VEDANTA LIMITED Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner, a company registered under the Companies Act and involved in the activity of mining and trading in minerals, is before this Court, assailing the order dated 03.01.2017 in Revision Application bearing No. 13/(18)/2014-RC.I, passed by the first respondent/Revisional Authority remanding the matter to State Government; and further seeking for a writ of mandamus against the second and third respondents to refund the entire amount of Rs. 6,25,79,731/- towards the value of iron ore of 60,242.82 MT forfeited and adjusted by third respondent under demand notice dated 31.01.2012.

(2.) Brief facts of the case are as follows:

(3.) The third respondent/Deputy Director of Mines and Geology issued notice dated 23.08.2006 demanding a sum of Rs. 6,36,16,417.92 towards the value of minerals and royalty, on the ground that the petitioner-Company had transported excess quantity of iron ore without payment of royalty under Mining Lease M.L.No.2236. It was stated in the notice that the excess transportation of iron ore had taken place during the months from April to July 2006. In the said notice, it was also stated that mineral dispatch permits had been issued for a quantity of 5,98,686.72 MT, whereas the transported quantity was 6,58,929.54 MT.