Bhubaneswar, Nov. 15 -- The Orissa High Court, earlier this week, completed hearings and reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Jindal Steel Limited (JSL) contesting the cancellation of its operational clearance over 51.99 hectares of diverted forest land in the Roida-I iron and manganese mining block of Keonjhar.

The dispute arose after the Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer issued an order on October 19, 2025, directing the immediate stoppage of mining activity. The New Indian Express reported that the company claimed that the above action came without warning and effectively shut down operations on the eve of Diwali.

JSL advocates argued that the company had obtained the mine through an e-auction in March 2025, following which i...