Doiwala Sehkari Shram Samvida Samiti ... vs State Of Uttaranchal And Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of the Uttaranchal government's policy dated 17.10.2002, which imposed a ban on private mining of minor minerals, and the refusal of the District Magistrate to grant a lease to the appellant under the U.P. Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 1963. The Court held that the policy was arbitrary and unconstitutional, violating the principles of natural justice and the right to livelihood under Article 21. Consequently, the Court set aside the orders of the High Court and directed the District Magistrate to consider the appellant's application for a mining lease afresh.