New Delhi: Attorney General (AG) Soli Sorabjee is understood to given a favourable opinion on disinvestment of oil PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings), thus paving the way for privatisation of HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited) and BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited), which were acquired and nationalised in the 1970s through Acts of Parliament.

AG's is a "well considered, careful and guarded opinion" and the government need not go to Parliament for amendment or repeal of the concerned Acts prior to privatisation of the two oil PSUs, sources said.

Now the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment is likely to meet by the end of the month for considering various issues relating to privatisation of HPCL through strategic sale of equity and BPCL through a public offer.

Earlier in the day, Sorabjee had written a letter to Disinvestment Secretary Pradeep Baijal seeking to know if any notification under Section 620 of the Companies Act had been issued in relation to HPCL and BPCL.

Even as Baijal sought the same information from Petroleum Ministry, which relates to whether or not government had given certain exemptions to the two oil PSUs, Sorabjee gave his opinion in a sealed cover to the Disinvestment Secretary who in turn immediately rushed to inform Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie.

When contacted, Shourie declined to give any details.

PTI