This is what Team Anna said in reply to the statement by the PMO.

Between 2004 and 2006 there was a series of communication that happened between the Ministry of Coal and Department of Legal Affairs. The MoC wanted DLA's views on the way in which competitive bidding can be introduced as the mechanism for allocation of coal blocks.

The Law Secretary repeatedly opined in July 2004, July 2006 and again in August 2006 that amendment to any existing Act (CMN or MMDR) is not a prerequisite to introduce competitive bidding for allocation of coal blocks. Therefore, introduction of competitive bidding was legally feasible for MoC.

Despite this the MoC employed screening committee route to allocate coal blocks till 2009. Why? Moreover, why did it take 6 years to build consensus on the amendment to the Act and pass it. So many Acts have been passed in days. In fact, it was the PMO which shot down the proposal for issuing an ordinance saying that there was no urgency.