MINES ACT, 1952

DEFINIITION
AGENT- In relation to a mine means every person appointed as such or not who acting or
purporting to act on behalf of the owner, takes part in management, control, supervision
or directio of mine
EMPLOYED- Who works as the manager or who works under appointment - in any mining
operation
Section 3- Act not to apply in certain cases

The provisions of this Act except those in Sections 7,8,9,45 and 46 are not to apply to
(a) any mine in which excavation is being made for prospecting purpose only, not for
obtaining minerals for use or sale provided not more than twenty persons are employed,
and depth of excavation from highest to lowest point nowhere exceeds six metres, and no
part of excavation extends below superjacent ground

INSPECTORS AND CERTIFYING SURGEONS

Section 5- Chief Inspector and Inspectors
Section 6- Functions of Inspectors
Section 7- Powers of Inspectors of Mines
Section 8- Powers of Special Officer to enter, measure, etc.
Section 9- Facilities to be provided for occupational health survey
Section 10- Secrecy of information obtained
Section 11- Certifying Surgeon

COMMITTEES
Section 12- Central Government is to constitute Committee for the purpose of the Act,
consisting of
(a) A person, not being Chief Inspector, to act as Chairman

(b) Chief Inspector of Mines

(c) Two persons to represent the interest of miners appointed by Central Government
(d) Two persons to represent the interest of miners appointed by Central Government
(e) Two qualified mining engineers not directly employed in mining industry
provided one person in (c) and (d) represents the interest of workers in coal mines

 Section 13- Functions of the Committee

Section 14- Powers etc. of the Committee
Section 15- Recovery of expenses

MINING OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MINES

Section 16(1)- Notice to be given of mining operations
The owner, agent or manager of mine, before commencement of mining operation is to give
notice to Chief Inspector, Controller Indian Bureau of Mines and District Magistrate in writing in
form prescribed and particulars
(2) To reach them one month before commencement of mining operation
Section 17(1)- Manager
Every mine to be under a sole manager having prescribed qualifications appointed by owner or
agent provided owner or agent, if qualified, may himself be the manager
(2) Subject to instructions given by owner or agent, manager is to be responsible for over all
management, control, supervision and direction of the mine- and all such instructions are to be
confirmed in writing forthwith
3) Except in emergency, owner, agent or anyone on his behalf is not to give, otherwise than
through manager, instructions affecting the fulfilment of his statutory duties to a person,
employed in a mine, who is responsible to manager
Section 18(1)- Duties and responsibilities of owners, agents and managers
Owner and agent to be responsible for making financial and other provisions and for taking steps
necessary for compliance with provisions of this Act and regulations, rules, bye-laws and orders
made thereunder
(2) The responsibility in respect to matters provided for in rules under (d), (e) and (p) of Section 58
are to be exclusively carry out by owner and agent and person (other than the manager)
appointed for securing compliance with these provisions
(3) If carrying out of instructions under Section 17 given otherwise than manager results in
contravention of the provisions of this Act, person giving instructions will be responsible for
contravention
(4) Owner, agent and manager are
Section 19- Drinking water
Section 20- Conservancy
Section 21- Medical appliances

 Section 22(1)- Powers of Inspectors when causes of danger not expressly provided against
exists or when the employment of a person is dangerous
Inspector may give notice in writing to require it to be remedied
(1A) If no compliance he may by order prohibit the employment
(2) he may by order prohibit the extraction or reduction of pillars or blocks
Section 23- Notice to be given of accidents
Section 24- Power of Government to appoint Court of Inquiry in accidents
Section 25- Notice of certain diseases

Section 26- Power to direct investigation of causes of disease

Section 27- Publication of Reports

HOURS AND LIMITATION OF EMPLOYMENT

Section28- Weekly day of rest
Section 29- Compensatory days of rest
Section 30- Hours of work above ground
forty eight hours a week, nine hours a day, no spreadover more than twelve hours, no five hours
continuous work, maximum spreadover fourteen hours, two shifts not to do work of same kind at
the same time
Section 31- Hours of work below ground
Section 32- Night shifts
Section 33- Extra wages for overtime
Section 34- Prohibition of employment of certain persons
Section 35- Limitation of daily hours of work including overtime work
Section 36- Notices regarding hours of work
Section 37- Supervising staff
Section 38- Exemption from provisions regarding employment
Section 39- Power to make exepting rules
Section 40- Employment of persons below eighteen years of age
Section 43- Power to require medical examination

 Section 45- Prohibition of the presence of persons bellow eighteen years of age in a mine
Section 46- Employment of women
Section 48- Registers of persons employed

LEAVE WITH WAGES

Section 49- Application of Chapter
Section 50- Leave defined
Section 51- Calendar year defined
Section 52- Annual leave with wages
Section 53- Wages during leave period
Section 54- Payment in advance in certain cases
Section 55- Mode of recovery of unpaid wages
Section 56- Power to exempt mines