DALMIA CEMENT (BHARAT) LTD. vs THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ANR.

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of the Tamil Nadu government's directive regarding the collection of royalty and dead rent for mining on patta lands under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Court held that the government must adhere to the prescribed rates in the Act rather than the previously followed half-rate convention, establishing that the full amount of royalty and dead rent is due to the government. The appeals were allowed, and the directive to collect at half rates was set aside.