INDIAN METALS AND FERRO ALLOYS LTD. vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the grant of mining leases for chrome ore under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, specifically Sections 3(f), 5A, 10, 11, and 17A. The Court held that the right to grant mining rights for chrome ore, classified as a mineral in the First and Second Schedules, is vested in the State Government, subject to Union control. The Court directed the Secretary to the Government of India to consider the claims of both public and private sector applicants, emphasizing the need for clearer statutory guidelines for mining lease applications.