MSP SPONGE IRON LIMITED Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Following are the important questions to be considered and answered in these writ petitions :

(2.) Apart from the question of law, it may be necessary to advert to the sequence of events as well, at least to a limited extent, so as to make a proper analysis and appreciation on the issues involved. This is more so, since the Petitioners have raised the plea of 'legitimate expectation' and 'promissory estoppel' in these cases; thus, necessitating scrutiny as to whether the pre-conditions to have the said principles attracted stand established ?

(3.) The State of Chhattisgarh was formed in the year 2000, in terms of the Madhya Pradesh Re-Organization Act, 2000. Being one among the rich States in the country in terms of mineral and forest resources, with a large extent of untapped potential for industrialisation, the Government felt the immediate necessity to initiate the process of rapid economic and social growth. It was accordingly that an Industrial Policy '2001-2006' was formulated for 'five years' period with intent :