ITEM NO.44+12 COURT NO.6 SECTION II-C S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Miscellaneous Application No. 2431/2024 in MA 647/2021 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 26-07-2022 in MA No. 647/2021 passed by the Supreme Court of India]

THE UNION TERRITORY OF PONDICHERRY Petitioner(s)

VERSUS PNL NIDHI LTD & ORS. Respondent(s)

(FOR ADMISSION and IA No.253988/2024-APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 253988/2024 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS)

WITH Diary No(s). 19711/2025 (XII)

(IA No. 100924/2025 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING)

Date : 29-04-2025 This matter was called on for hearing today.

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.K. MAHESHWARI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARAVIND KUMAR For Petitioner(s) : Mr. R.venkataramani, Attorney General for India Mr. Aravindh S., AOR Mr. Akshay Gupta, Adv.

Mr. Aadithya Aravindh, Adv.

For Respondent(s) : Ms. Anindita Mitra, AOR Mr. K.g. Raghavan, Adv.

Mr. V. Shyamohan, Adv.

Ms. Priyanka Ajjannavar, Adv.

Ms. Sradhaxna Mudrika, Adv.

Ms. Anshika Bajpai, Adv.

Ms. Vrinda Baheti, Adv.

Signa ture No t Ve rifi ed Mr. Anirud C., Adv.

Digita lly s ign ed b y M/S. Kmnp Law Aor, AOR Gulshan Kumar Arora Date: 2025.05.07 Reason:

Mr. M. P. Vinod, AOR Mr. Tuhin, AOR Mr. Nikhil Nayyar, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Alok Dhir, Adv.

Ms. Maneesha Dhir, Adv.

Mr. Karan Batura, AOR Mr. Dipanshu Krishan, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R

1. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, we find that the order dated 18.3.2021 passed in Writ Petition No. 4722 of 2016 and connected matters is relevant for consideration to clarify the orders as prayed in the instant application filed by the applicant. WMP No. 8996 of 2023 and WMP No.8998 of 2023 have been filed by the Union of India as well as the competent authority of the Union Territory of Puducherry for clarification of the said order. Learned Single Judge has entertained the application and vide order dated 20.4.2023 passed an interim order in their favour. Writ Appeal No. 1074 of 2023 filed by the applicant has been rejected vide order dated 20.8.2024 with a request to the learned Single Judge to decide the same within a period of two months expecting the parties to cooperate for early disposal and the said application.

2. Indeed, it is true that this Court while passing an order of clarification can take a different view but in our gesture, because of passing an interim order and dismissal of the writ appeal, we deem it appropriate that the High Court ought to have passed an order in such an application at the earliest. It is seen that while disposing of the writ appeal on 20.8.2024, the High Court hass requested the learned Single Judge to decide the clarification petition as referred above within a period of two months and by this time more than six months have already been passed. Even after elapse of time, those applications are pending.

3. In view of the said sequel, it would be in the fitness of the things that learned Single Judge of the High Court shall decide the clarificatory application WMP Nos. 8996 of 2023 and 8998 of 2023 within a period of four weeks from the reopening of the Court after summer vacation.

4. We direct the Registrar (Judicial) to place this order before Hon’ble the Chief Justice and list the matter immediately on reopening before the learned Single Judge whereby, he may have an opportunity to decide this application at the earliest. The parties are at liberty to place the order passed by the learned Single Judge before us in these proceedings.

5. List on 19.08.2025.

(GULSHAN KUMAR ARORA) (NAND KISHOR)

AR-CUM-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR