(1.) THIS batch of writ petitions pose a common challenge against anticipated adverse initiatives by the opposite party No. 2 -Paradip Port Trust, pursuant to Clause No. 21 of the 'Terms and Conditions of the Tender for allotment of Manual Iron Ore Plots' for convergence and export thereof.
(2.) WE have heard Mr. J. Patnaik, learned Sr. Counsel for the petitioners. In view of the order proposed, no formal notice to the opposite party is called for.
(3.) ACCORDING to them (petitioners) in the intervening period, the State Government had imposed various restrictions on procurement and movement of iron ore within the State due to ongoing elections from 05.04.2014 to 20.04.2014. Further issuance of licences and fresh application for road transport were suspended. A temporary stalemate pending the verdict of the Hon'ble apex Court on the issues of closure of mines in Odisha did intervene as well. Suspension of mining lease of many major iron ore mines in Odisha for a period of six months vide order date 16.05.2014 by the Hon'ble apex Court too retarded the process of convergence and export of iron ore. According to the petitioners, in spite of all such odds they have procured sufficient volume of iron ore and have stacked the same at their respective allotted plots. However, those could not be exported within the time fame of four months as envisaged in Clause -21. Situated thus, they wrote/submitted letters/applications to the concerned authority(ies) of the Paradip Port Trust to extend time for compliance of the stipulation and making a minimum shipment of 19,000 MT of ore within the time scheduled enjoined. As their letters/applications of request have not yet met with any positive response, they, anticipating punitive action, are before this Court seeking the following reliefs as paraphrased hereunder: