Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092759580700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Court permits Tata Steel to file appeal

Staff Reporter

V.V. Minerals has obtained decree against processing mining lease applications

MADURAI: The Madras High Court on Friday permitted Tata Steel to file an appeal against a civil decree obtained by V.V. Minerals, restraining the State government from processing mining lease applications of third parties in respect of 19,897 acres in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts.

The steel major claimed that it had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the State government in 2002 and conducted a mineral exploration study on the property between December 2003 and January 2005. In the meantime, V.V. Minerals purchased the lands and obtained the decree.

Allowing a civil revision petition filed by Tata Steel in the Madurai Bench, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that denying an opportunity to the petitioner company to file an appeal would have far reaching implications because the decree obtained by the private firm was against statutory provisions.

The revision was directed against the refusal of the Principal District Judge in Tirunelveli to grant leave to appeal against the decree passed by the Principal Sub-Court in 2006.