JUDGMENT

Dr. S. Muralidhar, CJ. - Introduction

1. These are three writ petitions and one contempt petition filed by M/s. Sarda Mines Pvt. Ltd. (SMPL) (Petitioner No.1) and its Director and Shareholder (Petitioner No.2).

2. In W.P.(C) No.3115 of 2021, the Petitioners have sought a direction to the Opposite Party-Department of Steel and Mines, State of Odisha (DSM) to execute a lease deed in favour of Petitioner No.1 (SMPL) "for the remaining bifurcated period of 10 years of the 30 years period" in terms of the directions dated 28th June and 18th December, 1991 of this Court in OJC No.2567 of 1984 and 30th June 1998 in OJC No.1803 of 1986 and also in terms of the order dated 11th February, 1999 passed by the DSM.

3. The prayer in W.P.(C) No.6905 of 2021 is for quashing of a demand notice dated 8th February, 2021 issued by the Joint Director of Mines, Joda, District: Keonjhar (JDM) (Opposite Party No.1) in the writ petition directing the Petitioner to pay a sum of Rs.2045.51 crores as compensation on excess production; quashing the notice dated 20th May, 2021 issued by the JDM asking SMPL not to cross the pro rata limit of production against the quantity stipulated in the Environmental