Chhattisgarh govt. moves SC against Centre seeking ₹4169 crore additional levy collected from coal blocks
The Hindu
The top court had directed the prior-allottees of 42 coal blocks, including eight falling within the territorial jurisdiction of Chhattisgarh, to pay ₹295 per metric ton of coal extracted as an "additional levy" for the loss caused to the public exchequer.
The Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government has moved the Supreme Court against the Centre seeking ₹ 4169.86 crore along with 24 % interest deposited by coal block allottees as "additional levy" in compliance with the top court order.
The Chhattisgarh government has filed an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution which empowers a State to directly move the apex court in matters of dispute against the Centre.
The top court in its order dated August 25, 2014 had declared the entire coal block allocations done by the Centre between July 14, 1993 and March 31, 2011 as illegal and arbitrary and on September 24, 2014 had ordered cancellation of 42 coal blocks but said it will take effect only from March 31, 2015, since the coal blocks were still being mined and thereafter Coal India Ltd. would take over the said mines.