In a significant ruling, the Odisha High Court on Friday granted a stay order on the State Government’s decision of January 5 to auction all non-coal mines in the State. The stay will remain in force till further orders, the court said. The court posted the next date of hearing for February 4. The court ruling came during the hearing of a petition filed by five mining companies, including Mesco, Kalinga Minerals and Om Minerals, which stood to be affected by the Government’s decision to auction all non-coal mines, including those awaiting second and subsequent renewals. The stay order dealt a blow to the Government’s scheme of things.
Meanwhile, the State Government has decided to raise objections to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015 issued by the Central Government on January 12 at the meeting convened by the Centre to discuss the issue on January 19. “The Ordinance would mean a significant loss of revenue for the State since it would override the State Government’s decision to auction mines which are awaiting second and subsequent renewals. So, we have sought the opinion of the law Department on the matter and would present our case at the January 19 based on this opinion,” Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick said on Friday.