Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948
No: 53 Dated: Sep, 08 1948
THE OILFIELDS (REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT) ACT, 1948
ACT NO. 53 OF 1948
An Act to provide for the regulation of oilfields and for the development of mineral oil resources.
WHEREAS it is expedient in the public interest to provide for the regulation of oilfields and for the development of mineral oil resources;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) it shall come into force on such date8 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf.
2.Declaration as to expediency of control by Central Government.mitted by the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), s. 32 and the Third Schedule (w.e. f. 1-6-1958).
3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) the expressions “lessor” and “lessee” respectively include a licensor and licensee;
(b) “mine” means any excavation for the purpose of searching for or obtaining mineral oils and includes an oilwell;
(c) “mineral oils” include natural gas and petroleum;
(d) “mining lease” means a lease granted for the purpose of searching for, winning, working, getting, making merchantable, carrying away or disposing of mineral oils or for purposes connected therewith, and includes an exploring or a prospecting license;
(e) “oilfield” means any area where any operation for the purpose of obtaining natural gas and petroleum, crude oil, refined oil, partially refined oil and any of the products of petroleum in a liquid or solid state, is to be or is being carried on.
4. No mining lease to be valid unless it is in accordance with this Act. —(1) No mining lease shall be granted after the commencementof this act otherwise than in accordance with the rules made under this Act.
(2) Any mining lease granted contrary to the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be void and of no effect.
5. Power to make rules as respects mining leases.—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rulesfor regulating the grant of mining leases or for prohibiting the grant of such leases in respect of anymineral oil or in any area.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the manner in which, the1 mineral oils or areas in respect of which and the persons by whom, applications for mining leases may be made and the fees to be paid on any such application;
(b) the authority by which, the terms on which, and the conditions subject to which, mining leases may be granted;
(c) the maximum or minimum area and the period for which any mining lease may be granted, and the terms on which leases in respect of contiguous areas may be amalgamated;
(d) the fixing of the maximum and minimum rent payable by a lessee, whether the mine is worked or not.