HC verdict on PL case under scrutiny of law dept

The recent verdict of the Orissa High Court which had set aside the recommendation of the state government for providing prospecting license in favour of Posco India for Khandadhar iron ore mines in Sundergarh district is under the scrutiny of the state law department.

The state government expects to file a response to the court verdict within three weeks.

“The law department is examining the court verdict and it would guide the steel and mines department for the future course of action. Whether a fresh hearing will be conducted on the cases of all applicants for the Khandadhar iron ore mines or the verdict of the Orissa High Court would be challenged in the Supreme Court would be decided as per the advice of the law department”, a highly placed official source told Business Standard.

The court verdict on July 14 had come as a dampener for the South Korean steel major which had got a reprieve of late after the finalization of the compensation package for the project affected families at the meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) held last month.