Madras High Court sets aside single judge’s order on mining licences
A single judge had on July 7 quashed the orders of the Central government
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-08-12 06:33 GMT
Chennai: The Madras high court has set aside an order of a single judge, which quashed the orders of the Central government cancelling the mining licenses issued to 32 companies, including V V Mineral.
Pointing out that the impugned order (passed by the single judge) was bereft of any reason, a Division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T. S. Sivagnanam set aside the order while allowing the appeals filed by the Regional Controller of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines. Remitting the matter back to the authorities, the bench said the authorities shall inform the companies as to what has not been complied with within two weeks.
The companies shall thereafter resubmit their draft schemes after curing the defects and which it will be examined in accordance with law by the authorities, the bench added.
Originally, the orders cancelling the mining operations were issued since the companies failed to submit their mining scheme at least 120 days before expiry of their approved one.
The companies were first issued show cause notices giving them 30 days for submitting a reply. With no reply forthcoming, the licences were cancelled. Challenging this order, Transworld Garnet India Pvt.Ltd and V.V. Mineral represented by its managing partner S. Vaikundarajan and 30 others filed petitions asking for a review.
A single judge had on July 7 quashed the orders of the Central government. Aggrieved the present appeals were filed.