The Jharkhand government has officially initiated the legal process to recover a staggering ₹1.36 lakh crore in coal dues from the Centre. A notification issued on Tuesday authorised the Secretary of Revenue, Registration, and Land Reforms to begin the legal proceedings for the recovery of these dues.
This move follows the announcement made in the state’s first cabinet meeting last month, where the government made it clear that it would take legal action to claim the outstanding dues. According to the notification, the Secretary has been appointed as the nodal officer responsible for overseeing the legal process and ensuring the dues are realised.
In case of hurdles arising in the payment of dues by subsidiaries of Coal India, including issues related to washed coal royalty dues and common cause dues, the notification instructs the officer to work in consultation with the Advocate General to resolve the matter.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had earlier pledged to take legal action to recover the dues, which have been a point of contention for the state. Soren, after taking office last month, had publicly requested the Centre to clear the multi-crore coal dues, stating that the funds are crucial for the state’s development.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 2, he said, “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 ₹1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhandis.”
He further appealed to BJP MPs to assist in securing the dues, asserting that the coal dues owed to the state are “rightful” and non-clearance has caused significant harm to Jharkhand’s development.
The state’s claim has been strengthened by a recent ruling from a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court, which affirmed Jharkhand’s right to collect mining and royalty dues.
