ASSOCIATED CEMENT COMPANIES LIMITED Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The challenge in this, and the connected writ petitions, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by some of the cement manufacturers in India is to the decision of the Government to allow a uniform revision, by way of escalation in retention prices, to cement factories by applying a common criterion for coal consumption to all factories, irrespective of the nature of the manufacturing process adopted by such factories.

(2.) In order to decide the point in issue it is sufficient TO refer to the facts in the petition filed by the Associated Cement Companies Limited. The decision in this case will also govern the petitions filed by the other manufacturers.

(3.) According to the petitioners there are at present 56 units manufacturing cement in India. Of these, majority have wet process and the rest use dry or some-dry process in the manufacture of cement. These factories, owned by different companies, are situated at diverse places in India.