Jharkhand to move SC against amended mines Act: Minister

Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore on Wednesday said the state Government will move the Supreme Court against the amended MMDR Act, alleging it would cause a major revenue loss to the State exchequer.

Kishore claimed the amendment would result in a revenue loss of around Rs 14,000 crore to the State, affecting various social welfare schemes, particularly the women-centric ‘Maiyan Samman Yojana’.

“We have decided to move the Supreme Court regarding the issue. The chief minister has issued an order in this regard,” Kishore told reporters.

The State had estimated to earn Rs 14,000 crore from cess during the current financial year but would now be deprived of the expected funds, he said.

“The state is all set to face a revenue loss of Rs 4,000 crore after implementation of the VB-G RAM G and lost Rs 4,000 crore after rationalisation of GST. If we include the cess, the state will face a loss of Rs 22,000 crore. How will we compensate this huge amount?” the finance minister asked.

Kishore said the Government had decided to pursue the matter through democratic and legal means.

“We will go to the public with the issue and move the Supreme Court seeking relief,” he said.

The minister said he had held detailed discussions with senior officials of the finance and mines departments to review the amendments made by the Centre to the MMDR Act and assess their impact on Jharkhand’s economic interests.

“Jharkhand’s mineral wealth forms a crucial foundation for the state’s economic strength. Safeguarding the state’s revenue and constitutional rights is our top priority,” he said.

Earlier this month, Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to restrict states’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.

The state’s Congress unit will launch a phase-wise protest from August 27 against the passage of the bill in Parliament.

The party said the Bill is “against the interest of the state”.

As part of the protest, a day-long sit-in will be staged across district headquarters on Thursday, and a memorandum will be submitted to the President through deputy commissioners, a party official said.