Tata Steel gets interim relief in ₹24.1bn chromite block dispute

Tata Steel Limited announced it has received an interim protection order from the High Court of Orissa regarding a demand letter related to its Sukinda Chromite Block. The demand, totaling ₹24,108,966,881, was issued by the office of deputy director of mines, Jajpur, on October 3, 2025. It pertained to an alleged shortfall in chrome ore dispatch during the fifth year of the Mine Development and Production Agreement (July 23, 2024, to July 22, 2025), citing a violation of Rule 12A of the Minerals Concession Rules, 2016.

Following this, Tata Steel filed a writ petition seeking to quash the demand letter. On November 21, 2025, the High Court heard the petition and ordered it to be tagged with other similar cases. Crucially, the court granted interim protection, restraining authorities from taking any coercive steps against Tata Steel until the next hearing, scheduled for December 3, 2025.