Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Odisha Minerals (Prevention of Theft, Smuggling and other Unlawful Activities) Act, 1988

Criminal198937 sections

This Act regulates the possession, storage, trading, and transportation of minerals within the state to curb illegal mining, theft, and smuggling. It mandates that any person or entity dealing with minerals must obtain a specific licence for storage or trade and a permit for transportation. The law empowers government-appointed "Competent Authorities" to inspect premises, seize vehicles or tools used in illegal activities, and prosecute offenders. For ordinary citizens, this means that moving or storing minerals without proper government authorization is a criminal offence. The Act ensures that mineral resources are managed legally, protecting state revenue and preventing environmental damage caused by unregulated operations.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2. Definitions
  3. 3. Act not to apply to certain matters
  4. 4. Restriction on possession, storage etc. of minerals
  5. 5. Appointment of Competent Authority
  6. 6. Grant of Licence
  7. 7. Rescission of Licence
  8. 8. Grant of permit
  9. 9. Cancellation and suspension of permit
  10. 10. Appeal
  11. 11. Finality of Orders
  12. 12. Penalty
  13. 13. Offences by Companies
  14. 14. Cognizance of offence
  15. 15. Compounding of offence
  16. 16. Seizure of property liable to confiscation
  17. 17. Power to release property seized on bond
  18. 18. Power to entry, search, seizure, etc.
  19. 19. Action after seizure
  20. 20. Minerals, etc., liable to confiscation by Courts
  21. 21. Disposal of minerals on conclusion of trial
  22. 22. Procedure when offender is not known or cannot be found
  23. 23. Appeal to orders under sections 20, 21 or 22
  24. 24. Property when to vest in Government
  25. 25. Saving of power to release property seized
  26. 26. Confiscation to be no bar to imposition of other Penalty
  27. 27. Power to arrest and detain
  28. 28. Power to release a person on bond
  29. 29. Authorised persons to be public servants
  30. 30. Revision
  31. 31. Presumption that minerals belong to Government
  32. 32. Protection of action taken under this Act
  33. 33. Operation of other laws not barred
  34. 34. Exemption
  35. 35. Recovery of money due to Government
  36. 36. Service of notice
  37. 37. Power to make rules

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