**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2627 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on December 16th, 2025. It concerns the handing over of salt land. The question probes the compliance of the Salt Department with a Supreme Court order regarding the transfer of salt land in Humma Salt Circle, Odisha, and the government's awareness of salt production issues in the area.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Supreme Court Order and Salt Land Transfer:**
* A representation dated 24.10.2025 was received, referencing the Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated 13.10.2025 in SLP (C) 4632 of 2021.
* The Department has been requested to transfer 946.736 acres of salt land in Humma Salt Circle, Odisha, on lease basis.
* The Hon'ble Supreme Court has granted liberty to the Central Government to decide on the matter as per law.
* No specific direction has been issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court for compliance by this Department.
* **Salt Production in Humma Salt Circle:**
* Approximately 2,94,765 MT of salt has been produced in Humma Salt Circle, Odisha, in the last 20 years, based on available data.
**Impact Analysis**
**Salt Department (Ministry of Commerce and Industry)**
* **Impact:** The department's compliance with the Supreme Court order regarding salt land transfer is being scrutinized.
* **Action Required:** The department must review the Supreme Court order and the representation received, and the Central Government needs to decide on the matter of transferring the salt land as per law.
**Central Government**
* **Impact:** It has the responsibility to decide on the transfer of the salt land according to the law.
* **Action Required:** Decide on the matter of transferring the salt land as per law.
**Successful Bidder/Intervenor**
* **Impact:** The transfer of salt land to them in compliance with the Supreme Court order is being investigated.
* **Action Required:** Awaits the Central Government decision on the transfer of salt land.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Commerce and Industry: The primary ministry involved in the matter of handing over salt land.
Supreme Court: Issuing orders related to the handing over of salt land in SLP (C) 4632 of 2021
SLP (C) 4632 of 2021: Special Leave Petition case in the Supreme Court concerning the salt land handover.
Odisha: Location of Humma Salt Circle where salt production and land transfer are in question.
Salt Department: Department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for compliance with court orders
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2627.
TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025.
HANDING OVER OF SALT LAND
2627. SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री
(a) whether the Salt Department which comes under Ministry of Commerce and
Industry is not complying with order of Supreme Court in SLP (C) 4632 of 2021
dated 13.10.2025 where the court specifically directed to hand over the salt
land to the successful bidder/ Intervenor;
(b) whether any representation have been received by Salt Commissioner, Jaipur
and Deputy Salt Commissioner, Chennai to comply the order of Supreme Court
in SLP (C) 4632 of 2021 dated 13.10.2025, if so, the details thereof including
the details of action taken on the representation;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the fact that not a single salt is
manufactured for past twenty years in Salt Circle, Odisha which causing loss
the Government, despite there being valid tender process held in accordance
with law; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) & (b): A representation dated 24.10.2025 has been received by Salt Commissioner
Organization whereby the order of Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 13.10.2025 in
SLP (C) 4632 of 2021 has been referred and the Department has been
requested for transfer of 946.736 acres of Salt land in Humma Salt circle,
Odisha on lease basis. However, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has granted
liberty to the Central Government to decide on the matter as per law. No specific
direction has been issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court for compliance by this
Department.
(c) & (d): As per available data, around 2,94,765 MT salt has been produced in the last
20 years in Humma Salt Circle, Odisha.
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