V.P. PITHUPITCHAI vs THE SPECIAL SECRETARY

The Supreme Court examined whether seashells collected from private lands along the seashore in Tamil Nadu fall within the definition of 'mineral' under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The court analyzed the distinction between 'minor minerals' and 'major minerals' as defined under Section 3 of the Act. The primary legal issue is determining if the state's regulatory power over minerals extends to the collection and trade of seashells.