STATE OF KERALA vs M/S KERALA RARE EARTH & MINERALS LIMITED .

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision affirming the grant of mining leases under Section 11(5) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, stating that the State Government's subsequent stay orders were unjustified. The Court emphasized that the prior approval from the Central Government under Section 5(1) was obtained, and the State was obligated to reconsider the applications in light of the revisional authority's observations. The appeals by the State of Kerala were dismissed, reinforcing the rights of the respondents to the mining leases.