Coal news and updates

HC restrains govt from re-allocating coal blocks

The Supreme Court, which had taken up the coal block allocation issue, had reserved its judgment on scrapping the allocations in January.

Days after the coal ministry de-allocated coal blocks allocated to around 30 companies, five companies approached the Delhi High Court against the January 15 letter sent by the coal ministry for de-allocating 61 coal blocks.

The court of Justice Sudershan Kumar Misra on Wednesday declined to issue any stay on the de-allocation process, but gave relief to the companies by restraining the government from re-allocating the blocks and creating a third party interest till the final decision on the coal allocation matter was taken up by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, which had taken up the coal block allocation issue, had reserved its judgment on scrapping the allocations in January.

On Tuesday, Bhushan Steel had approached the Delhi high court seeking stay on the de-allocation orders. The court of Justice Manmohan had asked the government to respond on the matter, and had taken the view that further action on the matter would be subject to SC decision. The court had also issued status quo orders in the cases where the decision for de- allocation had been taken.

On Wednesday, the pleas by Tata Sponge Iron Ltd, Monnet Ispat, Rampia Coal Mine and Energy, and Jindal Steel were heard by the court of Justice Sudershan Kumar Misra. During the hearing, the Central government, through Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra and Standing Counsel Sumeet Pushkarna informed the court that the government had already taken a decision to de-allocate 30 coal blocks.

Source: The Indian Express