have lapsed. For the same, reliance is placed on the judgment of this Court in Common Cause v. Union of India15. Thus, the submission is that, though the leases have been non-operational for nearly three decades, they have not lapsed. Rules, 2021, is not disposed of by the State Government before the date of expiry of the mining lease which may take place before or after the commencement of the said Rules, the period of that lease shall be deemed to have been extended by a further period till the State Government grants extension of mining lease and the Government company or corporation may continue mining operations, production and dispatch from such mining lease.” 13 For short, ‘2016 Rules’. 14 “4A(4), Where the holder of a mining lease fails to undertake production and dispatch for a period of two years after the date of execution of the dispatch, has continued the same for a period of two years, the lease shall lapse on the expiry of the period of two years from the date of