(1) An applicant for an exploration licence shall, before the deed referred to in sub-rule (1) of rule 19 is executed, deposit as security for the due observance of the terms and conditions of the licence a sum of rupees twenty-five thousand for every standard block of five minutes latitude by five minutes longitude or part thereof for which the licence is granted.
(2) Any deposit made under sub-rule (1), if not forfeited under these rules, shall be refunded to the licensee as soon as the final report referred to in clause (d) of sub section (2) of section 5 is submitted by the licensee.
22. Registers relating to exploration licences - (1) A register of applications for exploration licences shall be maintained by the administering authority in Form L.
(2) A register of exploration licences granted shall be maintained by the administering authority in Form M..
CHAPTER V Grant of Production Lease
23. Application for grant or renewal of production lease- (1) (a) Every application for grant of a production lease in respect of offshore areas shall be made to the administering authority in Form N.
(b) An application for the renewal of a production lease shall, at least twelve months before the date on which the lease is due to expire, be made to the administering authority in Form 0.
(2) Every application for the grant or renewal of a production lease shall be accompanied byfa) a valid clearance certificate in Form C for payment of mining dues in respect of offshore areas, such as royalty or any other amount payable under the Act or these rules, from 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 a court of law or any other competent authority staying the recovery of any such mining dues or incometax, non-payment thereof shall not be treated as a disqualification for the purpose of granting or renewing the said production lease :
Provided also that where a person has furnished an affidavit to the satisfaction of the administering authority stating that he does not hold and has not held a reconnaissance permit or an exploration licence or a production lease in offshore areas, it shall not be necessary for him to produce the said clearance certificate :
Provided also that a duly sworn affidavit stating that no dues are outstanding shall suffice if the 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 :
Provided also that the grant of a clearance certificate 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 these rules;
(b) an affidavit stating that the applicant has -
(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 showing particulars of area mineral-wise in offshore area which the applicant or any person jointly with him -
(i)' already holds under a production lease;
(ii) has already applied for but not granted;
(iii) being applied for simultaneously.