J'khand initiates process for legal action to realise coal dues from Centre

The Jharkhand government initiated the process for legal action to realise "Rs 1.36 trillion coal dues" from the Centre.

The government issued a notification on Tuesday authorising Secretary, Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms to commence the legal procedure to realise the dues.

The development came shortly after the state government announced in its first cabinet meeting last month that it would take legal action to get its dues.

"Secretary, Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms is nominated as nodal officer to initiate immediate legal action to realise Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues from the Centre.

"In case of obstacles in payments by subsidiaries of Coal India in lieu of washed coal royalty dues, common cause dues etc, steps should be taken to resolve this in consultation with the Advocate General," the notification said.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, too, had said after being sworn in last month that legal action would be initiated to realise the dues.

Earlier, he had requested the Centre "with folded hands" to clear the multi-crore coal dues to the state.

On November 2, he posted on X: "The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand. I once again request them with folded hands to clear the outstanding (coal dues) of Rs 1.36 trillion to Jharkhandis. This amount is crucial for Jharkhand."  "I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues.

He emphasised the dues with central PSUs like Coal India are "rightful" to the state, and claimed that "non-clearance is causing irreparable harm to Jharkhand's development".

A recent ruling by a nine-judge Supreme Court bench affirmed the state's right to collect its mining and royalty dues.