Supreme Court cancels 214 coal block allocation since 1993
New Delhi, Sep 24 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday nullified the allocation of 214 of the 218 coal blocks, leased out to companies illegally by the Centre since 1993.
In a bold judgement, only four blocks' allocation- which are crucial for big power projects and given to companies like SAIL- were not cancelled.
Thus most of the private firms which were allotted coal blocks by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), as well as the NDA, between 1993 and 2011, have lost rights over the mines.
Reports said the coal firms will also have to pay fine of Rs. 295 per tonne of coal extracted.
The top court on August 25 had held that all coal blocks allocations since 1993 by various regimes at the Centre were illegally and arbitrarily done, sources said.
A bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha had said in its 163-page verdict: “To sum up, the entire allocation of coal block as per recommendations made by the Screening Committee from July 14, 1993 in 36 meetings and the allocation through the government dispensation route suffers from the vice of arbitrariness and legal flaws.”
Top Headlines
-
News
India, China have completed disengagement: Reports
October 31, 2024
-
News
Uzbekistan parties supporting President Mirziyoyev win parliamentary elections as country undergoes reforms
October 29, 2024
-
News
Sanction Indian diplomats, ban RSS: anti-India Canadian leader Jagmeet Singh goes ballistic
October 16, 2024
-
News
Hezbollah drone attack on military base kills four Israeli soldiers
October 14, 2024
-
News
Trudeau govt's vote bank politics: India toughens stand against Canada after latest tirade over Nijjar killing
October 14, 2024
-
News
Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which claimed responsibility for Baba Siddique's murder, sends Salman Khan a message
October 14, 2024
-
News
RG Kar: Bengal junior doctors to hold protest march to Raj Bhavan on 10th day of hunger strike today
October 14, 2024
-
News
Tamil Nadu derailment: 19 injured in Darbhanga Bagmati Express collision with goods train, 13 coaches jump track
October 12, 2024
-
News
Distasteful and disgraceful: Amit Shah on Mallikarjun Kharge's 'won't die till Modi is removed from power' remark
September 30, 2024
-
News
Keep Gods away from politics: Supreme Court slams Andhra govt over Tirupati laddoo row
September 30, 2024