UNION OF INDIA ORS. vs UNITED COLLIERIES LTD. & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the staff car used by the Technical Advisor to the North Chirimiri Collieries Ltd. was a fixed asset belonging to the mine under Section 2(h)(xii) of the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973. The Court clarified that the definition of 'mine' includes such assets, and thus the car was transferred to the Central Government free from encumbrances upon nationalization. The High Court's decision to leave the matter for civil adjudication was overturned, affirming the car's status as part of the mine's assets.