Madhya Pradesh

• 23 May 2024

Justice Sheel Nagu: New Acting Chief Justice

Why in News?

Recently, the Central government has notified the appointment of Justice Sheel Nagu as Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Key Points

He will perform the duties of incumbent Chief Justice Ravi Malimath, who will demit office on 24th May 2024.

• He was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 27th May 2011, and became a permanent judge on 23rd May 2013.

Appointment of Acting Chief Justice

• Article 223 of the Constitution of India deals with the appointment of an acting Chief Justice.
• According to this, when the office of the Chief Justice of a High Court is vacant or when such a Chief Justice, on account of absence or otherwise, is unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office shall be performed by such person. Other judges of the Court may be appointed by the President for this purpose.

Gail to Invest in Petrochemical Unit in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

According to the sources, state-run gas supplier Gail (India) plans to invest up to Rs 50,000 crore to establish a 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) ethane cracking unit at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The new facility aims to meet the huge domestic demand for petrochemicals, which is projected to nearly triple to USD 1 trillion by 2040.
  • Ethane, a natural gas component, is cracked into ethylene, a crucial input for producing plastics, adhesives, synthetic rubber, and other petrochemicals.
• Currently, Reliance Industries is the only Indian entity importing 1.5 MTPA of ethane for its crackers in Dahej, Hazira (Gujarat), and Nagothane (Maharashtra).
• Gail’s new ethane cracker will almost double its existing 810 thousand tonnes per annum (KTA) petrochemical facility at Pata near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Global engineering consultant Engineers India Ltd is preparing the detailed feasibility report for the project, which is expected to be operational in the next 5-6 years.
• Initially, Gail considered setting up the new facility in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad or Dabhol, near its 5 MTPA liquefied natural gas plant, but later decided on Madhya Pradesh.

GAIL (India) Limited

• It is an Indian state-owned energy corporation with primary interests in the trade, transmission and production distribution of natural gas.
• It was founded as the Gas Authority of India Ltd. in August 1984 under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to build, operate and maintain the HVJ Gas Pipeline.
• On 1 February 2013, the Indian government conferred GAIL with Maharatna status along with 11 other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).