September 16, 2024 5:18 PM

States have power to levy tax on mines, minerals bearing lands; royalty not tax: Supreme Court

In a landmark decision, a nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional authority of states to levy taxes on mines and mineral-bearing lands. The verdict, delivered today, also ruled that royalty payable on extracted minerals does not constitute a tax. The 8:1 majority judgement, authored by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and agreed to by Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Abhay S Oka, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Ujjal Bhuyan, Satish Chandra Sharma and Augustine George M...