Jharkhand High Court Provides Temporary Relief to Petitioners in Composite User Fee Matter, Next Hearing on August 6

The Jharkhand High Court has provided temporary relief to the petitioners in the composite user fee case, with over 100 petitions being heard. The bench, comprising Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Rajesh Shankar, considered the responses from the state government and decided to grant interim relief. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for August 6. The state government, represented by Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan and advocate Piyush Chitresh, stated that the fee would not be collected at this time. Despite the fee appearing on the Jimmus portal, petitioners are not required to pay it to obtain permits. The court has recorded the statement of the Advocate General. The petitioners’ counsel, advocates Sumit Gadoia and Indrajit Sinha, argued that the state government is imposing a ₹1200 composite user fee for mining permits, adding it to the Jharkhand Mines and Minerals Portal (Jimmus portal). The petitioners argue this is illegal as it lacks a valid notification and is beyond the government’s authority. The High Court had earlier directed the government not to pressure the petitioners until the hearing concluded, and this was reiterated in April 2025, but the mining department issued a notice displaying the fee on the portal on June 24, 2025. The court has stated that if the decision favors the respondents, the fee will be collected later.