
and in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which
may extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which the
contravention continues.
47.
Punishment for establishing or operating a liquefied natural gas
terminal without registration.
47. Punishment for establishing or operating a liquefied natural gas
terminal without registration.-If a person establishes or operates a
liquefied natural gas terminal without registration as required under
section 15, such person shall be liable for punishment with an
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or penalty of
twenty-five crore rupees or with both, and in case of continuing
contravention with additional fine which may extend to ten lakh
rupees for every day during which the contravention continues.
48.
Punishment for laying, building, operating or expanding a common
carrier or contract carrier without authorisation.
48. Punishment for laying, building, operating or expanding a common
carrier or contract carrier without authorisation.-If a person lays,
builds, operates or expands a common carrier or contract carrier or a
city or local natural gas distribution network without obtaining
authorisation required under section 19, such person shall be liable
for punishment with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to
three years or penalty of twenty-five crore rupees or with both, and
in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may
extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which the
contravention continues.
49.
Punishment for willful damages to common carrier or contract carrier.
49. Punishment for willful damages to common carrier or contract
carrier.-Every person who wilfully removes, destroys or damages any
pipeline or city or local natural gas distribution network or other
work of the common carrier or contract carrier for supplying
petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas shall for each such
offence be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three
years or with fine which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees or
with both, and, in case of continuing contravention with additional
fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which
such contravention continues.
50.
Offences by companies.
50. Offences by companies.-(1) Where an offence under this Act has
been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence
was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company
for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the
company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be
liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any
such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he
proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that
he has exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such
offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an
offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is
proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or
connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any
director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such
director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to
be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against
and punished accordingly.
Explanation.-For the purpose of this section,-
(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other
association of individuals; and
(b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
CHAPTER X
MISCELLANEOUS
51. Maintenance of data bank and information.-(1) The Board shall
maintain a data bank and information system relating to activities of
entities dealing with petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas
in such form and manner as may be provided by regulations.
(2) The Board shall have power to verify the data supplied by the
entities and appoint any person or persons for the purpose and take
such measures as it may consider necessary.
52.
Obligations of entities.
52. Obligations of entities.-(1) Every entity shall-
(a) maintain such documentary records as may be specified by the
Board by regulations;
(b) allow inspection of such facilities and documentary records, as
may be specified by the Board, by any person authorised by the
Board;
(c) commence operation of activities for which authorisation has been
granted within such period as may be specified by the Board in the
document of authorisation;
(d) register-
(i) agreements with the Board relating to use of pipelines for supply
of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas; or
(ii) any other document which the Board may determine by regulations;
(e) comply with marketing service obligations and retail service
obligations.
(2) The Board may call for any information from any entity including
information which is considered necessary for ensuring transparency
or ascertaining true ownership of the entity.
(3) The Board or any officer authorised by the Board shall have the
power to inspect and obtain information, wherever necessary, from the
entities.
(4) For the effective enforcement of the terms and conditions of
authorisation, the Board or any officer authorised by it for that
purpose, shall have all the powers of an inspecting officer as
provided under section 209A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
(5) It shall be the duty of every entity to carry out the directions
of the Board given under this section.
(6) The Board shall maintain confidentiality in respect of any
information and record received by it from the entities and shall not
disclose information contained therein to any person or authority
except on the grounds of public interest.
53.
Furnishing of returns, etc., to Central Government.
53. Furnishing of returns, etc., to Central Government.-The Board
shall furnish to the Central Government at such time and in such form
and manner as may be prescribed or as the Central Government may
direct, such returns and statements and such particulars in regard to
any matter in connection with proposed or existing activities under
this Act, as the Central Government may, from time to time, require.
54.
Chairperson, members, etc., to be public servants.
54. Chairperson, members, etc., to be public servants.-The
Chairperson, Members, Officers and other employees of the Board and
Technical Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas) of the Appellate
Tribunal shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in
pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, to be public servants
within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of
1860).
55.
Protection of action taken in good faith.
55. Protection of action taken in good faith.-No suit, prosecution or
other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government,
Board, Technical Authority or Appellate Tribunal or any officer of
the Central Government or any Chairperson, Member, officer or other
employee of the Board or Technical Member (Petroleum and Natural Gas)
of the Appellate Tribunal for anything which is in good faith done or
intended to be done under this Act or the rules or regulations made
thereunder.
56.
Civil courts not to have jurisdiction.
56. Civil courts not to have jurisdiction.-No civil court shall have
jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any
matter which the Board or the Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or
under this Act to determine, and no injunction shall be granted by
any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be
taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.
57.
Cognizance of certain offences.
57. Cognizance of certain offences.-(1) No court shall take
cognizance of any offence punishable under Chapter IX save on a
complaint made by the Board or by any investigating agency directed
by the Central Government.
(2) No court inferior to that of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or
of a Chief Judicial Magistrate shall try any offence punishable under
Chapter IX.
(3) Every offence punishable under sections 44, 45, 46 and 47 shall
be cognizable.
58.
Delegation.
58. Delegation.-The Board may, by general or special order in
writing, delegate to any member or officer of the Board subject to
such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, such of
its powers and functions under this Act (except the power to settle a
dispute under Chapter VI and to make regulations under section 61),
as it may deem necessary.
59.
Power to remove difficulties.
59. Power to remove difficulties.-(1) If any difficulty arises in
giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government
may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such
provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as it may
deem necessary for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the
expiry of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may
be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.
60.
Power of Central Government to make rules.
60. Power of Central Government to make rules.-(1) The Central
Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the
provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the
following matters, namely:-
(a) the salaries and allowances payable to and the other conditions
of service of the Chairperson and the other members under subsection
(4) of section 5;
(b) the procedure for appointment of any person or constitution of
any authority and conducting inquiry under section 7;
(c) the salaries and allowances payable to and the other terms and
conditions of service of the Secretary, officers and other employees
of the Board, under sub-section (3) of section 10;
(d) any other matter in respect of which the Board may exercise the
powers of a civil court under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of
section 13;
(e) the eligibility conditions which an entity shall fulfil for
registration under sub-section (1) of section 15;
(f) the form of appeal and the manner of verifying such form, and the
fee which shall accompany such form, under sub-section (2) of section
33;
(g) the manner in which the accounts of the Board shall be maintained
under sub-section (1) of section 40;
(h) the time and manner in which the annual report of the Board
shall be prepared under sub-section (1) of section 41;
(i) the form and manner in which applications for claiming
compensation shall be made, the procedure for determining the
compensation and the time within which such compensation shall be
payable, under sub-section (3) of section 43;
(j) the time and manner in which returns and statements are to be
furnished by the Board to the Central Government under section 53;
(k) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed, or in
respect of which provision is to be made, by rules.
61.
Power of Board to make regulations.
61. Power of Board to make regulations.-(1) The Board may, by
notification, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules
made thereunder to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any of the
following matters, namely:-
(a) the time and places of meetings of the Board and the procedure
(including quorum necessary for the transaction of business) to be
followed at such meetings under sub-section (1) of section 8;
(b) the powers and duties of the Secretary under sub-section (1) of
section 10;
(c) the terms and conditions of the consultants appointed under subsection
(4) of section 10;
(d) the capacity of storage facilities for petroleum, petroleum
products or natural gas requiring registration under sub-clause (iii)
of clause (b) of section 11;
(e) regulating open access to and transportation rate for the common
carrier or contract carrier or city or local natural gas
distribution network and other matters referred to in clause (e) of
section 11;
(f) marketing service obligations for entities and retail service
obligations for retail outlets under sub-clause (v) of clause (f) of
section 11;
(g) levy of fees and other charges under clause (g) of section 11;
(h) the technical standards and specifications including safety
standards in activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and
natural gas under clause (i) of section 11;
(i) the procedure to be followed by the Board including the places at
which it shall conduct its business under sub-section (3) of section
13;
(j) the manner of maintaining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Register
under
sub-section (1) of section 14;
(k) the form and manner of making application for obtaining certified
copy of any entry in the register and the fee which shall accompany
such application, under sub-section (4) of section 14;
(l) the form and manner in which an application under sub-section (1)
of section 15 shall be made and the fee which shall accompany such
application under sub-section (2) of section 15;
(m) the manner by which a certificate of registration granted under
sub-section (3) of section 15 may be suspended or cancelled under
sub-section (4) of section 15;
(n) the form and manner in which an application under sub-section (1)
or sub-section (2) of section 17 shall be made and the fee which
shall accompany such application under sub-section (3) of section 17;
(o) the form and manner in which publicity of acceptance of
applications for registration shall be made under section 18;
(p) the manner of selection of an entity under sub-section (2) of
section 19;
(q) the principles for determining the number of years for which a
city or local natural gas distribution network shall be excluded from
the purview of a common carrier or contract carrier under sub-section
(4) of section 20;
(r) the guiding principles to be followed by the Board and the
objectives for declaring, or authorising to lay, build, operate or
expand a common carrier or contract carrier for declaring, or
authorising to lay, build, operate or expand a city or local natural
gas distribution network, under sub-section (5) of section 20;
(s) the affiliate code of conduct under which the entities are
required to comply with under the proviso to sub-section (1) of
section 21;
(t) the transportation tariffs for common carriers or contract
carriers or city or local natural gas distribution network and the
manner of determining such tariffs under sub-section (1) of section
22;
(u) the form in which a complaint may be made and the fee which shall
accompany such complaint, under sub-section (2) of section 25;
(v) the manner of holding an investigation by an Investigating
Officer under sub-section (1) of section 26;
(w) the qualifications and experience which any person for
appointment as an Investigating Officer shall possess, under subsection
(2) of section 26;
(x) the form and manner of maintaining data bank and information
system by the Board under sub-section (1) of section 51;
(y) maintenance of documentary records by an entity, under clause (a)
of sub-section (1) of section 52;
(z) any other type of documents which are to be registered with the
Board under sub-clause (ii) of clause (d) of sub-section (1) of
section 52;
(za) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, specified
by regulations or in respect of which provision is to be or may be
made by regulations.
62.
Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.
62. Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.-Every rule
made by the Central Government and every regulation made by the Board
under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made,
before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total
period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two
or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session
immediately following the session or the successive sessions
aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule
or regulation or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation should
not be made, the rule or regulation shall thereafter have effect only
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so,
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule
or regulation.
63.
Transitional arrangements.
63. Transitional arrangements.-(1) Where, before the commencement of
this Act, an agreement or agreements have been entered into between
one oil company and another for the purpose of sharing of petroleum
products or sharing of infrastructure facilities among the oil
companies and such agreements have been approved by the Central
Government, the Board may monitor the implementation of such
agreements for the transition period.
(2) The Board shall monitor setting up of dealerships and
distributorships of motor spirit, high speed diesel, superior
kerosene oil, liquefied petroleum gas and CNG stations for natural
gas during transition period by the entities without encroaching on
the retail network of the existing entities.
Explanation I.-For the purposes of this section, the expression
“transition period” shall mean a period of three years from the date
of commencement of this Act.
Explanation II.-For the purposes of this section, “infrastructure
facilities” shall mean facilities at ports, refineries, terminals,
depots and aviation fuelling stations including hydrant lines and
shall include loading and unloading facilities.
Explanation III.-For the purposes of this section “encroaching”
includes taking over of retail outlet of one entity by another.
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