Latest news with #ManagementCommittee
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delegation discusses prep for 350th martyrdom anniv of Guru Tegh Bahadur
1 2 Amritsar: A delegation of the Management Committee of Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, led by its president Jagjot Singh Sohi, met Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday to discuss upcoming events commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur. During the meeting, the delegation extended an invitation to Dhami to participate in a nagar kirtan (religious procession) being organised at Takht Sri Patna Sahib on Aug 31, in honour of the martyrdom anniversary. They also appealed for the support and cooperation of Sikh institutions to ensure the success of the event. The delegation included Jagjot Singh Sohi (president, Takht Sri Patna Sahib Committee), Sikh leader Jasbir Singh Dham (Mumbai), general secretary Inderjit Singh, and senior vice-president Gurwinder Singh. Sohi shared that the nagar kirtan will commence from Takht Sri Patna Sahib on Aug 31 and will pass through Jharkhand, Bengal, Kolkata, Asansol, Odisha, Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Haryana, before culminating at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. He emphasised that the purpose of their visit was not only to invite the SGPC president but also to seek institutional support from the apex Sikh body. On this occasion, Dhami affirmed that the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur would be commemorated with Panthic pride and grandeur by the Sikh community. He assured the delegation that the SGPC will extend its full support for the nagar kirtan. He also honoured the visiting leaders of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib Committee.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC questions UP govt on Bankey Bihari temple ordinance
The Supreme Court on Monday told the Uttar Pradesh government that it acted in a 'clandestine' manner and with 'tearing hurry' in bringing an ordinance to take over Mathura's Bankey Bihari temple. SC questions UP govt on Bankey Bihari ordinance The court proposed having an interim administrative committee headed by a former high court judge to manage the day-to-day affairs of the temple and propose steps for its holistic development aimed at promoting religious tourism and granted a day's time for the state and the temple management to respond with suggestions. On May 26, the UP government brought an ordinance titled 'Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025' which allowed administrative takeover of the temple by a state-run trust that was given power to manage even the temple funds. The ordinance came after a May 15 judgment of the top court allowing the UP government to utilise temple funds to acquire 5 acres of land for a corridor development project around the premises. The ordinance has since been challenged before the Allahabad high court. The top court on Monday heard a petition filed by the Management Committee Of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple challenging the ordinance and the May 15 judgment that was passed without hearing the Shebaits or the Bankey Bihari temple committee. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said, 'What was the tearing hurry for bringing the ordinance? If the state wanted to carry out development, what stops you from getting the land as per law.' The temple committee represented by senior advocate Shyam Divan and advocate Tanvi Dubey pointed out that Bankey Bihari Mandir is a private temple and is being administered as per a 1939 court decree by the Sewayat Goswami community for over 500 years. Divan said that prior to the ordinance, the temple used to be managed by a committee having four members of the Goswami community and three non-Goswami individuals. A public interest litigation for better management of the temple is pending before the Allahabad high court since 2022 and despite the temple committee being very much an active stakeholder, there was no public notice by the state about the bringing of an ordinance and no circumstance necessitated its promulgation. Additional solicitor general (ASG) KM Nataraj appearing for the state said that the land on which the temple is situated is public land and the law does not recognise any management committee of the temple. By bringing the ordinance, he said the state aimed for the development of the temple and ensuring that funds are utilised for the betterment of pilgrims. He further pointed out that in the past there were incidents of stampede and to ensure there is more space for pilgrims, the state had benefited from the May 15 order to develop the corridor around the temple. The bench said, 'Whether it is private land or not can be adjudicated by courts. You were required to issue a public notice as you were aware about the pending litigation by warring groups. But we are sorry to say, the state coming to court in a clandestine manner and not giving them an opportunity to be heard, we do not expect this from the state.' The court said it was inclined to recall the May 15 order and suggest a retired high court judge or even a senior retired district court judge to head the interim management committee for running the day-to-day affairs of the temple. The court proposed that the committee may be allowed to utilise part of the temple funds for this purpose as it said, 'Temple funds should be utilised for the benefit of pilgrims coming to the temple and not to be pocketed by private persons.' Divan said that the temple committee will not stand in the way of the court's order as what is proposed is an interim arrangement instead of the state trust under the ordinance which completely divests the Goswami community of the temple management and places it in the hands of state officials. The court told the ASG that even without acquiring the land, the state is bound to provide basic amenities in religious places, pointing to the example put in place at the Golden Temple where the state persuaded people living near the religious place to shift out to ensure planned development of the area around the temple. 'While the ordinance can be tested by the high court, we can ask the interim management committee that we propose to appoint to work on the holistic development of these temples. Today, religious tourism has a lot of potential as it generates employment. We should encourage it,' the bench said. The court pointed out how facilities in other places of pilgrimage such as Shirdi in Maharashtra and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh have developed due to the influx of religious tourists. The court was informed that several temples in the area are heritage structures and need to be preserved with utmost care. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for another set of petitioners associated with nearby temples said that the Supreme Court's May 15 judgment needs to be recalled before a solution can be found to the administration of the temples. The bench said that once the judge-headed committee is in place, the collector can be part of the committee along with associating the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and architects. The ordinance brought by the state government creates a statutory trust having full authority to manage and administer all affairs of the temple and comprising 18 members, of which 7 are ex-officio government officers. The remaining trustees are appointed at the discretion of the state government with only two representatives of the Sewayat Goswami community to be appointed by the state.
Libya Observer
5 days ago
- Business
- Libya Observer
AGOCO, NOC review production increase, financial challenges in annual meeting
The Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) held its annual technical meeting with the National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Sunday morning, focusing on production rates, well maintenance, and the company's current financial standing. AGOCO said the meeting included a presentation on the company's financial situation and a detailed discussion of the major financial challenges it faces. The discussions aimed to find solutions to overcome obstacles and meet production targets set by both AGOCO and the NOC. The meeting was chaired by Acting Chairman of the Management Committee, Awad Gwidir, and attended by senior officials from both the NOC and AGOCO, including Management Committee members Mustafa Al-Dinaly and Ahmed Al-Zway. Attendees reviewed several key technical issues affecting operations, including health, safety, and environmental standards, alongside matters related to production levels. Gwidir stressed the need to double efforts and maintain a serious work ethic to boost oil production across AGOCO-operated fields. He also praised the ongoing efforts of the company's staff—including supervisors, engineers, technicians, and workers. Tags: agoco National Oil Corporation
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre approves participating interest transfer among existing oil, gas contractors through management committee nod
New Delhi: The government has approved a key recommendation allowing participating interest (PI) transfer among existing parties in oil and gas contracts through the Management Committee (MC) instead of the current requirement of prior government approval, subject to no change in operatorship. The move applies to Production Sharing Contracts (PSC), Revenue Sharing Contracts (RSC), Discovered Small Fields (DSF), and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) regimes, and is aimed at reducing project delays and easing operations for existing contractors. "Participating Interest (PI) means, in respect of each party constituting the contractor, the undivided share expressed as a percentage of such party's participation in the rights and obligations under the contract." A letter dated July 10 to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons stated that the recommendation made by the joint working group in June has been 'approved.' The group had proposed that the Management Committee may be empowered to approve PI transfer cases 'where contractor intends to transfer the PI within the existing parties of the contract, subject to no change in operatorship.' The recommendation noted that under current provisions, PI transfer within the existing parties required prior government consent, involving comprehensive technical, financial, and legal due diligence for each case. It stated that since the PI holders have already undergone verification at the contract award stage, such evaluation may be foregone. 'Further, in many cases it has been observed that internal transfer approval can take up to six months of time-period, leading to significant project delays,' the working group on ease of doing business in the Indian upstream sector said. The government has maintained that PI holders will still need to comply with all existing conditions of the contract. The measure comes as part of broader reforms aimed at increasing investor interest and reducing import dependency, with India targeting exploration of 2.5 lakh square kilometres under the 10th round of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). As part of its upstream reforms, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also released the Draft Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules, 2025, for public consultation. The draft proposes a stabilisation clause to protect lessees from adverse fiscal or legal changes by allowing compensation or deductions. Stakeholder feedback is invited by July 17. The draft rules also propose mandatory declaration of underutilised pipeline and facility capacity to facilitate third-party access under government oversight. In March 2025, amendments to the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 were notified to further streamline operations and attract investment in exploration and production. During his visit to Vienna for the 9th OPEC International Seminar earlier this week, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri met Shell CEO Wael Sawan, bp CEO Murray Auchincloss, and Vitol Group CEO Russel Hardy, where he highlighted India's push to increase domestic oil and gas production. In another development, the ministry approved open sharing of National Data Repository (NDR) data at zero charge for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups and academic institutions. The joint working group also recommended integrating NDR data with those of ONGC, OIL, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Central Ground Water Board. The measure is aimed at promoting knowledge sharing and technological development through access to comprehensive datasets, including seismic, well and other geological data.
Mint
12-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Norms for transfer of participating interest among partners in oil, gas eased
New Delhi: In a move aimed at improving operational flexibility and ease of doing business in India's upstream oil and gas sector, the Union government has approved a long-pending recommendation to allow transfer of participating interest (PI) among existing partners without requiring government consent—as long as there is no change in operatorship. Participating interest means, in respect of each party constituting the contractor, the undivided share expressed as a percentage of such party's participation in the rights and obligations under the contract. Under the current contractual provisions of production sharing contracts (PSC), revenue sharing contracts (RSCs), discovered small fields (DSF) and coal bed methane (CBM), any participating interest or stake transfer within the existing parties requires prior written consent from the government. This move is part of the government's efforts to boost investors' interest and reduce energy import dependency. India aims to explore 2.5 lakh square km in the 10th round of auctions under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy. 'The Management Committee may be empowered to approve Participating Interest transfer cases where the contractor intends to transfer the PI within the existing parties of the contract, subject to no change in operatorship," said the report of the joint working group in April. A letter dated 10 July to the Director General of Hydrocarbons noted that the recommendation has been 'approved." The changes should come into effect at the earliest, as the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has been asked to take necessary actions based on the ministry's approval. However, no specific timelines were mentioned. Noting that under the existing contractual provisions of all contracts, participating interest transfer within the existing parties of the contractor requires prior written consent from the government, the joint working group in June had recommended: 'However, this process involves a comprehensive technical, financial, and legal due diligence for each case." Expediting approval It added that in such cases, as the participating interest holders have already undergone verification during the contract award stage, evaluation for any change in the participating interest among existing parties of the contract may be foregone. 'Further, in many cases it has been observed that internal transfer approval can take up to six months, leading to significant project delays," the working group had said in its report on issues related to ease of doing business in the Indian upstream sector. The recommendation aims to expedite the approval process and reduce project delays, thereby promoting transparency and ease of doing business. 'PI holders should be required to comply with all the existing conditions of the contract," the recommendations said. Although the transfer of participating interest does not require the government's nod, it would need the signature of a government representative. This move is part of the government's efforts to boost investor interest. Under the 10th round of auction under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy, the government aims to explore 250,000 sq. km and reduce oil import dependence. The Draft Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, for which stakeholders need to give their feedback by 17 July, also aim to modernise India's upstream oil and gas framework with several major reforms. Key among them is the introduction of an investor-friendly stabilisation clause, designed to protect lessees from adverse impacts of future legal or fiscal changes, such as increases in taxes, royalties or other levies, by allowing compensation or deductions. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, was amended in March 2025, which is also expected to boost investor interest in the oil and gas exploration and production sector. Data sharing in India During his visit to Vienna this week for the 9th Opec International Seminar, the minister for petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, met several stakeholders in the oil and gas space, including Wael Sawan, chief executive officer (CEO) of Shell; Murray Auchincloss, CEO of bp; and Russel Hardy, Group CEO of Vitol, and spoke of opportunities to invest in the country's oil and gas sector. Among other recommendations, minister Puri approved open sharing of data from the National Data Repository at zero charge to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups and academic institutions. "NDR data may be integrated with the repositories of the National Oil Companies (NOCs), such as ONGC and OIL, and other ministries such as ministry of mines, ministry of coal, ministry of earth sciences, Central Ground Water Board, etc. ensuring seamless access to comprehensive datasets, including seismic, well, and other geological information," the recommendations said. The move aims to promote knowledge sharing, collaborative ventures, and technological advancements through enhanced data accessibility, thereby encouraging innovations in the oil and gas industry.
