The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to Union finance and divestment ministries on a petition challenging the privatisation process initiated by the Centre for Hindustan Copper Ltd [ Get Quote ].

A Bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice G P Mathur issued notices on a petition filed by a workers association.

The petitioners said the government has erred by initiating the divestment of HCL [ Get Quote ] by an executive decision though the company was created by an Act of Parliament -- Indian Copper Corporation (Acquisition and Undertaking) Act, 1972.

They said the Centre's decision to divest HCL was similar to the one taken by it in initiating privatisation of oil PSUs Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd [ Get Quote ] and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd [ Get Quote ].

The apex court in a recent judgment had halted the privatisation process initiated for HPCL and BPCL, saying these two were created by Acts of Parliament and their privatisation has to be approved by Parliament before the process is undertaken.