New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) Terming it a "premature petition", the Delhi High Court Monday disposed off a plea seeking cancellation of a licence granted to Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd. for exploring oil and gas in the Krishna-Godavari basin.

A division bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog asked the petitioner: "How do you feel that the Delhi High Court is the appropriate bench to hear this case?"

The petition, filed by journalist M. Furquan sought a direction to the central government to cancel the licence granted to a joint venture of RIL and NICO for exploring natural resources.

The chief justice said: "This is a premature and inadequate petition, so you can file it in a proper way at an appropriate time."

Accordingly, the court allowed the petitioner to withdraw his petition with the liberty to file it later.

The petitioner also sought a direction to the government to take over the control and management of the Krishna-Godavari gas project immediately from the joint venture.

He also said even after the government auditor reported "serious violation" of rules in KG basin licence, the government was not taking any action.

"Even after the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) reported serious violation about KG basin contract, government is not taking any action," he said.

The court said: "It's not a complete finding, so wait for the appropriate time to file your petition."

"I do not think that its a PIL in public interest. Therefore, I am not able to decide anything seeing your pleadings. Improve your pleadings," said one of the judges.

Earlier, the decision to put the matter before a special bench was taken by Chief Justice Dipak Misra as Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was sitting with him on the bench recused himself from hearing the case.