Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960

Chapter III.

Exploration and development of petroleum

Restrictions on searching for and getting petroleum.

6.—(1) No person, other than the Minister, shall search for petroleum in any area in the State unless—

(a) he is the licensee under an exploration licence, a petroleum prospecting licence or a reserved area licence which is for the time being in force and includes that area, or

(b) he is the lessee under a petroleum lease which has not expired and which includes that area.

(2) No person, other than the Minister, shall get, raise, take or carry away petroleum found in any area in the State unless he is the lessee under a petroleum lease which has not expired and which includes that area.

(3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding one hundred pounds for every day on which the offence is continued, or in the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(4) In a prosecution for an offence under this section, a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of the Minister and to certify any one or more of the following matters—

(a) that the person charged was not on a specified day the holder of an exploration licence which was then in force and included a specified area,

(b) that the person charged was not on a specified day the holder of a petroleum prospecting licence which was then in force and included a specified area,

(c) that the person charged was not on a specified day the holder of a reserved area licence which was then in force and included a specified area,

(d) that the person charged was not on a specified day the lessee under a petroleum lease which had not then expired and included a specified area,

shall, without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign such certificate or that he was an officer of the Minister, be evidence until the contrary is proved of such of those matters as are purported to be certified in and by such certificate.