#Statutory Contract

Supreme Court rules that the State's statutory authority under Section 15(3) of the MMDR Act to revise royalty rates prevails over silence in mining lease deeds. The judgment reinforces that statutory provisions override contractual gaps, ensuring compliance with Rules of Business for minor minerals.

The Karnataka High Court ruled that when model standing orders under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 offer more favorable terms - such as raising retirement age from 58 to 60 - they prevail over previously certified standing orders, even if those were lawfully approved. This establishes a binding precedent for employers and unions nationwide, ensuring statutory benefits cannot be locked in at less favorable levels once improved model orders are issued.