relevant facts. 6. Bird and Company Limited6 was granted three mining leases, namely, Kolha- Roida, Thakurani and Dalki, for 30 years on 15.08.1926, 10.10.1924, and 10.10.1924 respectively, by the Raja of Keonjhar. The three leases were 1 For short, ‘OMDC’. 2 For short, ‘Kolha-Roida’. 3 For short, ‘Thakurani’. 4 For short, ‘Dalki’. 5 For short, ‘TGP’. 6 For short, ‘Bird & Co.’. Civil Appeals a/o. SLP (C) Nos.7315-7316 of 2021 Page 2 of 14granted first renewal for a period of 20, 30, and 20 years with effect from 18.08.1956 to 18.08.1976, 01.10.1954 to 30.09.1984, and 01.10.1954 to 30.09.1974 respectively. The Kolha-Roida lease was thereafter renewed for the second time for 20 years from 15.08.1976 to 14.08.1996. The Thakurani lease was renewed for the second time from 01.10.1984 to 30.09.2004 for 20 years. The Dalki lease was renewed for 20 years from 01.10.1974 to 30.09.1994. 7. Bird and Co., however, had never undertaken winning and mining activities. It is an accepted case that the