Mumbai: Enron Virodhi Andolan on December 18 justified the Maharashtra government's decision to appoint the Kurdukar commission of inquiry into the controversial Enron project and described as "misplaced" the arguments of former chief minister Sharad Pawar and former chief secretary N Raghunathan on its jurisdiction to conduct the probe.

Justice S P Kurdukar was hearing Enron Virodhi Andolan convenor Pradyumne Kaul on the jurisdiction of the commission headed by him.

In a related development, the Commission refused to extend the December 31 deadline set for filing of replies by the former chief minister Manohar Joshi and the then power minister Gopinath Munde.

Their advocate Niteen Pradhan urged for time till January 31 but the Commission turned down his plea.

In another development, the Commission also declined to grant further time of two days to the government of Maharashtra to submit arguments on the jurisdiction issue. The government has been asked to make its submissions tomorrow (Dec 19).

Senior counsel Rafiq Dada is expected to make arguments.

Summing up arguments on the jurisdiction issue, D Chopra, counsel for the Commission, said Article 162 read with Article 245 defined the powers of the state to appoint the Commission and set out its terms of reference.

On the principles of "res judicata" (matters settled in one court cannot be raised in other courts), Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) and the Commission's counsel sought time until tomorrow to furnish case laws.

PTI