SC clears former PM Manmohan Singh in Coalgate case after death
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Supreme Court quashed a trial court's summoning order against former PM Manmohan Singh in the coal block scam case, nearly two years after his death. The case had been pending since 2015, and the court's decision gives a clean chit to Singh.
Background
In 2015, a Delhi court summoned Manmohan Singh as an accused in the coal block allotment scam (Coalgate) related to the irregular allocation of Talabira-II coal block in Odisha to Hindalco. Singh held the coal ministry charge at the time. The CBI had filed two closure reports recommending no case, but the trial court declined to close it. Singh challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which stayed the summons in April 2015.
Key facts
Supreme Court cleared former PM Manmohan Singh in the Coalgate case, closing it nearly two years after his death in November 2024.
The case involved irregular allocation of Talabira-II coal block in Odisha to Kumar Mangalam Birla-owned Hindalco.
Singh held the charge of the coal ministry at the time of allocation.
A Delhi court had summoned Singh as an accused on March 11, 2015.
The CBI filed two closure reports (Aug 27, 2014 and Oct 21, 2014) recommending no case, but the trial court declined to close it.
The Supreme Court stayed the summoning order on April 1, 2015, saving Singh from appearing as an accused.
The bench comprised Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalaya Bagchi and V Mohana.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued for quashing the trial court's observations.
The court noted that the demise of an accused ordinarily abates the case, and after perusing closure reports, quashed the trial court's cognisance and summons order.
Prelims pointers
- Coalgate scam: coal block allocation irregularities
- Talabira-II coal block, Odisha
- Hindalco (Kumar Mangalam Birla)
- CBI closure reports
- Supreme Court bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalaya Bagchi, V Mohana
- Special judge Bharat Parashar (later SC Secretary General)
- Delhi High Court barred from hearing appeals against interim orders of special judge
Mains angles
- GS2 Polity: Role of judiciary in corruption cases, separation of powers
- GS2 Governance: Accountability of public officials, criminal liability of ministers
- GS3 Economy: Coal allocation policy and scams
- GS4 Ethics: Ethics in public administration, posthumous vindication