Synopsis

The Odisha High Court has quashed a Rs 696.32 crore demand against JSW Steel over mineral dispatch shortfalls at its Jajang iron ore block in FY21. It also set aside a separate Rs 1,472.69 crore demand for FY25, directing authorities to reconsider the matter in line with an earlier judgment.

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The Odisha High Court quashed a Rs 696.32 crore demand against JSW Steel for FY21 and set aside a Rs 1,472.69 crore demand for FY25 for fresh consideration.

The Odisha High Court has quashed a Rs 696.32 crore demand against JSW Steel over a shortfall in mineral dispatch from its Jajang iron ore block in FY21 and set aside a separate Rs 1,472.69 crore demand for FY25, referring the latter to the concerned authority for fresh consideration, the company said in a regulatory filing on Sunday.

The judgments were pronounced on October 16, 2026, in response to separate petitions filed by JSW Steel challenging demands raised by mining authorities in Joda, Odisha.

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The company said the court disposed of the FY21 case in accordance with its April 20, 2026, judgment in another petition and related matters. Based on the conclusions and directions in that judgment, JSW Steel believes the demand letter dated September 6, 2021, and a corrigendum issued the following day stand quashed.

In the second case, the High Court set aside a demand letter dated August 21, 2025, issued by the Deputy Director of Mines, Joda, and remitted the matter to the concerned authority to decide afresh.

The company said the authority must reconsider the matter in light of the legal position set out in the court's April 20 judgment.

The Rs 1,472.69 crore demand related to an assessment of shortfalls in mineral dispatch from the Jajang iron ore block during the fifth year of the Mine Development and Production Agreement, covering June 27, 2024, to June 26, 2025.

The demand was raised under Rule 12-A of the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016.

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The Rs 696.32 crore demand concerned the first year of the agreement, from June 27, 2020, to June 26, 2021. The Joint Director of Mines, Joda, issued the demand in September 2021 over an assessed shortfall in mineral dispatch.

JSW Steel approached the High Court in both cases seeking, among other reliefs, the quashing of the respective demand letters.

The company said the disclosure was delayed because it needed time to review the judgments.

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