SNNDUR MANGANESE & IRON ORES LTD. vs STATE OF KARNATAKA .

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Karnataka High Court regarding the mining lease disputes involving Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd. and others. The Court emphasized that the State Government's actions must comply with the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, particularly Rule 26(1), which mandates adherence to principles of natural justice. The Court ruled that the rejection of Sandur's lease applications was improper, thereby reinforcing the legal principle that administrative decisions must be just and fair.