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New Delhi: The <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on Friday granted <keyword id="19899938" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bail" source="keywords">bail</keyword> to <keyword id="19909124" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manish-Sisodia" source="keywords">Manish Sisodia</keyword> in the excise policy irregularities cases. The order has been delivered by a bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. The court also imposed various conditions including surrendering the passport and not influencing witnesses. Expressing joy over Sisodia's bail, Delhi Minister and <keyword id="19914482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AAP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AAP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AAP">AAP</keyword> leader <keyword id="19945966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="saurabh-bharadwaj" source="keywords">Saurabh Bharadwaj</keyword> said that it is a big day for <keyword id="20533676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-democracy" source="keywords">Indian democracy</keyword>. "This is a Big day for Indian democracy. The country's biggest court has said today will prove to be a milestone... No crime was proven, you kept him in jail for 17 months without proving it. Can the central government return Manish Sisodia's 17 months to his family? The Supreme Court has not put any condition on Manish Sisodia. This means that he can come to his office and resume his work. He will have to go to the police station every Monday and Thursday to mark his presence in Delhi..." said Bharadwaj. Congress MP Manickam Tagore also congratulated Sisodia for securing bail. "We all know that ED has been misused by BJP for a long time. They are using it as a political tool to silence the opposition. Manish Sisodia's release has shown that the legal system has taken a long time to give justice to him," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife <keyword id="21054172" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sunita-kejriwal" source="keywords">Sunita Kejriwal</keyword> said, "In God's house, there is delay, not darkness." AAP MP Swati Maliwal too expressed happiness and said, "I am happy that he got the bail. I hope he will lead the Delhi govt and will work well." Launching a scathing attack against Manish Sisodia, BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam said that there is no need to be so happy as the Supreme Court has only granted bail. "Manish Sisodia has not been proven guilty but has only been granted bail. He won't be spared." In February 2023, Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of now-scrapped Delhi's new excise policy. The policy was withdrawn amid allegations of foul play by the opposition. Sisodia is currently in judicial custody. According to the CBI, Sisodia had played the most vital role in the criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the said policy to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the said conspiracy.

Manish Sisodia granted bail in excise policy case, AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj says big day for Indian democracy

The <keyword id="19935664" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aam-Aadmi-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aam Aadmi Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aam Aadmi Party">Aam Aadmi party</keyword> is set to announce the new <keyword id="19919270" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-Chief-Minister" source="keywords">Delhi Chief Minister</keyword> by 12 pm today after the party's legislative meeting in the national capital. According to the Aam Aadmi Party, the meeting will be held at the Chief Minister's residence today. Following this, <keyword id="19901384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal" source="keywords">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> will meet the <keyword id="20976840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lieutenant-Governor-VK-Saxena" source="keywords">Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena</keyword> at 4:30 p.m. today and the newly chosen leader of the legislative party will simultaneously stake a claim for the post of Chief Minister. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj remained tight-lipped about who will succeed Arvind <keyword id="19895701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kejriwal" source="keywords">Kejriwal</keyword> as Chief Minister, stating only that the successor could be either a current minister or an MLA. "It does not matter who sits on the CM chair because the mandate was for Arvind Kejriwal. The public chose Arvind Kejriwal. He has said that he will not sit on the CM chair until the people ask again but the chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal for these and the next 5 years... One of us will sit on the chair until the elections take place. It will be similar to the way Bharat ruled in the absence of Lord Ram," Bharadwaj said. On being asked who will replace Arvind Kejriwal, Bharadwaj said, "It can be an MLA or any present minister. There will be a discussion with the MLAs today and the name may be decided". Kejriwal announced on Sunday that he would resign and would not resume the CM's post until the people of Delhi declared him "honest." He has also called for advancing polls in the national capital to November this year, ahead of the scheduled February elections. Kejriwal stated that if re-elected by the public, it would serve as a "certificate" of his honesty. He added that he would push for early elections, alongside those in Maharashtra. The announcement by the 54-year-old leader came two days after he was released from the <keyword id="20147871" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tihar-jail" source="keywords">Tihar jail</keyword> after being granted bail by the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> in a corruption case related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. The apex court also imposed certain conditions on Kejriwal's release, including that he must refrain from making public comments about the case and must attend all hearings before the trial court unless exempted.

AAP to announce New Delhi CM's name at 12 noon today

India made history in 2018 when the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/live-section-377-verdict-all-eyes-on-indias-top-court-to-scrap-law-criminalising-homosexuality/articleshow/65697010.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">decriminalised homosexuality</a> in the country. Another big milestone for the LGBTQ community in India is expected soon as the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of senior advocate <keyword id="7076958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="saurabh-kirpal" source="Orion">Saurabh Kirpal</keyword> as judge of the Delhi High Court. If appointed then Kirpal would make history by becoming the first openly gay judge to hold the position. The appointment is yet to be confirmed but the journey so far hasn’t been one without hurdles. Back in 2017, Kirpal was recommended but his elevation was deferred with reports on objections raised against his sexual orientation. Some reports also suggest that the objection was due to the fact that Kirpal’s partner is a European who works with the Swiss Embassy, and this could cause a conflict of interest. Kirpal however refuted this and said that it’s his sexuality that’s actually deferring his request. “The fact that my partner of 20 years is a person of foreign origin is a security risk is such a specious reason that it leaves one to believe that it is not the whole truth. That is why I believe my sexuality is the reason why my candidature has not been considered for elevation as a judge,” Kirpal had <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/sc-collegium-recommends-elevation-of-saurabh-kirpal-as-delhi-high-court-judge-7624449/">told</a> Indian Express in an interview earlier this year in April. Kirpal’s journey for judgeship started in 2017 when the then acting chief justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Gita Mittal proposed his name for elevation. Later in October, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his name for elevation. The following year in September, Kirpal’s name was deferred, and once again in January 2019. It was again deferred three months later. Earlier this year in March, Kirpal was designated as a senior advocate after a unanimous vote from all 31 judges of the Delhi High Court. Section 377 Saurabh Kirpal was also the counsel for Navtej Johar and Ritu Dalmia, two key petitioners in the removal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality. Kirpal who has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights would not only be making history but could also pave the way for more LGBTQ judges in India. Sex and the Supreme Court Kirpal is also the author of the book “Sex and the Supreme Court: How the Law is Upholding the Dignity of the Indian Citizen.” This book talks about the Supreme Court’s decision to remove Section 377 and other cases relating to sexual harassment in the workplace, adultery and more. It features insights from Justice M.B. Lokur, Justice B.D Ahmed into these cases and personal accounts from petitioners of the Section 377 case. Education Kirpal completed his graduation in B.Sc (Hons) Physics from St Stephens, Delhi University but then he decided to study law at the University of Oxford. He then completed his master in Law from the University of Cambridge. Kirpal specialises in civil, commercial and constitutional law. Kirpal also comes from a family of lawyers with his father Justice BN Kirpal who was the 31st Chief Justice of India from May 2002 to November 2002. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/the-91-year-old-woman-behind-indias-most-famous-papad-brand-gets-the-fourth-highest-civilian-honour-she-started-with-80/articleshow/87648125.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">The 91-year old woman behind India’s most famous papad brand gets the fourth highest civilian honour ⁠— she started with ₹80</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/former-myntra-ceo-started-mensa-brand-in-may-and-its-already-worth-a-billion-dollars-with/articleshow/87735832.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Former Myntra CEO started Mensa Brand in May ⁠and it’s already worth a billion dollars</a>

India is set to get its first openly gay judge

NEW DELHI: The revision in natural gas prices will have to wait, with the <keyword id="40807" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Election-Commission">Election Commission</keyword> on Monday asking the petroleum ministry to defer the proposal in view of all relevant facts, including pendency of the matter in the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword>. 
 
In a terse, four-line reply to the petroleum and natural gas ministry's March 14 proposal seeking EC nod for notifying the revised gas prices for the April-June 2014 quarter, principal secretary with the EC K Ajaya Kumar said "after taking into account all relevant facts, including the fact that the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the commission has decided that the proposal may be deferred". 
 
Incidentally, just before directing the government to defer the hike, the commission had sought clarifications from the petroleum ministry on whether they were seeking the EC's go-ahead for only notifying the new parameters for gas pricing or also raising the gas price. The oil ministry is said to have clarified that approval was sought to notify the new pricing regime from April 1 for all private and public sector natural gas producers, under which rates would be increased to $8.3 per million British thermal units next month from the existing $4.2 per million British thermal units. 
 The EC's decision deferring the gas price revision comes a couple of days after <keyword id="50926" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chief-election-commissioner">chief election commissioner</keyword> V S Sampath hinted at a press meet in Lucknow that it would not make much of a difference were the gas price hike to wait for two more months. 
 Sampath was asked to spell out EC's stand on the proposed gas price hike in the wake of <keyword id="6356115" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="AAP">AAP</keyword> chief <keyword id="1350002" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arvind-Kerjiwal">Arvind Kerjiwal</keyword>'s letter to the commission requesting it not to allow the same. Kejriwal had alleged that prices were being revised to favour <keyword id="6355199" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries">Reliance Industries</keyword>. 
 
CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta and an NGO had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the rate hike. The apex court is to resume hearing on the issue from Tuesday. 
 
The decision to revise gas prices from April 1, 2014 was taken in June 2013 and notified on January 10 this year. However, with the polls being announced on March 5, the oil ministry had approached EC on March 14 for permission to announce the new price. 
 The EC on Monday wrote to <keyword id="46538" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Petroleum-Secretary">petroleum secretary</keyword> Saurabh Chandra saying since the matter was sub-judice in the Supreme Court, a decision on revision in gas prices may be deferred. 
 
The decision would delay the revision until after the elections, allowing the next government to take a final call in the matter. 
 While today's decision by EC will not have any bearing on 80 per cent of the gas sold in the country as producers like ONGC will continue to sell the fuel at existing rates and contracts, it would mean current sales contracts entered by <keyword id="6484187" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="RIL">RIL</keyword> will have to be extended beyond expiry of their term on March 31. 
 
RIL sells less than 14 million standard cubic metres per day of gas to over a dozen fertilizer plants at $4.2 rate under a five-year contract that started April 2009. It had wanted to sign new contracts under the new price from next month. 
 
AAP welcomed the EC's decision. Describing this as a "dishonest decision" by the UPA, AAP said the price hike "was solely aimed at providing huge undue benefits to RIL and would have resulted in a loss of more than Rs 54,500 crore to the national exchequer." 
 
The party in a statement said it would expose further links between Reliance and BJP-Congress combine.

EC Puts Gas Price Hike On Hold

After securing a bail from the Supreme Court on Friday, post spending 5 months in Delhi's <keyword id="20147871" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tihar-jail" source="keywords">Tihar jail</keyword> due to <keyword id="20018877" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="excise-policy" source="keywords">excise policy</keyword> graft case, <keyword id="19914482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AAP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AAP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AAP">AAP</keyword> honcho Arvind Kejriwal, in a surprising turn of events, announced his resignation from the post of Delhi's Chief Minister (CM) within the next 2 days. Calling it his Agnipariksha, he vowed only to return when the people of Delhi give him a "certificate of honesty" and "vote him back to power", Kejriwal is set to meet his deputy Manish Sisodia at his official residence at Civil Lines today, and discuss potential names for the next CM. Kejriwal also ruled out any possibility of Sisodia taking his place in the meantime. The move puts a dampener on AAP's plan to pitch Kejriwal as a candidate for Haryana elections, which are slated to take place next month, and for <keyword id="20798453" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-elections" source="keywords">Delhi elections</keyword>, scheduled for early next year. This will be the first time that Sisodia and Kejriwal will be meeting, ever since Kejriwal announced his decision. Fellow party members Gopal Rai, <keyword id="20276562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atishi-Marlena" source="keywords">Atishi Marlena</keyword> and Kejriwal's wife, <keyword id="21054172" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunita-Kejriwal" source="keywords">Sunita Kejriwal</keyword> are being seen as strong contenders for the position. Upon his release, Kejriwal also demanded that Delhi elections, originally set to be held in February 2025, be preponed to November this year, along with Maharashtra polls. The last assembly elections were held in Delhi in February 2020, where AAP secured 62 seats, and the BJP won on just 8 seats. The current term of the assembly is expiring on February 11, 2025. Many peg Atishi to be the next CM till Kejriwal is re-elected, given she already leads multiple important departments within the Delhi government, which include education, finance, law etc. Along with Gopal Rai, AAP members Kailash Gehlot, Imran Hussain and Saurabh Bhardwaj are also being considered for the position. Sunita Kejriwal, who took the reins of mobilizing AAP and addressing the media in the absence of her husband, will also be a key candidate to watch out for. If Atishi or Sunita assume the post of CM, it will be for the first time in over a decade that the capital will have a female CM, after Sheila Dixit. Notably, Dixit was also Delhi's longest serving CM, holding her office for about 15 years. Kejriwal follows as a close second, holding his office for about 9 years till 2024, ever since assuming the post of CM in 2015.

Sisodia to meet Kejriwal today; Atishi, Gopal Rai and Sunita Kejriwal frontrunners for the Delhi CM post

New Delhi, <keyword id="514090" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="floodwaters" source="Orion">Floodwaters</keyword> of the overflowing Yamuna reached the entrance of the Supreme Court in Central Delhi on Friday while the busy ITO intersection and Rajghat were submerged as a regulator of the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department suffered damage, exacerbating the already dire situation. Though the water level of the Yamuna has began to recede, the damage to the regulator near Indraprastha caused flooding in ITO and surrounding areas. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Revenue Minister Atishi directed the chief secretary to seek help from the NDRF and Army to prevent flooding in Delhi due to the damage to the regulator. Kejriwal will be visiting the site to take stock of the situation. "This breach is causing flooding of ITO and surroundings. Engineers have been working whole nite. I have directed the Chief Secretary to seek help of Army/NDRF but this shud be fixed urgently," he tweeted. The Irrigation and Flood Control team have been building a weir at a drain but water is still entering the city, Atishi said in an official communication. "If needed all engineering wings of the NDRF and the Army be requested to help on this matter. Chief Secretary directed to submit hourly reports to CM, I&amp;FC minister and Revenue Minister," she said. Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the government has directed the chief secretary to take up the matter of the damage to the regulator on priority and resolve the problem. "Whole night, our teams worked to fix the damage at regulator of drain no. 12 near WHO building. Still, the water of Yamuna is entering the city through this breach. The government has directed the chief secretary to take it up on highest priority," he said in a tweet. The compromised regulator allowed the Yamuna water to flow back towards the city areas. Yamuna's water level at 8 am stood at 208.42 metres, while at 10 am, it had gone down to 208.38 metres. The flooding in ITO and Rajghat areas has led the authorities to impose curbs on movement of traffic. "No vehicular traffic will be allowed on Mahatma Gandhi Marg from Sarai Kale Khan towards IP Flyover due to overflow of drain water near WHO Building. Commuters are advised to avoid the stretch," the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet. Commuters battled problems as they navigated through the waterlogged ITO Road, which is a key stretch connecting East Delhi to Lutyens''s Delhi. People going to their offices and New Delhi Railway Station will face hardships while navigating through the stretch. Some people could be seen dragging their vehicles through the waterlogged ITO stretch. A commuter going towards Noida said, "Till now, we were feeling that the flooodwater is only entering low-lying areas. But now the threat feels so closer as the nerve centre of Delhi has been flooded". Traffic movement was also closed on Bhairon Road due to overflow of drain water near Railway Under Bridge. "Movement of traffic is restricted from Geeta Colony Flyover towards Rajghat and ISBT, Kashmere Gate due to rise in water level of Yamuna river. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly," the traffic police said in another tweet.

ITO, Rajghat areas flooded;Kejriwal directs officials to seek help of Army, NDRF

New Delhi, Jun 16 () The law clerk of a senior lawyer Rajiv Nayar, who practices in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, passed away on Tuesday morning due to COVID-19. Nayar confirmed the passing away of his clerk, Vinod Kumar, who had been with him for the past 10 years. The senior advocate remembers Kumar as always "smiling, cheerful, hard working, courteous and staunchly loyal". Nayar said Kumar was the last to leave the office and "never cheated me for a single rupee". "He was a man of high integrity and now it is my time to take care of his family," Nayar said. Advocate Saurabh Seth, who works with the senior advocate, said Kumar, who was in his 40s, was admitted for treatment of COVID-19 more than a week ago. On Tuesday morning all his parameters fell, Nayar said. HMP SKV SA

Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar's law clerk succumbs to COVID-19

The Supreme Court appointed high-level committee led by former Chief Justice RM Lodha on Tuesday found <keyword id="13886" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword> official <keyword id="1682587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gurunath-Meiyappan">Gurunath Meiyappan</keyword> guilty of betting during <keyword id="6354831" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League">Indian Premier League</keyword> season 6. 
 
Pronouncing the verdict, Justice Lodha said Meiyappan was found guilty of betting, whereas co-owner of <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword>, <keyword id="18641" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raj-Kundra">Raj Kundra</keyword>, was found guilty of misconduct. 
 
Both the teams, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), have been banned from the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> for two years. 
 
It comes as a big decision because both CSK and RR are the top performing teams in the league and have won the tournament in past. Apart from the two team franchisees being banned from the tournament, the decision also affects all the stakeholders of the game including players, media, brands and sentiments of their loyal fans. Besides, the overall image of IPL as a tournament is also put under scanner. 
 
Sponsors? 
 
A large sum of money has been invested behind these teams, as brands have locked them in for sponsorships and media deals, for promotions across mediums. 
 
In 2015 alone, Rajasthan Royals grabbed 15 brand associations, of which three new brands came on board. It had had similar amount of brand associations during the last season. The new brands for Rajasthan Royals include Spice Mobiles, Kalasalingham University from Chennai and security firm CP Plus. Apart from this the team has 9 previous sponsors such as UltraTech, Rupa, Lawman Pg3, Mitashi, TCS, Kingfisher, Pepsi, Deakin University, ICE X and Kooh. 
 
On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings has been associated with brands such as India Cements, Aircel, Gulf Oil, Pepsi, Reebok and Usha. In 2015, FreeCharge and ShopClues.com also joined the brand wagon. 
 
Now, with the teams being taken off for a couple of years, what lies ahead for the brands? Saurabh Uboweja, CEO, Brands of Desire points out that the brands associated with the teams are at a lesser risk. "Sponsors will not be affected much and neither their equity will be diluted to a large extent as they have not done anything wrong. They have other options to endorse and will definitely go for other teams. While India Cements, that owns CSK, will be affected, but that too not in a large extent," adds Uboweja. 
 
To this, <keyword id="175362" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harish-Bijoor">Harish Bijoor</keyword>, CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults finds that brands will be not be affected much. "It will be a short term loss for sponsors as their money to buy media will be affected, but not their brand equity. If not CSK or RR, they will be endorsing with someone else," adds Bijoor. 
 
A Tainted League? 
 
IPL is seen as the super bowl of India where brands partner with the teams to reach out to their target audience as the event cuts across the socio-economic categories. It is not the first time when the cases of corruption have come up in IPL. In past, players have been banned and teams have always been under scanner affecting IPL's image, so much so that in 2013, there were speculations that title sponsors Pepsi might walk out on the country's most lucrative sporting event. 
 
Now, as controversy strikes IPL back, how is the league going to maintain its equity? 
 
Bijoor finds that the decision will not affect IPL's equity as the tournament has been used to it. "IPL and controversy are no strangers. It all started with <keyword id="3257" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lalit-Modi">Lalit Modi</keyword>, and has just paused at CSK and RR. The game and the tournament will not be affected," asserts Bijoor. 
 
Uboweja mentions that the decision is a bigger loss for IPL. "If instead some smaller teams would have been suspended, people would not have bothered but now they will again think IPL as tainted as it has completely lost its credibility," adds Uboweja. 
 
For the record, Indian Premier League viewership grew by 20% over the 2014 edition. The reach of the tournament also increased by 2% with first 45 matches having reached 182 million unique viewers this year.

IPL Verdict: Do Tainted Franchisees Belittle their Brand Partners and the League?

NEW DELHI: CNG and piped natural gas prices are set to go up shortly, though not as much as feared. Indications emerging from hectic discussions between the oil ministry and <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword>’s Office over the weekend suggest that gas price may be jacked up from $4.2 a unit to $5.5-6.8 per unit. 
 This increase will be almost $2 less than the $8.4 per unit price that was expected on the basis of formula adopted by the <keyword id="26374" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="UPA-government">UPA government</keyword>. But still, the hike will impact daily cost of living, particularly in a city such Delhi where CNG is used for public transport and PNG is increasingly becoming the choice for cooking. 
 
Higher gas price will also have marginal impact on overall cost of power by pushing up electricity tariff for gas-fired plants, which account for roughly 8% of the installed capacity in the country. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/RIL-charged-more-than-approved-gas-price-CAG-says/articleshow/35730854.cms">RIL charged more than approved gas price, CAG says</a> 
 
Assuming the government finally settles for a price of $6.8, CNG price in Delhi would go up by approximately Rs 7.50 per kg. Hypothetically even after a new gas price is announced, CNG would still be cheaper than what it cost in February. CNG price was reduced by Rs 14.90 per kg and PNG by Rs 5 per unit in February after the Centre said the entire gas demand would be met with cheaper domestic gas. 
 
Subsequently, CNG price in Delhi was raised by Rs 2.95 per kg in May due to falling rupee and rise in operational costs. So, even after this hike, the current price is Rs 11.95 cheaper than February level. Thus the fuel would be still cost Rs 4.45 less than in February. 
 
The discussions within the government are focused on simplifying the pricing formula to avoid doubling of present gas price. In all likelihood, the new formula would have among the benchmarks, markets with friendlier gas price. Thus Russia is expected to replace Japan, a country that imports gas in ships at very high prices. 
 
The new formula is also expected to specify pricing method based on net calorific value (NCV), which works out 10% cheaper than gross calorific value (GCV). NCV is calculated on reduced volumes upon deducting impurities such as water or other gaseous content present in natural gas. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Will-fight-till-end-to-stop-gas-price-hike-Kejriwal/articleshow/34301914.cms">Will fight till end to stop gas price hike, Kejriwal says</a> 
 
There is also a possibility that the government could opt for a differential pricing by applying the latest pricing only to fields that are currently in production. Others that come on stream in near future, such as state-run ONGC’s marginal fields, would be allowed to sell at market price through tender system. 
 
Such a move is seen serving two purposes: One, it will mark a gradual shift towards market-determined pricing shift-- the original aim of oil sector reforms. Two, in a single stroke it would brighten investment climate by removing clouds over viability of new discoveries – mostly in deep and frontier waters. 
 
Another option on the table also envisages asking ONGC, the biggest beneficiary of any price revision, to part some of the money to share increased fuel subsidy. Taking off on this, there are also suggestions that the government could deregulate diesel price while simultaneously reducing Central levy on the fuel in the Budget to soften the blow on consumers. ONGC then can be asked to share the increased burden on fertilisers. 
 Prime minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has held two rounds of brainstorming sessions, mainly focused on the issue, with <keyword id="60115" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Oil-minister">oil minister</keyword> Dharmendra Pradhan and <keyword id="46538" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Petroleum-Secretary">petroleum secretary</keyword> Saurabh Chandra. After a five-hour session on Friday evening, the PM held another round of discussion on Sunday that was also attended by finance minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword>. 
 
 The framing of policy on gas pricing became a hot potato after a political storm arose during elections over allegations of crony-capitalism, public interest litigation in the Supreme Court as well as arbitration notices served against the government by <keyword id="6355199" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries">Reliance Industries</keyword> Ltd and BP Plc. 
 But subsequent question whether Reliance Industries Ltd should be allowed higher gas price due to drop in output from its KG-D6 field delayed notification. Later, the Election Commission stepped in after a letter from AAP leader <keyword id="260213" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword>, sending the entire issue into a tailspin.

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Manish Sisodia granted bail in excise policy case, AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj says big day for Indian democracy

ANI

AAP to announce New Delhi CM's name at 12 noon today

ANI

India is set to get its first openly gay judge

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