STATE OF RAJASTHAN vs HARI SHANKAR RAJENDRA PAL

The Supreme Court held that the provisions of Chapter IV of the Rajasthan Mines Mineral Concession Rules, 1958, including Rule 30, apply to mining leases granted under Chapter V. The Court interpreted the word 'may' in Rule 30's proviso regarding lease extension as 'shall', mandating the Government to extend the lease period if the lessee desires it. The Court ruled that the first extension must be for five years, emphasizing that any shorter period can only be at the lessee's request, not the Government's discretion.