In Brief
The Supreme Court disposed of multiple interlocutory applications arising from mining lease disputes in Odisha under the MMDR Act, 1957. Applicants sought permission to sell ore already mined and lying at their leasehold sites to pay compensation dues to the State. The Court allowed the sale and removal of existing ore stocks, directly supervised by an independent committee comprising retired High Court judges, with proceeds going to the State treasury. The Court imposed strict conditions to prevent fresh mining under cover of this permission. For another applicant whose mining operations ceased due to lack of statutory clearances, the Court condoned delay in compensation payment but barred mining resumption until environmental and forest clearances were re-obtained."
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