The Supreme Court held that enhanced royalty on iron ore cannot be avoided merely because an e-auction agreement predated the royalty revision. The Court clarified that royalty liability arises upon removal or dispatch of minerals, and statutory amendments override contrary contractual arrangements under mining law.
Today(11th Sept),The Supreme Court of India will form a special bench to address pleas from mineral-rich states like Jharkhand seeking recovery of royalty and tax dues from the Centre and mining firms. This follows a July 25 ruling affirming that states, not Parliament, hold the power to tax mineral rights.
