BANARSI DASS CHADHA & BROS. vs L.T. GOVERNOR, DELHI ADMN. & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that 'brick-earth' qualifies as a 'minor mineral' under Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957. The Court reasoned that since the definition of 'minor mineral' includes 'ordinary clay' and 'ordinary sand', brick-earth, used for making bricks, falls within the broader interpretation of 'any other mineral' that can be declared as such by the Central Government. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the classification of brick-earth as a minor mineral.