Chapter VI MISCELLANEOUS

(1) All existing land acquisition proceedings under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), in relation to Schedule I coal mines, shall continue in respect of such areas of land in accordance with the provisions of the said Act. (2) All such areas of land which are not subject matter of land acquisition proceedings, in relation to the coal mines, under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), may be proceeded with by the Central Government in terms of the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 (20 of 1957). (3) The State Governments which have initiated land acquisition proceedings under provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), and all such lands which are also subject matter of the said Act in respect of Schedule I coal mines, shall— (a) not transfer any land to the prior allottees which have been acquired under the said Act; (b) continue the land acquisition proceedings till the appointed date; (c) for such Schedule I coal mines which have not vested in the successful bidder or the allottee, as the case may be, by the appointed date, continue the land acquisition proceedings for and on behalf of the Central Government; (d) upon the vesting or the allotment, as the case may be, after the appointed date, continue such land acquisition proceedings on behalf of the successful bidder or the allottee.

If a prior allottee of Schedule II coal mine fails to deposit the additional levy with the Central Government within the specified time, then, such additional levy shall be realised as the arrears of land revenue.

If any person— (a) obstructs or causes any impediment in taking possession or in the management and operation of the Schedule I coal mines by the Central Government or the designated custodian; or (b) fails to deliver to the designated custodian any books of account, registers or any other document in his custody relating to Schedule I coal mines and coal mining operations in respect of the management of which the designated custodian has been appointed; or (c) destroys or misuses any mine infrastructure or coal stock; or (d) retains any property of such coal mine or removes or destroys it, he and any officer-in-default of the company shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with the minimum fine of Rs. 1,00,000 per day and in the case of continuing failure, with a maximum fine of Rs. 2,00,000 for every day during which the failure continues or with both, depending upon the nature of the offence.

If any person fails to comply, without reasonable cause, with a direction given by the Central Government or nominated authority or the designated custodian, he shall be punishable with a fine of Rs. 1,00,000 and in the case of continuing failure with a maximum fine of Rs. 2,00,000 for every day during which the failure continues, depending upon the nature of the offence.

–For the purpose of adjudication of penalties under sub-section (2) of section 23 and section 24, the Central Government shall appoint the nominated authority to be the adjudication authority for holding an inquiry and imposing penalties in such form and manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed without giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

–(1) The Tribunal constituted under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 (20 of 1957) shall be authorised to act as an appellate authority.

1. (2) Any person aggrieved by an order passed by the adjudicating officer under section 24A, may prefer an appeal within thirty days from the date of receipt of the order before the Tribunal constituted under sub-section (1) of section 27. 1. Subs by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch., for ss. 23 and 24 (w.e.f. 23-06-2026).
2. (3) The Tribunal may admit an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if the appellant satisfies the appellate authority that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within that period.
3. (4) The amount of penalty imposed under section 24A or this section, if not paid, may be recovered as an arrear of land revenue.]

(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of business of the company as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge and that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or any rules made thereunder except upon complaint in writing made by a person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government or nominated authority or the designated custodian.

(1) Any dispute arising out of any action of the Central Government, nominated authority or Commissioner of payment or designated custodian, or any dispute between the successful bidder or allottee and prior allottee arising out of any issue connected with the Act shall be adjudicated by the Tribunal constituted under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 (20 of 1957). (2) Where the Central Government is of the opinion that any dispute arising out of any issue connected with the Act exists or is apprehended and the dispute should be adjudicated by the Tribunal referred to in sub-section (1), then, the Central Government may by order in writing, refer the dispute or any matter appearing to be connected with, or relevant to, the dispute, to the Tribunal for adjudication. (3) The Tribunal referred to in sub-section (1) shall, after hearing the parties to the dispute, make an award in writing within a period of ninety days from the institution or reference of the dispute. (4) On and from the commencement of the Act, no court or other authority, except the Supreme Court and a High Court, shall have, or be entitled to exercise, any jurisdiction, powers or authority, in relation to matters connected with the Act.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government, nominated authority, commissioner of payment, or designated custodian or any person acting on their behalf, in respect of anything which is done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act.

The provisions of this Act shall have effect, notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force, or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law.

On and from the date of commencement of this Act, the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 (26 of 1973), and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), shall stand amended in the manner provided in Schedule IV.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, and subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act. (2) In particular, and without prejudice the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— (a) the manner of allocation of Schedule I coal mines by way of public auction and details of fees under sub-section (1) of section 4; (b) the terms and conditions for granting reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence, mining lease or prospecting licence-cum-mining lease and the manner and conditions of competitive bidding under sub-section (2) of section 4; (c) norms to become eligible to bid in an auction and the amount of investment in respect of a company having a coal linkage under sub-section (3) of section 4; (d) the period within which the payment of additional levy by the prior allottee under sub-section (4) of section 4; (e) the allotment order to make allocations to a Government company or corporation under sub-section (1) of section 5; (f) the powers of the nominated authority under sub-section (1) of section 6; (g) the manner of auction or allotment of Schedule I coal mines and execution of the vesting or allotment orders under sub-section (4) of section 6; (h) the salaries and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the nominated authority and other officers and staff under sub-section (6) of section 6; (i) the manner of notifying the particulars of Schedule I coal mines to be auctioned and furnishing of required information by the prior allottees under sub-section (1) of section 8; (j) the manner of conducting auction and drawing of a vesting order under sub-section (3) of section 8;

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. (2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament.

(1) The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Second Ordinance, 2014 (Ord. 7 of 2014) is hereby repealed. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance, shall, without prejudice to the judgment of the Supreme Court dated 25th August, 2014 and its order dated 24th September, 2014 passed in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 120 of 2012, be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.