MAHINDRA NATH SHUKLA AND ORS. vs STATE OF BIHAR AND ORS. ETC.

The Supreme Court held that Section 3(3) of the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Amendment Act, 1976, includes coking coal mines within its ambit, thereby imposing a ban on their extraction by any entity other than the Central Government or its companies. The Court emphasized that the definition of 'coal mine' is broad enough to encompass coking coal, which is strategically important for the nation. Consequently, the Court ruled that no court in India can permit the extraction of coal or coking coal, as it would contravene the statutory prohibition established by the Act.