(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Act” means the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957);
(b) “Claim” means application submitted by the applicant for reimbursement of exploration expenditure in the Form set forth in the Schedule I;
(c) “Claimant” means the applicant of the claim who was the holder of reconnaissance permit or prospecting licence and had acquired a right for obtaining a prospecting licence followed by a mining lease or a mining lease, as the case may be, under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 10A of the Act and whose said right had lapsed; and includes the legal representatives, lawful assignee, lawful transferee or successor by the order of a competent court, as the case may be, of such holder of reconnaissance permit or prospecting licence;
(d) “date of lapse” means the date of commencement of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 (i.e., 28 th March, 2021), when the right of the holder of reconnaissance permit or prospecting licence for obtaining a prospecting licence followed by a mining lease or a mining lease, as the case may be, under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 10A of the Act had lapsed under the second proviso to the said clause.
(e) “Form” means Form set forth in the Schedule annexed to these rules.
(2) The words and expressions used in these rules, but not defined, shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Act or the rules made thereunder.
3. Applicability.— (1) These rules shall be applicable only to such concession holders or applicants who had acquired a right for obtaining a prospecting licence followed by a mining lease or a mining lease, [भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का राजपत्र : असाधारण 15 as the case may be, under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 10A of the Act and whose said right has lapsed on the date of lapse.
CHAPTER II CLAIM PROCESS