The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Centre’s plea for prospective effect of its July 25 verdict, which upheld the power of states to levy tax on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, and allowed them to seek refund of royalty from April 1, 2005 onwards.
A nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the argument for prospective effect of the July 25 ruling is rejected.
The bench also comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy, Abhay S Oka, BV Nagarathna, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Ujjal Bhuyan, Satish Chandra Sharma and Augustine George Masih, however, said there will be conditionalities on payment of past dues.
It said payment of dues by the Centre and mining companies can be made to mineral-rich states in a staggered manner over the next 12 years.