JANAK LAL vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.

The Supreme Court examined the interpretation of Rule 59 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, in the context of a mining lease application for an area reserved for Nistar purposes. The Court held that the procedure outlined in Rule 58 must be followed for granting mining leases, and since this procedure was not adhered to in the case of the respondent No. 4, the grant was deemed illegal. The Court ultimately upheld the Bombay High Court's dismissal of the appellant's application under Article 226, affirming that Rule 59 does not apply to areas reserved for purposes other than mining.