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Coal India names B. Sairam as its new chief executive officer
DELHI: Coal India Limited has appointed B. Sairam as its new chief executive officer, placing a proven industry hand at the helm of the world’s largest coal producer. With decades of experience across operations, strategy and leadership, Sairam steps into the role at a time when the sector is balancing scale, efficiency and transition.
A career coal man in the truest sense, Sairam’s professional journey has taken him from the pithead to the boardroom. Most recently, he served as chairman and managing director of Northern Coalfields Limited, where he led one of Coal India’s most critical subsidiaries from Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh. Known for his hands-on leadership style, he has built a reputation for combining operational rigour with people-first management.
Before that, Sairam was director technical at Central Coalfields Limited in Ranchi, overseeing mine planning, production optimisation and safety systems across a complex portfolio of assets. His earlier stint as executive director at Coal India Limited’s headquarters in the Greater Kolkata area further sharpened his perspective on enterprise-wide strategy and governance.
Sairam’s grounding in the sector runs deep. He spent over seven years at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, rising through the ranks from chief manager to general manager, with postings in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur. Those years in Odisha shaped his understanding of ground realities, from logistics and land challenges to workforce engagement.
As CEO, Sairam is expected to focus on operational excellence, technology adoption and sustainable growth, while ensuring Coal India continues to meet the country’s energy needs reliably. His appointment signals continuity with competence, and a steady hand on the controls.
For an industry often seen as heavy and unyielding, Coal India’s choice reflects a simple belief: experience still counts, and leadership forged on the ground travels well to the corner office.
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Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
