RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Honble R.R. YADAV, J.
Ramesh Kumar - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Others - Respondents
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 5332 of 1990
Decided On : September 23, 1996
Mere look at the provisions of item No. 23 of State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution reveal that these provisions are made subject to the provisions of Union List of the aforesaid Schedule with respect to regulation and development under the control of the Union. The expression `Union used under item No. 23 of State List means Parliament. It is to be imbibed that under Sec. 15 of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (hereinafter referred as Act No. 67 of 1957) the Union has taken all the powers to itself and authorised State Governments to make rules for regulating leases for minor minerals. In pursuance of delegated power under Sec. 15 of the Act No. 67 of 1957 the State has framed Rules known as Minor Minerals Concession Rules from time to time and now Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1986 is in operation. Now whole of the field relating to minor minerals are occupied within the jurisdiction of Parliament and no scope is left for enactment of Section 89(7) of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act for imposing penalty pertaining to minor minerals area for which lease has been granted to the petitioner under Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1986 for extracting masonary stone. (Para 11)
In the present case terms and conditions stipulated in explanation 3(ii)(b) of lease deed dated 20.4.90, Anx. 1 to the writ petition, quoted above, based on sub-sec. (4) and sub-sec. (5) of Sec. 89 of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act passed by State Legislature are to be treated to be superficial and void conditions as field is already occupied by Sec. 15 and Sec. 19 of Act No. 67 of 1957 and no scope is left for enacting Sec. 89 and 91 of aforesaid Act for State Legislature about mining area allotted to the petitioner. It is to be noticed that Sec. 19 of Act No. 67 of 1957 clearly provides that any mining lease granted, renewed or acquired in contravention of the provisions of the said Act or any rules or orders made thereunder shall be void and of no effect. (Para 14)
(2). Brief facts leading up to filing of present writ petition are that the petitioner had applied for grant of mining lease for mineral masonary stone near village Badabagh Tehsil and District Jaisalmer for an area measuring 100 meters x 100 me- ters whereupon the Mining Engineer, Jodhpur granted a mining lease. A lease was executed between State and the petitioner on 20.4.90, a copy whereof is filed alongwith writ petition and marked as Anx. 1.
(3). A close scrutiny of terms and conditions stipulated in lease deed Anx. 1 to the writ petition reveals the liberties, powers and privileges of petitioner making him entitled in connection with any of the purposes mentioned in the lease deed to erect, construct, plant, dressing, floors, furnaces, coke ovens, brick kilns, workshops, stores, houses, bungalows, godowns, shed and other buildings and other works an conveniences of the like nature on or under the said land given to him on lease. An explanation under clause 3(ii) (b) is added in the lease-deed which reads thus :–
``3(ii)(b) – Permission for surface operation in a land not already in use :– Before using for surface operation any land which has not already been used for such operations, the Lessee/Lessees shall give to the Collector of the District two calender months previous notice in writing specifying the situation and the extent of the land proposed to be so used and the purpose for which the same is required and the said land shall not be so used if objection is issued by the Collector within two months after receipt by him of such notice unless the objection so stated shall on reference to the Government be annuled or waived.
(4). There are further stipulations in sub-clause (14) of Clause 4 of the mining lease, Anx. 1 to the writ petition, which reads thus :–
``Building erected by the lessee : – The lessee/lessees may erect on the area granted to him/them any building required for bonafide mining purposes and such building shall be the property of the Government after expiry of the lease.
(5). It is evident from the order passed by the respondent No.2, Anx. 5 to the writ petition, that Tehsildar, Jaisalmer initiated proceedings under Sec. 91 of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act read with Section 89 of the said Act against raising of construction by petitioner over the lease land without permission of the Collector. It is evident from Anx. 5 to the writ petition that the Tehsildar, Jaisalmer in exercise of his power under sub-sec. (7) of Section 89 of Rajasthan Land Revenue Act impo- sed penalty calculating the same at the rate of fifty times which on appeal before the Collector, Jaisalmer was reduced from fifty times to fifteen times.
(6). I have heard the learned counsel for the parties at length and perused the materials available on record critically.
(7). An identical question came up for consideration before me in S .B. Civil Writ Petition No. 2875/1987 decided on 19.9.96, where in paragraph 10, it was held which reads thus :–
``10. Agrument of learned counsel for respondent Mr. R.L. Jangid gives an impression as if the validity of short term permit/lease Anx. 1 granted to the petitioner cannot be upheld without disobeying the provisions contemplated under sub-sec. (7) of Sec. 89 of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act. Suffice it to say in this regard that the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act has been passed by the State Legislature while Act of 1957 has been passed by the Parliament. Assuming for sake of argument that t
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.