BIRLA CORPORATION LIMITED vs BHANWAR SINGH AND ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the conflict between mineral extraction and the preservation of the Chittorgarh Fort, a monument of national importance under the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Declaration of National Importance) Act, 1951. The Court emphasized the need for sustainable exploitation of mineral resources, highlighting that unscientific mining practices threaten the structural integrity of the Fort. The judgment reinforces the principle that community interests must be safeguarded against detrimental mining activities.