2011 (2) TMI 3 - SUPREME COURT

COD Clearance – The idea behind setting up of this Committee, initially, called a "High-Powered Committee" (HPC), later on called as "Committee of Secretaries" (CoS) and finally termed as "Committee on Disputes" (CoD) was to ensure that resources of the State are not frittered away in inter se litigations between entities of the State, which could be best resolved, by an empowered CoD. The machinery contemplated was only to ensure that no litigation comes to Court without the parties having had an opportunity of conciliation before an in-house committee.

Experience has shown that despite best efforts of the CoD, the mechanism has not achieved the results for which it was constituted and has in fact led to delays in litigation. - Orders reported as (i) OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMMISSION Versus CCE (1991 - TMI - 43289 - SUPREME COURT) (ii) (1994 -TMI - 43712 - SUPREME COURT) and (iii) (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd Versus City & Indust. Dev. Corpn.,Maharashtra and Ors (2007 - TMI - 65616 - Supreme Court); recalled.