The government on Thursday withdrew from the Supreme Court its special leave petition on the Ambani gas dispute and filed a revised document that restricts its prayer to that part of the MoU pertaining to gas.

"The defects have been cured," an official connected with the case said, adding that parts relating to family MoU were amended.

The Special Leave Petition filed on July 18 had sought to declare that part of the (Ambani family) MoU, which deals with government rights null and void.

Sources said the SLP was withdrawn in the morning, but attempts to file a revised petition in the afternoon failed due to procedural inconsistencies. However, it was filed just before the registry was closed.

A decision to effect changes in the SLP emerged during a meeting called by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Law Ministry Veerappa Moily and other officials on Tuesday.

The amendment in the SLP came hours after the Supreme Court expressed its inability to commence final hearing of the gas dispute between the Ambani brothers from September one, although it said it would try to give an early date.

During the mention of the RNRL prayer in the morning, Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said the government too wanted early resolution of the dispute.

The court said it will decide on the date of final hearing on September one, the day when all petitions related to the dispute are scheduled to come up for consideration.

RNRL wants gas from RIL at $2.34 per mmBtu, while RIL contends it cannot fix price without government's consent – a point separately amplified by the Oil Ministry in its petition before Supreme Court.

source: NDTVPROFIT