MINERAL DEVELOPMENT LTD. vs THE STATE OF BIHAR AND ANOTHER

The Supreme Court held that Section 25(1)(c) of the Bihar Mica Act, 1947 does not impose an unreasonable restriction on the fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(f) and (g) of the Constitution. The Court emphasized that any restrictions imposed by the State must be reasonable and not based on uncontrolled executive discretion. It was determined that the statutory conditions for licensing under the Act are necessary for regulating the mining industry and that the power to cancel licenses is exercised based on objective tests and principles of natural justice. The petitioner's challenge to the cancellation of its license was thus dismissed.