New Delhi: The Orissa High Court has extended interim protection to Tata Steel Ltd in two high-value mining-related litigations involving demand notices worth more than ₹4,300 crore, offering continued relief to the steelmaker in its dispute with state mining authorities.
In a regulatory filing on Monday, Tata Steel said the High Court has extended its earlier orders restraining authorities from taking coercive action against the company in connection with demand notices issued for alleged shortfall in dispatch of chrome ore from the Sukinda Chromite Block in Odisha.
The first demand, amounting to about ₹1,903 crore, pertains to the fourth year of operations under the Mine Development and Production Agreement (July 2023–July 2024), while the second demand of around ₹2,411 crore relates to the fifth year (July 2024–July 2025). The notices were issued by the Deputy Director of Mines, Jajpur, citing alleged violations of Rule 12A of the Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, along with appropriation of performance security.
Tata Steel had challenged both demand notices before the Orissa High Court, which had earlier granted interim relief. The court has now extended the protection until the next hearing scheduled for January 8, 2026, the company said.
The matter is part of a broader set of disputes involving mining leaseholders over revised assessments of mineral dispatch obligations under production agreements.