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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to restrain coal companies, which were directed to wind up mining operations in six months after their coal block allocations were cancelled by it, from extracting coal during this period and selling it in the market.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu said, the Supreme Court had granted six months time to wind up their operations and the companies cannot be restrained from excavating coal during this period. “If they want to excavate coal, no one can stop them. They have been given six months’ time. Why should court direct them not to extract coal during this period,” the bench said.

The court’s observation came when advocate ML Sharma submitted that the companies are extracting three to four times more coal per day as they have to wind up the operations within six months. He submitted that the companies should be restrained from doing so, but the apex court refused to entertain his plea.