State Of Orissa And Ors vs Union Of India & Anr

The Supreme Court addressed the liability of the Railway Administration to pay royalty for minor minerals used in laying railway lines, under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 and the Orissa Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1990. The Court upheld the High Court's finding that the railway administration is not liable for royalty on minerals from acquired land, as ownership rights over minerals were not conferred. However, it allowed the State Government to include royalty terms in formal transfer agreements for state-owned land, based on the railway administration's prior admission.