"We will soon move the Supreme Court," he said, adding, that the deal was in contempt of the 1996 verdict of the apex court in the case of Samatha versus the Andhra Pradesh government, where it was ruled that the tribal land could not be allocated to a private entity. "Let the Centre constitute a joint parliamentary committee and I undertake to disclose the names of the kickback beneficiaries before it... I accept the challenge of the disinvestment minister Arun Shourie," Mr Jogi said. Mr Jogi said transfer of majority stake to Sterlite industries in Balco was in `violation' of the tribal land laws and added that the state government had sent a legal notice to the disinvestment secretary Pradeep Baijal.

On how the state legislature could pass a resolution against the Balco disinvestment after the issue was cleared by the Parliament, Mr Jogi said that in the federal structure "we are doing what we should. ... It is no transgression."

"I have the names and account numbers. But why should I disclose these without a proper platform," Mr Jogi replied when asked as to why he was not disclosing the names.

Court notice on Balco divestment
In a new twist to the Balco controversy, a revenue court in Chhattisgarh has issued notices to the Union disinvestment secretary Pradeep Baijal, chairman and MD of Balco, SC Tripathy and Sterlite group chief Anil Agarwal, asking them to appear before it personally on March 15 for alleged violation of the Land Acquisition Act.

The notice was issued on Friday in connection with the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals through the Balco disinvestment The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Korba, Emil Lakara, issued the notices under section 170(a &b) of the land revenue code on receiving information regarding change of ownership of Balco. plant to a private company.