Tata Steel has secured extended interim protection from the Orissa High Court at Cuttack in two significant legal disputes involving demand letters totaling ₹4,313.39 crores related to its Sukinda Chromite Block operations. The court heard both writ petitions on December 12, 2025, and extended the interim protection until the next hearing scheduled for December 19, 2025.

First Writ Petition Details

The first legal challenge stems from a demand letter received on July 3, 2025, from the Office of Deputy Director of Mines, Jajpur. The company filed Writ Petition (Civil) No. 22431 of 2025 on August 8, 2025, seeking to quash this demand.

The Orissa High Court granted interim protection on August 14, 2025, restraining authorities from taking coercive action. This protection has been consistently extended through multiple hearings until December 12, 2025.

Second Writ Petition Challenge

The second dispute involves another demand letter received on October 3, 2025, leading to Writ Petition (Civil) No. 31035 of 2025 filed on October 29, 2025.

Both demand letters relate to alleged shortfalls in mineral dispatch from the Sukinda Chromite Block under the Mine Development and Production Agreement, with authorities claiming violations of the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro-Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016.

Current Legal Status

The Orissa High Court has tagged both petitions with similar cases and continues to provide interim protection to Tata Steel. The court's order restrains opposite parties and authorities from taking coercive action against the company until the matter is resolved.

Regulatory Disclosure

Tata Steel has made this disclosure in compliance with Regulations 30 and 51 read with Schedule III of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The company continues to contest both demand letters through the legal process while maintaining operations at the Sukinda Chromite Block under court protection.

The Orissa High Court has extended interim protection for Tata Steel until December 19 in two separate writ petitions challenging penalty demands totaling ₹4,313.39 crores related to alleged shortfall in mineral dispatch from the company's Sukinda Chromite Block operations.

Legal Proceedings and Timeline

The legal dispute involves two separate demand letters issued by the Deputy Director of Mines, Jajpur, for alleged violations of Rule 12-A of the Minerals Concession Rules, 2016. The first demand letter dated July 3 raised a penalty of ₹1,902.73 crores for the fourth year of operations, while the second demand letter dated October 3 sought ₹2,410.90 crores for the fifth year.

Penalty Assessment Breakdown

The mining authorities have raised separate assessments for consecutive operational years under the Mine Development and Production Agreement, citing shortfall in chrome ore dispatch from the Sukinda Chromite Block.

Court Proceedings and Interim Relief

Tata Steel filed the first writ petition on August 8, seeking to quash the initial demand letter. The High Court granted interim protection on August 14, restraining authorities from taking coercive action. The second writ petition was filed on October 29, with similar interim protection granted on November 21.

Both petitions have been tagged with similar cases, and the court has consistently extended interim protection through multiple hearings. The latest extension came during the December 12 hearing, providing relief until the next scheduled hearing on December 19.

Regulatory Compliance and Disclosure

The company has made this disclosure in compliance with Regulations 30 and 51 of SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. This follows the company's earlier disclosure dated December 4 regarding material litigations relating to the Sukinda Chromite Block.

The interim protection prevents mining authorities from appropriating performance security or taking other coercive measures while the legal challenge remains pending before the High Court.