Odishatv Bureau
Cuttack: Orissa High court on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned not to put into effect a regulation of Mineral and Concession Rule of 1960 without the sanction of the court.
 
The regulation, Rule 24 (A) 6, says if an application for renewal of a mining lease is made within the time limit and the same is not disposed of by the state government before the expiry of lease, the period of that lease shall be deemed to have been extended by a further period till the State government passes order thereon.
 
Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice B N Mohapatra taking up a writ petition filed by a member of the Transparency International India gave the interim order while the petitioner had sought to quash the concerned rule as several mine owners are continuing their mining activities much after the expiry of their licenses.
 
However, not inclined to quash the Rule immediately, the Division Bench on the day issued notices to the opposite parties, including the State government to file counter in affidavit.
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