2025:JHHC:25374 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No.1028 of 2022 Steel Authority of India Limited, having its registered office at Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road, P.O. Lodhi Road, P.S. Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003 and having one of its Unit known as Bokaro Steel Plant, having office at Bokaro Steel City, P.O. Bokari, P.S. Bokaro, District Bokaro, through its General Manger (Law) Rajesh Kumar, aged about 54 years, son of Bibhuti Bhushan Sinha, resident of Qtr No. 4D, 6068, Sector-4, Bokaro Steel City, P.O. Bokaro, P.S. Bokaro, District: Bokaro. …… Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand, through its Chief Secretary, having its office at Project Bhawan, PO: Dhurwa, P.S Jagganathpur, District Ranchi. 2. The Secretary, Department of Mines, Government of Jharkhand having its office at Nepal House, PO and PS : Doranda, District: Ranchi. 3. District Mining Officer, Chaibasa, P.O. & P.S. Chaibasa, District West Singhbhum (Jharkhand). 4. Certificate Officer (Mines), Kolhan Circle, Chaibasa P.O. & P.S. Chaibasa, District West Singhbhum (Jharkhand). …... Respondents --------- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR --------- For the Petitioner : Mr. Ajay Kr. Sah, Advocate For the State : Mr. Gaurav Raj, A.C to AAG.-II --------- 08/Dated: 26 th August, 2025 1. The present writ petition has been filed for the following reliefs :- (a) for issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction, including writ of certiorari for quashing of the entire certificate proceeding in connection with Certificate Case no. 09 (MC) of 2020-21 including notice dated 05.02.2021 (Annexure -4) purportedly issued under the Bihar & Orissa Public Demand Recovery Act, 1914 for realization of Rs. 1066,16,14,149/- from the petitioner; (b) in the alternative issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, particularly a writ of Prohibition - 1 - W.P.C No.1028 of 2022 2025:JHHC:25374 restraining the Certificate Officer (Mines), Kolhan Circle, Chaibasa P.O. & P.S. Chaibasa, District West Singhbhum from proceeding further with Certificate Case no. 09 (MC) of 2020-21 during the pendency of the writ petition being W.P.C No. 7016 of 2017 wherein the matter in issue viz. correctness and legality of the demand of subject matter of this writ petition is in question and the said also forms the basis of the impugned Certificate Case no. 09 (MC) of 2020-21 and hence is also directly and substantially in issue therein;. 2. It has been submitted that the original demand notice has already been quashed by the Division Bench of this Court vide order dated 04.03.2025, passed in W.P.(C) No.3399 of 2019 and analogous cases. Para- 6 to 9 of the aforesaid order dated 04.03.2025, is quoted herein-below :- “6. In this view of the matter, these writ petitions are allowed and the impugned demand notices issued by the respective District Mining Officers to the petitioners under Section 21 (5) of the Act are all set aside. Liberty is however granted to the respondents for demanding and collecting the same through the designated authority under the Statute. 7. Amounts deposited by the petitioners with the respondents during the pendency of the writ petitions shall be refunded to the petitioners within eight weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 8. The above sums will be refunded by the State Government with the interest rate 7% per annum from the date of making of such deposit till the date of actual refund to the petitioners. 9. All other points raised by the petitioners in the writ petitions are left open.” 3. In that view of the matter, the present writ petition is hereby, disposed of giving liberty to the petitioner to raise all the plea in the pending Certificate Case No.09 (MC) of 2020- - 2 - W.P.C No.1028 of 2022 2025:JHHC:25374 21 before the Certificate Officer (Mines), Kolhan Circle, Chaibasa, West Singhbhum. 4. With aforesaid liberty, the present writ petition stands disposed of. 5. Pending interlocutory application, if any, stands disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) Ravi-Chandan/- - 3 - W.P.C No.1028 of 2022