Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) An officer, not below the rank of District Mining Officer, shall have the power to enter the premises of any Crusher Unit or Stockist and Retailer and seize any documents, which in his opinion are likely to prove, or assist in proving, any violation of the provisions of this Act and thereafter draw up a seizure memo in the prescribed form. (2) An officer not below the rank of District Mining Officer, shall have the power to enter the premises of any Crusher Unit or Stockist and Retailer and seize any illegally procured minor minerals and/or derivatives lying with such a Crusher Unit or Stockist and Retailer, proven by way of a summary inquiry, and thereafter dispose it in the open market, either through auction or through direct sale at the maximum sale price notified by the Government for these items, and thereafter draw up a seizure memo in the prescribed form. (3) An officer not below the rank of District Mining Officer, may seize any minor mineral and/or derivatives being transported in contravention of the provisions of this Act along with any tool, equipment, Transport Vehicle and such other things used in the commission of the offence, draw up a Seizure memo in the prescribed form and thereafter, after giving an opportunity of hearing, sell these in the open market through open auction and deposit the proceeds with the Government Treasury: Provided that any seized minor mineral and/or derivatives may be directly sold at the maximum sale price notified by the Government for these items: Provided further that lack of knowledge of the illegal nature of the material being transported shall not, in any way, provide any relief or compensation whatsoever for the owner of any Transport Vehicle being auctioned or for the purchaser of the minor mineral and/or derivatives being auctioned.