India, Aug. 21 -- Three Congress-ruled states-Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana-are set to appeal in the Supreme Court against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment law that was cleared by both Houses of Parliament earlier this month. The President approved this on August 18. The Congress-ruled states are opposed to the legislation because it prohibits state governments from imposing levies over mineral rights or mineral bearing lands, provisions that the Congress believes are against the financial interests of the states and federalism itself.

Announcing the step, Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday, "The three south Indian states ruled by the Congress-Kerala, Karnataka and ...