(1) An application for an exploration licence and its renewal in respect of the offshore area shall be made to the administering authority in Form G and Form H respectively.
(2) Every such application shall be accompanied by -
(a) a valid clearance certificate in Form Y for payment of mining dues, such as royalty or fixed rent and other dues payable under the Act or the rules made thereunder, from the administering authority or any officer or authority- authorised by the administering authority in this behalf:
Provided that in case the applicant is a partnership firm or a private limited company such certificate shall be furnished by all partners of the partnership firm or, as the case may be, all members of the private limited company:
* Provided further that where any injunction has been issued by court of law or any other competent authority staying Jthe recovery of any such mining dues or income tax, non-payment thereof shall not be treated as a disqualification for the purpose of granting or renewingthe said exploration licence:
Provided also that where a person has furnished an affidavit to the satisfaction of the administering authority within a period of ninety days from the date of application, stating that he does not hold and has not held reconnaissance permit, exploration licence or a production lease in offshore area, it shall not be necessary for him to produce the said valid clearance certificate:
Provided also that an affidavit stating that no dues are outstanding.
shall suffice if clearance certificate is furnished within a period of ninety days of the date of application and the application shall become invalid if the party fails to' file the certificate within the said period of ninety days;
(b) an affidavit stating that the applicant has - 3518 GI/2006—14 KX̂ THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(i) . filed up-to-date income-tax return; .
(ii) paid the income tax assessed on him; and
(iii) paid the income tax on the basis of self-assessment as provided in the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);
(c) an affidavit stating the particulars of offshore areas mineral-wise which the applicant or any person jointly with him -
(i) already holds under an exploration licence;
(ii) has applied for but not granted; and
(iii) being applied for simultaneously.
(3) The grant of a clearance certificate under clause (a) of sub-rule (2) shall not discharge the holder of such certificate from the liability to pay the mining dues which may subsequently be found to be payable by him under the Act or the rules made thereunder.