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9. There is another reason why I am inclined to reject the argument of an automatic fresh renewal as argued by the petitioner. This is because in the facts of the present case, it is quite clear that the petitioner failed to come for negotiations with regard to the price of the future supplies of Sour Gas after the expiry of the first period of supply. I must at this stage refer to a portion of para 25 of the reply filed by the respondent and which is as under:

"It is emphatically denied that the petitioner has accepted all the conditions of the respondent's letter dated 6.3.2009. It is submitted that the petitioner has disputed the validity of Gas Supply Agreement and its readiness to pay the gas price settled through the tendering process w.e.f. 1.4.2009. It is further categorically denied that irrespective of whether or not the petitioner agreed to the terms and conditions of the respondent, the subject sour gas would be sold only to a new entity after the finalization of the tender as alleged. It is stated that the ONGC vide letter dated 31.3.2009 informed the petitioner that the Gas supply agreement for Kovilkallapal field is valid till 31.3.2009 and the submission of the petitioner's letter no. MMS/ONGC/2008-09 dated 10.12.2008 requesting extension of contract implies that the petitioner's interpretation regarding expiry of the agreement is also same i.e. 31.3.2009. Further, the petitioner was called upon to attend the meeting on 6.4.2009 for finalization of gas price for the period from 1.4.2009 till finalization of the tender as the petitioner has conditionally accepted the conditions of the gas supply of the respondent stated vide letter dated 6.3.2009. It is stated that during the said meeting, the petitioner's representative was requested to offer the new gas price applicable from 1.4.2009, however, the petitioner's representative had shown its unwillingness to discuss the matter concerning the gas price with a plea that it would not be possible for him to discuss and offer any gas price, meaning thereby that the petitioner is not coming forward to discuss the terms and conditions of the fresh agreement as are to be executed. It would not be out of place to mention here that the respondent is following the guidelines laid down by the Govt. of India with regard to the allocation and pricing of natural gas in order to settle the new price of the sour gas."