Mining operations, means any operations undertaken for the purpose of winning any mineral. [Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), s. 3 (d)]
Mining of operations and 'winning of minerals' The expression 'winning of mineral'in the definition of 'mining operations' is spacious enough to comprehend every activity by which the mineral is extracted or obtained from the earth irrespective of whether such activity is carried out on the surface or in the bowels of the earth, Shri Shri Tarakeshwar Sio Thakur Jiu v. Bar Dass Dey & Co., AIR 1979 SC 1669: (1979) 3 SCC 106.