JOIN US The Coal Ministry has sought the opinion of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on whether to conduct an ordinance to implement last month’s Supreme Court order that quashed the allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks between 1993 and 2011.
The ministry is considering an ordinance to resolve issues relating to forfeited or imposed bank guarantees on allottee companies, cancellation of mining leases and the right and title deeds of the land purchased by such firms.
Rohatgi has reportedly confirmed that a blueprint is being prepared and an ordinance or executive order may be issued to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict. The Coal Ministry is waiting for the attorney general’s formal advice to help reclaim the title deeds of land mines awarded to companies.
Before quashing the allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks last month, the Supreme Court had held that coal blocks had been allotted casually in an ad-hoc manner without the proper application of mind. It had asked the government to take over the operation of 42 functional blocks within six months.