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The Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana today remarked that the Supreme Court cannot entertain plea for impleadment filed by Ministry of Mines in the Sarada Mines case as it cannot allow everyone to pray for the same in every matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was appearing for the Ministry of Mines replied, “With great respect, central government is not 'everyone'.”

Sarada Mines has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against an order of the Odisha High Court wherein the High Court had held that the company had waived it's right for grant of lease of 30 years which it had obtained earlier by executing a lease for 20 years and the provisions of Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2015 operated as a bar to seek any renewal beyond 20 years. The company has filed an SLP seeking Supreme Court to direct Odisha government to grant 10 more years of mining lease.

Kapil Sibal, Sr Advocate, appearing for Sarada Mines objected to the application for impleadment stating dispute is between the company and the State and the Centre could not interfere. The SG at this juncture stated that the dispute primarily arose because of a notification by centre.

The CJI at this point remarked, “We know what’s happening in Karnataka and Goa. We can’t keep running the mines. What is happening is not good.”

The bench of CJI and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli asked Sarada mines to file a reply to the application filed by the centre and listed the matter for hearing at a later date.

Case title: Sarada Mines Private Limited Vs State of Odisha