Topic
Karnataka High Court rules that a ₹12.85 crore one-time settlement penalty under KMMC Rules cannot be imposed without affording the assessee an opportunity to be heard. The Court directed the notice to be treated as a show-cause notice, reinforcing that regulatory penalties must comply with natural justice principles.
Jharkhand High Court rules that statutory authorities under the Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004, lack inherent power to condone delays in mining lease renewal applications, even by a single day, unless expressly permitted by law. The judgment reinforces that Section 5 of the Limitation Act applies only where statutory rules explicitly incorporate it, impacting mining leaseholders and administrative bodies.
J&K High Court rules that extraction of minor minerals (sand, boulders) from nallahs or private land requires statutory concession under the MMDR Act, 1957. Ownership, past practice, or royalty payments do not confer legal rights, and courts cannot direct authorities to bypass statutory compliance. The ruling reinforces the Public Trust Doctrine, impacting livelihoods dependent on unregulated mineral extraction.