1[(1) No person shall acquire2[***] in respect of any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals3[in a State]--
(a) one or more prospecting licences covering a total area of more than twenty-five square kilometres; or
3[(aa) one or more reconnaissance permit covering a total area often thousand square kilometres:
Provided that the area granted under a single reconnaissance permit shall not exceed five thousand square kilometres; or]
(b) one or more mining leases covering a total area of more than ten square kilometres;
Provided that if the Central Government is of opinion that in the interests of the development of any mineral, it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded by it, in writing, permit any person to acquire one or more prospecting licences or mining leases covering an area in excess of the aforesaid total area;]
4[(c) any reconnaissance permit, mining lease or prospecting licence in respect of any area which is not compact or contiguous:
Provided that if the State Government is of opinion that in the interests of the development of any mineral, it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, permit any person to acquire a reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease in relation to any area which is not compact or contiguous.]
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person acquiring by, or in the name of, another person a5[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease] which is intended for himself shall be deemed to be acquiring it himself.
6[(3) For the purposes of determining the total area referred to in sub-section (1), the area held under a5[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease] by a person as a member of a co-operative society, company or other corporation or a Hindu undivided family or a partner of a firm, shall be deducted from the area referred to in sub-section (1) so that the sum total of the area held by such person, under a5[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease], whether as such member or partner, or individually, may not, in any case, exceed the total area specified in sub-section (1).]
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1. Substituted by Act 56 of 1972, section. 3, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 12-9-1972.
2. The words "in any one State" omitted by Act 37 of 1986, section. 5 w.e.f. 10-2-1987.
3. Inserted by Act 38 of 1999, section. 8 w.e.f. 18-12-1999.
4. Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, section. 8, for clause (c) w.e.f. 18-12-1999.
5. Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, section. 8, for "prospecting licence of mining lease" w.e.f. 18-12-1999.
6. Inserted by Act 56 of 1972, section. 3 w.e.f. 12-9-1972.