New Delhi: Top brass of public sector Coal India (CIL) and its subsidiaries today offered an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court for failing to comply with the apex court's earlier directions.

A special bench comprising Justice S B Sinha and Justice P P Naolekar, while accepting the apology said personal appearance of contemnors shall be dispensed till further orders.

It further directed CIL and its subsidiaries to refund "the difference between the notified price and amount paid by consumers of coal (petitioners) upon verification of documents by November 12."

The apex court had last month charged Coal Minister Secretary H C Gupta, Coal India CMD Partha S Bhattacharyya and nine other top official's with contempt of court and asked them to appear in person except for Gupta before the court today.

The other contemnors including Bharat Coking Coal Ltd CMD A K Paul, Central Coalfield Ltd CMD R P Ritolia, Northern Coalfields CMD V K Singh along with Director Finance and General Manager of BBCCL and CIL, who were sitting in the gallery of the courtroom meant for litigants, tendered apology through Solicitor General G E Vahanavati without raising any other contention.

Source : PTI