Cancellation of Lease Not Illegal Merely Because Order Was Issued by ‘In-Charge’ Mining Officer Under OMMC Rules: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court recently clarified an important issue regarding the administrative powers under the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016. The Court held that cancellation of a quarry lease cannot be considered illegal merely because the order was passed by a Mining Officer (In-Charge) instead of a regular Mining Officer. The judgment was delivered by a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman…