Section 17
Responsibility of Central Government after appointed date.
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015
About this Act
An Act to provide for allocation of coal mines and vesting of the right, title and interest in and over the land and mine infrastructure together with mining leases to successful bidders and allottees with a view to ensure continuity in coal mining operations and production of coal, and for promoting optimum utilisation of coal resources consistent with the requirement of the country in national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(1) On and from the appointed
date, the Central Government or a company owned by the Central Government shall be deemed to have
become the lessee or licensee of the State Government in relation to each of the Schedule II coal mines, in
respect of which a mining lease or prospecting licence has been granted prior to the date of
commencement of this Act, as if a mining lease or prospecting licence in relation to such coal mine had been granted to the Central Government or a company owned by the Central Government and the period
of such lease or licence shall be the maximum period for which such lease or licence could have been
granted by the State Government under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, and thereupon all the rights
under such mining lease, including surface, underground and other rights shall be deemed to have been
transferred to, and vested in, the Central Government or a company owned by the Central Government.
(2) On the expiry of the term of any lease or licence, referred to in sub-section (1), such lease or licence shall be renewed, by the State Government, in consultation with the Central Government for the maximum period for which such lease or licence can be renewed under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.
(3) As it is considered expedient and necessary in the public interest and in view of the difficult situation which has arisen, the powers of the State Government, under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), to prematurely terminate a prospecting licence or mining lease, shall stand suspended, in relation to Schedule I coal mines, for a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act or such other period as may be notified by the Central Government.
(2) On the expiry of the term of any lease or licence, referred to in sub-section (1), such lease or licence shall be renewed, by the State Government, in consultation with the Central Government for the maximum period for which such lease or licence can be renewed under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.
(3) As it is considered expedient and necessary in the public interest and in view of the difficult situation which has arisen, the powers of the State Government, under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), to prematurely terminate a prospecting licence or mining lease, shall stand suspended, in relation to Schedule I coal mines, for a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act or such other period as may be notified by the Central Government.