The Supreme Court of India has issued a formal notice to Tata Steel Limited regarding a long-running dispute over alleged mineral dispatch deficiencies at its Sukinda Chromite Block in Odisha.
The legal notification follows the State of Odisha's appeal against a April 2026 ruling by the Orissa High Court in Cuttack, which had annulled two separate demand notices totaling ₹4.31 trillion ($51.7 billion) issued to Tata Steel. The notices, issued in July 2025 and October 2025, alleged deficiencies in mineral dispatch during the fourth and fifth years of the Mine Development and Production Agreement covering July 23, 2023 to July 22, 2025.
Tata Steel had challenged both notices in separate petitions filed in August and October 2025, prompting the Orissa High Court to reserve judgment in February 2026 before ultimately setting aside the notices. The State of Odisha subsequently filed Special Leave Petitions in the Supreme Court, leading to Monday's notification to Tata Steel, which the company confirmed receiving.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for October 5, 2026. The legal dispute centers on alleged violations of Rule 12-A of the Mineral Concession Rules of 2016, which governs mineral dispatch requirements. Tata Steel disclosed the Supreme Court's notice in compliance with SEBI's Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations of 2015.
The Sukinda Chromite Block, located in Odisha's Jajpur district, is a key asset for Tata Steel's ferrochrome operations. The company's Mumbai headquarters confirmed receipt of the Supreme Court notification on August 24, 2026.
