The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave states the power to levy taxes on mining and related activities retroactively from April 1, 2005, giving miners a chance to speak out about a financial burden, barriers to investment and a spike in inflation in finished products.
On July 25, the court had upheld the state government’s rights to levy cess on mining lands and quarries, while holding that royalty paid by mining companies to the central government was not a tax. On Wednesday, a nine-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ruled that the judgment will apply retrospectively, though the central