HC asks state govt, centre to file report on Chiria mines by Feb

Ranchi, Jan 10 (UNI) The Jharkhand High Court today asked the Centre and Jharkhand government to file status report on renewal of three mines of Chiria, presently under control of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) by first week of next month.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Muthuswamy Karpagyavinayagam and Justice Permod Kohli passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by the state government.

The court also wanted to know if there was any progress in the wake of the meeting held at the Prime Minister's office on September 4 that suggested for outside settlement.

The state government requested the court to grant some more time as its lawyer could not come from the Apex Court.

Jagdeep Dhanker, appearing on behalf of the SAIL, contended that the renewal should be done at the earliest so that the mines could be operated smoothly.

The renewal had been pending for past two decades, he said.

The Jharkhand High Court on August 22 had passed an order to settle the matter outside the court.

In pursuance to that order several meetings were held between the SAIL and the state government.

UNI