KRISHNA KUMAR MEDIRATTA vs PHULCHAND AGARWALA & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that an application for a prospecting licence under the Mines & Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, is valid even if initially accompanied by an incorrect fee, provided the deficit is made good later. The Court emphasized that the application was entertained without objection, thus granting the appellant a preferential right under Section 11(2). The High Court's ruling that the application was invalid due to the fee issue was overturned, affirming the Central Government's decision.