Justice Suresh Kait asked the Coal Ministry to take instructions on issues raised by Sarda, which said it would require time to dispose of the coal it has extracted till date and those it would continue to extract till March 31 after which the mine, Gare Palma IV/7 in Chhattisgarh, would be handed over to the new allotee, Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd.
The matter was listed for further hearing on March 26.
Sarda has moved the court apprehending that it would not be allowed to remove the stock of coal it has mined or extracted and for which it has paid royalty, after handing over control of the mine to Monnet.
It has said there was around six lakh tonnes of coal, washed coal, middling and rejects which are at present stocked at the site and added that it was unable to remove them as there was a strike by workers.
It said it had made a representation to the government to extend the time for removal of the coal stock, but there has been no response.