Keonjhar: The court of the district magistrate (DM) started hearing of a case relating to confiscation of properties of mining firms who have not paid penalty for illegal mining, Saturday.
It may be noted here that the Supreme Court had directed the state government to recover penalties from the scam-tainted mine owners. Many miners have deposited their penalties while many have not.
The mines department had moved the DM court for confiscation of their assets. The court had served notices on nine miners to depose before it Saturday.
Of them, six firms turned up for the hearing in person and some others through their counsels. But they have sought more time to make their replies, it was learnt.
Mine owner BK Mohanty did not come to the court while SD Sharma sent a letter to the court Friday, seeking four weeks’ time to put forth his reply.
Miner Basudev Agrawal has died while the legal notice issued to him has returned. Meanwhile, his legal heir was notified to place his reply September 15.
Considering the pleas of the mine lease holders, the court has fixed September 1 as date of hearing for Gandhmardan Sponge Industries, BPML, HG Pandya and Mala Ray. Similarly, Narayani and Sons was asked to depose August 25.
It was leant that even as the hearing of the case was under way, mine owners like Mala Ray, SC Padhi and MR Das have deposited Rs 2.88 crore penalties online.
SC Padhi had deposited penalty for one mine while he has partially paid penalty for two other mines.
Now, the act of depositing penalty has been questioned in various circles as the case hearing is still under way.
Deputy director of mines Sushant Kumar Nayak said mine owner have sought more time from the DM’s court to make their replies. “Three mine owners have deposited their penalties online. The matter was intimated to the government and the court,” he added.
Eight more mine lease holders have also been put on notice for hearing of their cease August 8. The mine owners are SC Padhi, Mesco, Bhanj Minerals, Facor, Narayani and Sons, Mineral Trading Syndicate, BD Patnaik and SN Dasmohapatra.
PNN