(21) “Onsetter” means a person appointed to superintend the raising and lowering of

persons, tools and materials and to transmit signals at any inset or shaft bottom;

(22)“Overman” means a person possessing a Manager’s or Overman’s Certificate, who is

appointed by the manager in writing, under any designated whatsoever, to perform the
duties of supervision of control in a mine or part thereof, and is as such superior to a
sirdar;

(23)“Permitted explosive” means an explosive manufactured by such firm and of such type as
the Chief Inspector may from time to time specify by notification in the Official Gazette;

(24)“public road” means a road maintained for public use and under the jurisdiction of any
government or local authority;
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(25)“quarter” means a period of three months ending on the 31 March, 30 June, 30
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September or 31 December;

(26) “railwlay” means a railway as defined in the Indian Railways Act, 1890;

(27)“Regional Inspector” means the Inspector of Mines in charge of the region or local area or
areas in which the mine is situated or the group or class of mines to which the mine
belongs, over which he exercises his power under the Act;

(28)“river” means any stream or current of water, whether seasonal or perennial, and includes
its banks extending up to the highest known flood level;

(29)“roadway” means any part of a passage or gallery below ground which is maintained in
connection with the working of a mine;

(30)“Schedule” means a Schedule appended to these regulations;

(31)“Shaft” means a way or opening leading from the surface to workings below ground or
from one part of the workings below ground to another, in which a cage or other means of
conveyance can travel freely suspended, with or without the use of guides;

(32)“Tub” includes a wagon, car, truck or any other vehicle moving on rails for conveying
material;

(33)“Undermanager” or “assistant manager” means a person possessing a Manager’s

Certificate, who is appointed in writing by the owner, agent or manager or assist the
manager in the control, management and direction of the mine or part thereof, and who
takes rank immediately below the manager, and is thus superior to an overman and a
sirdar;

(34)“Ventilating district” means such part of a mine below ground as has an independent
intake airway commencing from a main intake airway, and an independent return airway
terminating at a main return airway, and, in the case of a mine or part thereof which is
ventilated by natural means, the whole mine or part; and

(34-A) “Working” means any excavation made or being made in a mine for search of or
obtaining coal.

(35)“working place” means any place in a mine to which any person has lawful access.

3
 CHAPTER-II : Returns, Notices and Records

3. Notice of Opening. – (1) The notice required by section 16 of the Act shall be submitted in
Form I. And a copy thereof shall be submitted to the Regional Inspector. The Form shall be
accompanied by a plan showing the boundaries of the mine and the shafts or openings of the
mine, trijunction or revenue pillars and other prominent and permanent surface features :

Provided that, in respect of a mine which has already been opened such a plan shall be
submitted within sixty days of coming into force of the Coal Mines (Amendment) Regulations,
1985:

Provided further that if the boundary of amine is changed as per sub-regulation (1) of
regulation 107, a plan showing the new boundary, shall be submitted within seven days of the
said change.

(2) When a mine has been opened, the owner, agent or manager shall forthwith communicate
the actual date of opening to the Chief Inspector and to the Regional Inspector.
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4. Monthly Returns – On or before the 14 day of every month, the owner, agent or manager
shall submit to the Chief Inspector and the Regional Inspector correct returns in respect of the
preceding month in Form II.
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5. Annual Returns – (1) On or before 20 day of February in every year, the owner, agent or
manager shall submit to the District Magistrate and to the Chief Inspector annual returns in
respect of the preceding year in Form III.

(2) If a mine is abandoned or working thereof is discontinued over a period exceeding 60

days or if a change occurs in the ownership of a mine, the returns required under sub-
regulation (1) shall be submitted within 30 days of abandonment or change of wonership or
within 90 days of discontinuance, as the case may be :

Provided that the Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing and subject to such conditions
as he may specify therein, allow such returns to be submitted upto any date not later than the
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20 day of February in the year following that to which they relate :

Provided further that the nothing in this sub-regulation shall be deemed to authorise the
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submission of any return later than the 20 day of February in the year following that to which
it relates.

6. Notice of abandonment or discontinuance – (1) When it is intended to abandon a mine or

seam or to discontinue working thereof for a period exceeding 60 days, the owner, agent or
manager shall not less than 40 days before such abandonment or discontinuance, give to the
Chief Inspector and the Regional Inspector a notice stating the reasons for the proposed
abandonment or discontinuance and the number of persons likely to be affected thereby:

Provided that when on account of unforeseen circumstances a mine is abandoned or

discontinued before the said notice has been given or when without previous intention the
discontinuance extends beyond a period of 60 days, the notice shall be given forthwith.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), when it is intended to abandon

or discontinue for more than 60 days, any workings belowground over which is situated any
property vested in the Government or any local authority or any railway or any building or
permanent structure not belonging to the owner, the owner, agent or manager shall, not less
than 30 days before the date of such abandonment or discontinuance, give notice of his
intention to the Chief Inspector and the Regional Inspector.

(3) When a mine or seam has been abandoned, or the working thereof has been discontinued
over a period exceeding 60 days, the owner, agent or manager shall, within seven days of the
abandonment or of the expiry of the said period, give to the Chief Inspector, the Regional
Inspector and the District Magistrate notice in Form I.