Supreme Court Ruling Favors Deccan Gold Mines on Mining Lease Rights

Deccan Gold Mines Ltd has announced a significant Supreme Court judgment dated June 9, 2026, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The ruling clarifies that mining lease applicants whose decisions and approvals were made before 2015 retain vested rights, even with subsequent amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which mandated auctions. The Supreme Court held that such cases are not considered 'pending applications' post-2015 and are not subject to auction requirements or 2021 lapse provisions. The company's legal team is currently assessing the implications of this judgment on its pending Ganajur project proceedings. This decision could potentially impact the company's ability to secure mining leases for projects where approvals were granted prior to the 2015 amendments.