Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 09-09-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC)
  • Respondents: multiple individuals including Suryakand D. Lad & Ors., Sanjeev Thapa & Anr., Surendra Datt & Anr., Sanjeev Kumar Thapa & Anr., Kundan Singh & Anr., Bishnu Prasad & Anr., Kamla Sharma & Anr., Subramaniam S. Arjun & Ors., Ramanathan A. Yogishwaran & Ors., Mohd. Hanif Ismail Hakam & Ors., Dharam Singh Pundir & Anr., Arun Kumar Rai & Anr., Vijay Singh & Anr., Harish Chand Gurung & Anr., Govind Singh & Anr.
  • Petitions: Special Leave Petitions (C) Nos. 498/2024, 27228/2023, 27407/2023, 499/2024 and numerous other SLP(C) numbers ranging from 16967‑16983 to 5151‑5165 as listed.
  • Origin: Arising out of the impugned final judgment and order dated 23‑08‑2023 in WP No. 2443/2022 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay.
  • Hearing: Conducted on 09‑09‑2026 before Hon’ble Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Manmohan. Counsel for petitioner: Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General; counsel for respondent No.8: Mr. Riwaj Rai.

Observations & Directions

1. Despite complete service of notice, only specific respondents (Respondent No.1‑8 in SLP‑498/2024, Respondent No.1 in SLP‑27407/2023, Respondent No.16 in SLP‑27228/2023, Respondent No.20 in SLP‑499/2024) entered appearance; no representatives appeared for other respondents.

2. Leave was granted and the appeal stands disposed of in terms of the signed order placed on the file; all pending applications, if any, also stand disposed.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the unserved respondents be re‑served through the regular mode as well as through paper publication; the Court directed that this be done within four weeks.

4. Applications for condonation of delay in filing spare copies were allowed for SLP(C) Nos. 16967‑16983, 17750‑17762, 17440‑17459, 20202‑20221, 21047‑21067, 20504‑20522 (all of 2025) and for SLP(C) Nos. 22202‑22217, 21934‑21953, 23213‑23225, 22511‑22531 (2025) and 5151‑5165 (2026).

5. The Registry was directed to issue notice; interim orders will continue till the next date of listing, if any.

6. The matters were listed for further hearing on 02‑12‑2026.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court disposed of the listed Special Leave Petitions, granted condonation of delay for filing spare copies, ordered re‑service of unserved respondents within four weeks, and scheduled the cases for a subsequent hearing on 02‑12‑2026.

Topics: Special Leave Petition; Court Order