Mineral Company Gets Fresh Hearing After Chhattisgarh HC Sets Aside Collector’s Order Passed Without Hearing It

The petitioner sought to quash the Collector’s order dated 11 March 2022 and a show-cause notice dated 25 March 2022, together with the ensuing proceedings.

It submitted that its grievance was covered by the High Court’s order dated 8 October 2026 in W.P.(C) No. 1640 of 2022 and connected petitions; the State did not oppose disposal on that basis.

The Court accepted that the grievance and relief sought were identical.

The Court applied the procedural-fairness principle that a decision affecting parties should be made after giving them a due opportunity of hearing.

The connected order also required the Collector, on remand, to consider the parties’ submissions and the record and issue a reasoned, speaking order in accordance with law.

The Court found the petitioner’s grievance identical to that addressed in the connected petitions and adopted that order’s reasoning.

In the connected matter, the Collector’s order had been made without affording the petitioners an opportunity of hearing; the Court therefore considered remand appropriate. It directed fresh consideration after hearing the petitioners and other concerned parties, without expressing any view on the merits.

The parties were directed to appear before the Collector on 9 December 2026. The Court expressed no opinion on the merits and made no order as to costs.