#Mining Regulation

The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that mining leaseholders cannot be held liable for District Mineral Fund contributions dating back to January 2015, as the Central Government failed to prescribe mandatory rates by that date. This decision reinforces the principle that statutory financial obligations require clear, timely notification and cannot be imposed retrospectively, directly impacting all non-coal mining operators across India.

The Calcutta High Court has ruled that applications for mining leases rejected under the repealed 2002 Rules cannot be reconsidered under the 2016 regime unless a Letter of Intent or grant order was already issued before the new rules took effect. This reinforces administrative finality and closes a procedural loophole for stale claims, impacting hundreds of pending applications across West Bengal.

Calcutta High Court rules that environmental clearance granted by SEIAA overrides initial erroneous estimates in mining plans. Field inspections based solely on data discrepancies, without evidence of actual violations, are arbitrary and unlawful, violating principles of administrative fairness.

National Green Tribunal holds that rejection of quarry project solely on speculative risk to blackbuck without imposing mitigation conditions violates procedural fairness and environmental law principles.

NGT takes suo motu cognizance of illegal sand mining in Chhattisgarh's Kharun river, directing joint committee probe and strict enforcement of environmental norms.