Move Orissa HC for spl bench to hear mining cases: SC

The Supreme Court Wednesday granted liberty to the Odisha government to move an application before the Orissa High Court's Chief Justice requesting to assign cases, where proceedings for recovery of dues from defaulting mining lessees are stayed, to a dedicated bench for final disposal.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih was informed that several petitions are pending before the HC in which orders passed in the recovery proceedings have been challenged and stay has been obtained.

"Since public revenue to a substantial extent is involved, we grant liberty to the state of Odisha to move an application before the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court by December 19, 2025, with a request to assign all such petitions to a dedicated bench for final disposal within March 31, 2026," the SC said.

It said if the pleas are not decided by March 31, at least the prayers made by the state for vacation/alteration/modification of such interim orders may be considered by the dedicated bench.