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2025 DAILYLAW 22247 (JHR)

PUNJAB STATE POWER CORPORATION LIMITED THROUGH AUTHORISED OFFICER AS WELL AS CHIEF ENGINEER v. THE STATE OF JHARKHAND THROUGH PR SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY

WPC/3411/2020 · 2025-08-18

Arun Kumar Rai, Sujit Narayan Prasad

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2025:JHHC:24118-DB Page 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P(C) No. 2780 of 2020 ----- 1. Sunil Kumar Puri, aged about 60 years, son of Late Sh. Surinder Kumar Puri, Ex Director PENAM Coal Mines Limited, resident of H. No. 7, Power Colony-1, Model Town District- Patiala, State Punjab 2. Jasvinder Paul aged about 58 years, son of Late Sh. Ajit Ram, Ex Director PENAM Coal Mines Limited, resident of H. No. 9, Power Colony-1, Model Town District- Patiala, State Punjab … … … Petitioners Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand through its Secretary, Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi, having its office at 3rd Floor, Nepal House, P.O. & P.S. Doranda, District Ranchi 2. Director Mines, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi, having its office at 3rd Floor Nepal House, P.O. & P.S. Doranda, District Ranchi 3. The Certificate Officer-cum-Dy. Director Mines, Santaal Pargana, P.O. & P.S. Dumka, District Dumka 4. District Mining Officer, Pakur, Mining Office Bhawan, Khadanpara, P.O. & P.S. Pakur, District Pakur 816107 5. PANEM Coal Mines Limited through its Official Liquidator, having its office at 3rd floor, 6 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, P.O. & P.S. Vasant Vihar, New Delhi – 110057 … … … Respondents With W.P(C) No. 3411 of 2020 ----- Punjab State Power Corporation Limited through Authorised Officer as well as Chief Engineer/Fuel, PSEB Head Office, having its office at The Mall, Patiala P.O. & P.S. Baradari, District Patiala, State Punjab … … … Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand through Principle Secretary, Department of Mines & Geology, having its office at Nepal House (Yojna Bhavan), Doranda, P.O & P.S Doranda, District Ranchi – 834002 2. Deputy Commissioner, Pakur, Department of Mines & Geology, Santhal Pargana having its office at Pakur, P.O & P.S Pakur, District Pakur. 3. Deputy Director (Mines), Department of Mines & Geology, Circle Dumka, Santhaal Pargana, having its office at Dumka, P.O & P.S Dumka, District Dumka. 2025:JHHC:24118-DB Page 2 4. Auction Officer (Mine), Dumka, Department of Mines & Geology, Circle Dumka, Santhaal Pargana, having its office at Dumka., P.O Dumka, P.S Dumka, District Dumka. 5. District Mining Officer, Pakur, Mining Office Bhawan Khadanpara, P.O & P.S Pakur, District Pakur. 6. Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, Rajendra Path, Rajpath Area Central Secretariat, P.O & P.S New Delhi, New Delhi 110001. … … … Respondents ------- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR RAI ------- For the Petitioners :Mr. Anoop Kumar Mehta, Advocate :Mr. Mahindra Kr. Sinha, Advocate :Mr. Alok Kumar, Advocate For the U.O.I. :Mr. Anil Kumar, ASGI :Mr. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sr. Panel Counsel :Mr. Nishant Kumar, Advocate (in W.P(C) No. 3411 of 2020) For the Resp. State :Mr. Sahbaj Akhtar, A.C. to A.A.G.-II (W.P(C) No. 2780 of 2020) :Mr. Shray Mishra, A.C. to A.G. (W.P(C) No. 2780 of 2020) For the Intervener :None ------ Order No.07/Dated 18thAugust, 2025 1. These writ petitions have been filed under Section 226 of the Constitution of India. 2. Both the writ petitions have been filed for seeking following reliefs: (i) That in this application is being filed for issuance of appropriate writ/writs order/orders direction/directions seeking quashing of Impugned Order dated 26.02.2020 (Annexure 1/1) passed by Respondent No.3 against the Petitioners by which the petitioners have been directed to make payment of Rs. 5,18,37,10,623/- towards excess mining of coal during FY 2009-2010 to 2025:JHHC:24118-DB Page 3 FY 2013 to 2014 but said demand is illegal, arbitrary, baseless and lacking objectivity of approach. AND/OR For issuance of appropriate writ/writs order/orders direction/directions seeking quashing of Impugned Demand Notices dated 20.01.2020 (Annexure-1) issued against the Petitioners for payment of Rs. 5,04,57,92,008/- which is illegal, arbitrary, baseless and lacking objectivity of approach. AND/OR For issuance of an appropriate writ/writs order/orders direction/directions in the nature of prohibition restraining the Respondents, its servants and agents, from proceeding with or taking any steps or further steps pursuant to the Impugned Order dated 26.02.2020 and Demand Notices dated 20.01.2020 against the Petitioners in any manner whatsoever. AND/OR For issuance of an appropriate writ/writs order/orders direction/directions to restrain the Certificate Officer i.e. Respondent No. 3 from giving effect to or acting in pursuance to the Impugned Order and Impugned Demand Notices or taking any steps or further steps pursuant to the Impugned Order and Demand Notices against the 2025:JHHC:24118-DB Page 4 Petitioners in any manner whatsoever till final adjudication of this case. 3. Mr. Anoop Kumar Mehta, learned counsel for the petitioners, in both the writ petitions, assisted by Mr. Mahindra Kr. Sinha, learned counsel, on instruction, has submitted that he does not intend to press these writ petitions, as both the writ petitions have lost their force. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State has submitted that the interlocutory application being I.A. No. 10645 of 2025, has been filed in order to intervene in the matter. 5. This Court, after hearing the learned counsel for the writ petitioners in both writ petitions, and as prayed by him for leave of this Court to withdraw the instant writ petitions, since, according to the learned counsel for the writ petitioners, both the writ petitions have lost their force. 6. Accordingly, both the writ petitions are dismissed as not pressed and as such disposed of. 7. In consequence thereof, I.A. No. 10645 of 2025 also stands disposed of. (Sujit Narayan Prasad, J.) (Arun Kumar Rai, J.) Umesh/Abhishek