1 2025:CGHC:51700 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 1619 of 2016 M/s Sarda Energy And Minerals Ltd. A Company Duly Imcroporated Under The Provisions Of The Companies Act 1956 Having Its Corporated Office And Works At Industrial Growth Centre, Phase 1, Siltara Raipur Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus 1 - Union Of India Through Its Secretary, Ministry Of Mines Government Of India , Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110001, Delhi 2 - South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Through General Manager Sales And Marketing Post Office S.E.C.L. Seepat Road, Civil And Revenue District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh Police Staiton Sarkanda, Bilaspur Pin 495006, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh 3 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Mineral Resources Department, Government Of Chhattisgarh Mahanadi Bhavan, Mantrlaaya,naya Raipur, Civil And Revenue District Raipur Chhattisgarh Pin 492002, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 4 - Director, Directoate Of Geology And Mining Second Floor, D. Block Indravati Bhawan, Capital Complex, Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh ... Respondents ALFIZA BAIG Digitally signed by ALFIZA BAIG Date: 2025.10.17 11:51:30 +0530 2 For Petitioner : Mr. Yash Raj Verma, Advocate appears along with Mr. Amrito Das, Advocate For Respondent no. 1 : Mr. Sumit Singh, Advocate For State /Respondent no. 3&4 : Mr. Kishan Lal Sahu, Deputy Govt. Advocate For Respondent no. 2 : Mr. Vaibhav Shukla, Advocate Hon’ble Shri Parth Prateem Sahu Order on Board 16.10.2025 1. Learned counsel for respective parties submits that this case is also covered by the decision passed in WPC No. 1504 of 2016 and other connected matters, as also in WPC No. 526 of 2016 decided on 24.11.2017 and 31.10.2018 respectively. WPC No. 1504 of 2016 was allowed with the following observation:- “34. Thus, on the basis of above legal analysis, it is held as under:- (1) Contribution towards National Mineral Exploration Trust shall be payable with effect from 14.08.2015, the date of promulgation of the NMET Rules, plus constitution of National Mineral Exploration Trust (14.08.2015). The petitioners are directed to make payment accordingly and if contribution has already been made towards NMET prior to 14.08.2015, the respondents are directed to adjust the contribution against future contributions without any interest. (2) Contribution towards District Mineral Foundation shall be payable with effect from 22.12.2015 and the writ petitions questioning payment of DMF stand finally disposed of in terms of paragraphs 46,47 and 48 of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (supra).” 2. In WPC No. 526 of 2016 while taking note of judgment passed by the Coordinate Bench passed in WPC No. 1504 of 2016 has observed as under:- 3 “3. The other issue concerning the date on which liability to pay contribution towards National Mineral Exploration Trust ( NMET ) has also been set at rest by the decision rendered by the coordinate Bench in WPC No. 1504/2016 (Jindal Steel & Power Limited Vs. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors. ) and other connected matters decided on 24.11.2017 holding that contribution towards NMET is payable w.e.f. 14.08.2015.” 3. As the issue which is raised in present writ petition is covered with the aforementioned decisions of Coordinate Bench of this Court, this writ petition is also allowed and is disposed of in terms of order dated 24.11.2017 passed in WPC no. 1504 of 2016. Certified copy as per rules. sd/- (Parth Prateem Sahu) Judge alfiza!