(1) Any person claiming to be the owner of a land and desiring to grant a prospecting licence or mining lease, as the case may be, with respect to the said land shall make an application to the State Government for authorising grant of a prospecting licence or mining lease, as the case may be.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by documentary evidence to confirm that mineral rights vest in the applicant and the applicant is the owner of the land in respect of which the prospecting licence or mining lease, as the case may be, is proposed to be granted.
(3) The State Government shall, upon satisfying itself of the bona fides of the applicant, pass an order, in writing, within a period of ninety days from the date of receiving the application made under sub-rule (1), rejecting the application or authorising the applicant to grant a prospecting licence or mining lease, as the case may be, with respect to such land.