(1.) IN this petition, filed on behalf of some of the employees of Bharat Electronics Ltd. , ("bel" for short), the company incorporated under the Companies Act," in the public sector, the petitioners question the procedure adopted by the Union of India in implementing the policy of disinvestment in public sector enterprises, in particular BEL.
(2.) THE Industrial Policy Statement of 1991 of the Government of India led to partial disinvestment in selected public sector undertakings. The relevant portion of the said policy statement dated July 24, 1991, is extracted below (see [1991] 71 Comp Cas (St.) 126, 132) :
(3.) THIS was reiterated in the Union Budget for 1991-92 presented to Parliament and it was stated that disinvestment of a part of the Government's shareholding was necessary for revitalising the public sector, and such shares will be offered to mutual funds, financial institutions, general public and workers so as to raise resources and encourage wider public participation.