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THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT, 1962
[Act No. 33 of 1962 dated 15th. September, 1962]
An Act to provide for the development, control and use of atomic energy for the welfare of the people of India and for other peaceful purposes and for matters connected therewith.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Thirteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows: -
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
(1) This Act may be called the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "atomic energy" means energy released from atomic nuclei as a result of any process, including the fission and fusion processes,
(b) "fissile material" means uranium 233, uranium 235, plutonium or any material containing these substances or any other material that may be declared as such by notification by the Central Government;
1[(bb) "Government Company" means a company in which not less than fifty-one per cent, of the paid up share capital is held by the Central Government;]
(c) "minerals" include all substances obtained or obtainable from the soil (including alluvium or rocks) by underground or surface working;
(d) "notification" means notification published in the Official Gazette;
(e) "plant" includes machinery, equipment or appliance whether affixed to land or not;
(f) "prescribed equipment" means any property which the Central Government may, by notification, prescribe, being a property which in its opinion is specially designed or adapted or which is used or intended to be used for the production or utilisation of any prescribed substance or for the production or utilisation of atomic energy, radioactive substances, or radiation, but does not include mining, milling, laboratory and other equipment not so specially designed or adapted and not incorporated in equipment used or intended to be used for any of the purposes aforesaid;
(g) "prescribed substance" means any substance including any mineral which the Central Government may, by notification, prescribe, being a substance which in its opinion is or may be used for the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith and includes uranium, plutonium, thorium, beryllium, deuterium or any of their respective derivatives or compounds or any other materials containing any of the aforesaid substances;
(h) "radiation" means gamma rays, X-rays, and rays consisting of alpha particles, beta particles, neutrons, protons and other nuclear and sub-atomic particles; but not sound or radio waves, or visible, infrared or ultraviolet light;
(i) "radioactive substance" or "radioactive material" means any substance or material which spontaneously emits radiation in excess of the levels prescribed by notification by the Central Government.
(2) Any reference in this Act to the working of minerals shall be construed as including a reference to the mining, getting, carrying away, transporting, sorting, extracting or otherwise treating of minerals.
(3) Any reference in this Act to the production or use of atomic energy shall be construed as including a reference to the carrying out of any process, preparatory or ancillary to such production or use.
SECTION 03: GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall have power-
(a) to produce, develop, use and dispose of atomic energy 2[either by itself or through any authority or corporation established by it or a Government company] and carry out research into any matters connected therewith;
3[(b) to manufacture or otherwise produce any prescribed or redioactive substance and any articles which in its opinion are, or are likely to be, required for, or in connection with, the production, development or use of atomic energy or such research as aforesaid and to dispose of such prescribed or redioactive substance or any articles manufactured or otherwise produced;
(bb) (i) to by or otherwise acquire, store and transport any prescribed or redioactive substance and any articles which in its opinion are, or are likely to be, required for, or in connection with, the production, development or use of atomic energy; and
(ii) to dispose of such prescribed or radioactive substance or any articles bought or otherwise acquired by it,
either by itself or through any authority or corporation established by it, or a Government company;]
(c) to declare as "restricted information" any information not so far published or otherwise made public relating to-
(i) the location, quality and quantity of prescribed substances and transactions for their acquisition, whether by purchase or otherwise, or disposal, whether by sale or otherwise;
(ii) the processing of prescribed substances and the extraction or production of fissile materials from them;
(iii) the theory, design, construction and operation of plants for the treatment and production of any of the prescribed substances and for the separation of isotopes;
(iv) the theory, design, construction and operation of nuclear reactors;
(v) research and technological work on materials and processes involved in or derived from items (i) to (iv);
(d) to declare as "prohibited area" any area or premises where work including research, design or development is carried on in respect of the production, treatment, use, application or disposal of atomic energy or of any prescribed substance;
(e) to provide for. control over radioactive substances or radiation generating plant in order to-
(i) prevent radiation hazards;
(ii) secure public safety and safety of persons handling radioactive substances or radiation generating plant and
(iii) ensure safe disposal of radioactive wastes;
(f) to provide for the production and supply of electricity from atomic energy and for taking measures conducive to such production and supply and for all matters incidental thereto 2[either by it self or through any authority or corporation established by it or a Government company]; and
(g) to do all such things (including the erection of buildings and execution of works and the working of minerals) as the Central Government considers necessary or. expedient for the exercise of the foregoing powers.
SECTION 04: NOTIFICATION OF DISCOVERY OF URANIUM OR THORIUM
(1) Every person who, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, has discovered or discovers that uranium or thorium occurs at any place in India shall, within three months after the date of commencement of this Act or after the discovery, whichever is later, report the discovery in writing to the Central Government or to any person or authorised by the Central Government in this behalf.
(2) Every person who has reason to believe that uranium or thorium occurs at any place in India shall, without delay, send intimation of such belief and the reasons therefor to the Central Government or to any such person or authority as aforesaid.
SECTION 05: CONTROL OVER RAINING OR CONCENTRATION OF SUBSTANCES CONTAINING URANIUM
(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that any person is mining or is about to mine any substance from which, in the opinion of the Central Government, uranium can be or may reasonably be expected. to be, isolated or extracted, or is engaged or is about to be engaged in treating or concentrating by any physical, chemical or metallurgical process any substance from which, in the opinion of the Central Government, uranium can be or may reasonably be expected to be, isolated or extracted, the Central Government may by notice in writing given to that person either-
(a) require him in conducting the mining operations or in treating or concentrating the substance aforesaid to comply with such terms and conditions and adopt such processes as the Central Government may in the notice, or from time to time thereafter, think fit to specify, or
(b) totally prohibit him from conducting the mining operations or treating or concentrating the substance aforesaid.
(2) Where any terms and conditions are imposed on any person conducting any mining operations or treating or concentrating any substance under clause (a) of sub-section, (1), the Central Government may, having regard to the nature of the terms and conditions, decide as to whether or not to pay any compensation to that person and the decision of the Central Government shall be final:
Provided that where the Central Government decides not to pay any compensation, it shall record in writing a brief statement giving the reasons for such decision.
(3) Where the Central Government decides to pay any compensation under sub-section (2), the amount thereof shall be determined in accordance with section 21 but in calculating the compensation payable, no account shall be taken of the value of any uranium contained in the substance referred to in sub-section (1).
(4) Where any mining operation or any process of treatment or concentration of any substance is prohibited under clause (b) of sub-section (1), the Central Government shall pay compensation to the person conducting the mining operations or using the process of treatment or concentration and the amount of such compensation shall be determined in accordance with section 21 but in calculating the compensation payable, no account shall be taken of the value of any uranium contained in the substance.
SECTION 06: DISPOSAL OF URANIUM
(1) No minerals, concentrates and other materials which contain uranium in its natural state in excess of such proportion as may be prescribed by notification by the Central Government shall be disposed of except with the previous permission in writing of the Central Government and in accordance with such terms and conditions as it may impose.
(2) The Central Government may serve notice on any person who has produced any mineral, concentrate or other material referred to in sub-section (1) that the Central Government proposes to acquire it and upon the service of the notice and the payment of compensation in accordance with section 21, the mineral, concentrate or other material shall become the property of the Central Government and shall be delivered to the Central Government or as it may direct:
Provided that in determining the compensation regard shall be had to the cost of production of such mineral, concentrate or other material and such other factors as may be relevant, but no account shall be taken of the value of uranium in its natural state contained therein-.
SECTION 07: POWERS TO OBTAIN IN FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MATERIALS, PLANT OR PROCESSES
The Central Government may, by notice in writing served on any person, require him to make such periodical and other returns, or statements at such times and containing such particulars and accompanied by such plans, drawings and other documents as may be specified in the notice relating to-
(a) any prescribed substance, specified in the notice, in his possession or under his control or present in or on any land or mine owned or occupied by him which in the opinion of the Central Government is or can be a source of any of the prescribed substances, including returns in respect of any such land or mine;
(b) any plant in his possession or under his control designed for mining or processing of minerals so specified or adapted for the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith;
(c) any contract entered into by him or any licence granted by or to him relating to prospecting or mining of minerals so specified or the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith;
(d) any other information in his possession relating to any work carried out by him or on his behalf or under his directions, in connection with prospecting or mining of materials so specified or the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith.
SECTION 08: POWER OF ENTRY AND INSPECTION
(1) Any person authorised by the Central Government may, on producing, if so required, a duly authenticated document showing his authority, enter any mine, premises or land-
(a) where he has reason to believe that work is being carried out for the purpose of or in connection with production and processing of any prescribed substances. or substances from which a prescribed substance can be obtained or production, development or use of atomic energy or research into matters connect therewith, or
(b) where any such plant as is mentioned in clause (b) of section 7 is situate,
and may inspect the mine, premises or land and any articles contained therein.
(2) The person carrying out the inspection may make copies of or extracts from any drawing, plan or other document found in the mine, premises or land and for the purpose of making such copies or extracts, may remove any such drawing, plan or other document after giving a duly signed receipt for the same and retain possession thereof for a period not exceeding seven days.
SECTION 09: POWER TO DO WORK FOR DISCOVERING
(1) The Central Government may, subject to the provisions of this section, do on, over or below the surface of any land such work as it considers necessary for the purpose of discovering whether there is present in or on the land, either in a natural state or in a deposit of waste material obtained from any underground or surface working, any substance, from which in its opinion any of the prescribed substances can be obtained, and the extent to which such substance is so present.
(2) Before any powers are exercised under sub-section (1) in relation to any land, the Central Government shall serve on every owner, lessee and occupier of the land a notice in writing specifying the nature of the work proposed to be done and the extent of the land affected, and the time, not being less than twenty-eight days, within which and the manner in which objections can be made thereto, and no such powers shall be exercised otherwise than in pursuance of the notice or before the expiration of the time specified therein for making objections.
(3) The Central Government may, after giving the person making the objection an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Central Government for the purpose, and after considering any such objection and the report of the person so appointed, make such orders as it may deem proper but not so as to increase the extent of the land affected.
(4) Compensation shall be determined and paid in accordance with section 21 in respect of any diminution in the value of any land or property situate thereon resulting from the exercise of powers under this section.
SECTION 10: COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF RIGHTS TO WORK MINERALS
(1) Where it appears to the Central Government that any minerals from which in its opinion any of the prescribed substances can be obtained are present in or on any land, either in a natural state or in a deposit of waste material obtained from any underground or surface working, it may by order provide for compulsorily vesting in the Central Government the exclusive right, so long as the order remains in force, to work those minerals and any other minerals which it appears to the Central Government to be necessary to work with those minerals, and may also provide, by that order or a subsequent order, for compulsorily vesting in the Central Government any other ancillary rights which appear to the Central Government to be necessary for the purpose of working the minerals aforesaid including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions)-
(a) rights to withdraw support;
(b) rights necessary for the purpose of access to or conveyance of the minerals aforesaid or the ventilation or drainage of the working;
(c) rights to use and occupy the surface of any land for the purpose of erecting any necessary buildings and installing any necessary plant in connection with the working of the minerals aforesaid;
(d) rights to use and occupy for the purpose of working the minerals aforesaid any land forming part of or used in connection with an existing mine or quarry, and to use or acquire any plant used in connection with any such mine or quarry; and
(e) rights to obtain a supply of water for any of the purposes connected with the working of the minerals aforesaid, or to dispose of water or other liquid matter obtained in consequence of working such minerals.
(2) Notice of any order proposed to be made under this section shall be served by the Central Government-
(a) on all persons who, but for the order, would be entitled to work the minerals affected; and
(b) on every owner, lessee and occupier (except tenants for a month or for less than a month) of any land in respect of which rights are proposed to be acquired under the order.
(3) Compensation in respect of any right acquired under this section shall be paid in accordance with section 21, but in calculating the compensation payable, no account shall be taken of the value of any minerals present in or an land affected by the order, being minerals specified in the order as those from which in the opinion of the Central Government uranium or any concentrate or derivative of uranium can be obtained.
SECTION 11: COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF PRESCRIBED SUBSTANCES, MINERALS AND PLANTS
(1) Save as otherwise provided in any other provision of this Act, the Central Government may compulsorily acquire in accordance with the provisions of this section-
(a) any prescribed substance;
(b) any minerals from which in the opinion of the Central Government any of the prescribed substances can be obtained;
(c) any prescribed equipment;
(d) any plant which is designed or adapted for the mining or processing of any minerals referred to in clause (b) or substances obtained therefrom or for the production or use of any prescribed substance or a radioactive substance or for the production, use or disposal of such articles as are or are likely to be required for or in connection with the production, use or disposal of atomic energy or for research into matters connected therewith.
(2) Where the Central Government acquires any plant referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (1), it shall also have the right to acquire any buildings, railway sidings, tramway lines, or aerial ropeways serving such plant.
(3) Where the Central Government proposes to acquire any property under sub-section (1), it shall serve upon the person appearing to be the owner thereof, a notice in writing specifying the property to be acquired and requiring that person to make to the Central Government within the time specified in the notice a written declaration containing such particulars as may. be so specified regarding the ownership of such property and any agreement or charge by virtue of which any other person has an interest in such property.
(4) Upon the service of a notice under sub-section (3), no property to which the notice relates shall be disposed of without the previous permission in writing of the Central Government.
(5) If it appears to the Central Government in consequence of any written declaration made to it in pursuance of sub-section (3) that any person other than the person on whom the notice under sub-section (3) was served is the owner of, or has any interest in, the property to which the notice relates, the Central Government shall serve a copy of the notice on that other person.
(6) A notice served under sub-section (3) shall contain a statement to the effect that an objection may be made thereto within such time and in such manner as may be specified and if any such objection is duly made and not withdrawn, the Central Government shall afford an opportunity to the person making the objection of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Central Government for the purpose.
(7) After considering any such objection, and the report of the person appointed by it under sub-section (6), the Central Government may serve on the persons upon whom the notice under, sub-section (3) or a copy thereof was served a further notice in writing either withdrawing the notice of acquisition or confirming the said notice as respects the property to which it relates or such part of the property as may be specified.
(8) Any property with respect to which a notice of acquisition is served under this section shall-
(a) if no objection is duly made to the notice, vest in the Central Government at the expiration of the time for making such objection;
(b) if such an objection is duly made and the notice is confirmed as respects the whole or any part of that property by a notice served-under sub-section (7), vest accordingly in the Central Government on the service of the last mentioned notice;
and shall in either case vest free from all encumbrances.
(9) Compensation in respect of acquisition under this section shall be paid in accordance with section 21.
SECTION 12: COMPENSATION IN CASE OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF A MINE
Where the Central Government acquires, in accordance with any law, any mine or part of a mine from which in the opinion of the Central Government any of the prescribed substances can be obtained, compensation in respect of such acquisition shall be paid in accordance with section 21.
Provided that in determining the amount of such compensation, no account shall be taken of the value of uranium which may be obtained from such mine or part of a mine.
SECTION 13: NOVATION OF CERTAIN CONTRACTS
(1). The Central Government may serve on the parties to a contract relating to prospecting or mining of any substance from which any of the prescribed substances can be obtained or to production or use of atomic energy or to research into matters connected therewith, not being a contract for the rendering of personal services, a notice in writing stating that on such date as may be specified in the notice the rights and liabilities of any of the parties to the contract specified in the notice (hereinafter referred to as the specified party) will be transferred to the Central Government, and thereupon subject to any withdrawal of the notice under the following provisions of this section, the contract shall, as regards any rights exercisable, or liabilities incurred, on or after the said date, have effect as if the Central Government were a party to the contract instead of the specified party and as if for any reference in the contract to the specified party there were substituted a reference to the Central Government.
(2) A notice served under sub-section (1) shall contain a statement to the effect that an objection may be made thereto within such time and in such manner as may be specified, and if any such objection is duly made and not withdrawn, the Central Government shall afford an opportunity to the person making the objection of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Central Government for the purpose.
(3) After considering any such objection and the report of the person appointed by it under sub-section (2), the Central Government may make such order as it may deem proper.
(4) Where the rights and liabilities of a party to a contract are transferred to the Central Government under this section, there shall be paid to that party such compensation in respect of any loss suffered by that party as may be agreed between him and the Central Government, and in default of such agreement, as may be determined by arbitration.
SECTION 14: CONTROL OVER PRODUCTION AND USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY
(1) The Central Government may, subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, by order prohibit except under a licence granted by it-
(i) the working of any mine or minerals specified in the order, being a mine or minerals from which in the opinion of the Central Government any of the prescribed substances can be obtained;
(ii) the acquisition, production, possession, use, disposal, export or import-
(a) of any of the prescribed substances; or
(b) of any minerals or other substances specified in the rules, from which in the opinion of the Central Government any of the prescribed substances can be obtained; or
(c) of any plant designed or adopted or manufactured for the production, development and use of atomic energy or for research into matters connected therewith; or
(d) of any prescribed equipment.
(2) Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of the Central Government to refuse a licence for the purpose of this section or to include in a licence such conditions as the Central Government thinks fit or to revoke a licence and the Central Government may take any action as aforesaid.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the rules referred to in this section may provide for-
(a) the extent to which information in the possession of, or which has been made available to, the person granted a licence for purposes of this section, should be regarded as restricted information;
(b) the extent to which the area or premises under the control of the person to whom a licence has been granted for purposes of this section, should be regarded as a prohibited area;
(c) the conditions and criteria for location of any installation or operation of any plant in respect of which a licence has been granted or is intended to be granted for the purposes of this section including those necessary for protection against radiation and safe disposal of harmful by-products or wastes;
(d) the extent of the licensee’s liability in respect of any hurt to any person or any damage to property caused by ionising radiators or any radioactive contamination either at the plant under licence or in the surrounding area;
(e) provision by licensee either by insurance or by such other means as the Central Government may approve, of sufficient funds to be available at all time to ensure settlement of any claims in connection with the use of the site or the plant under licence which have been or may be duly established against the licensee in respect of any hurt to any person or any damage to any property caused by ionising radiations emitted at the plant under licence or radioactive contamination either at the plant under licence or in surrounding areas;
(f) obligatory qualifications, security clearances, hours of employment, minimum leave and periodical medical examination of the persons employed and any other requirement or restriction or prohibition on the employer, employed persons and other persons; and
(g) such other incidental and supplementary provisions including provisions for inspection and also for the sealing of premises and seizure, retention and disposal of any article in respect of which there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a contravention of the rules has been committed, as the Central Government considers necessary.
(4) The Central Government may also prescribe the fees payable for issue of licences under sub-section (1).
SECTION 15: REQUISITIONING OF ANY SUBSTANCE FOR EXTRACTING URANIUM OR PLUTONIUM
(1) The Central Government shall have the right to require that any substance which, in the opinion of the Central Government, contains uranium, plutonium or any of their isotopes, shall be delivered to it and the Central Government may extract from that substance the uranium, plutonium or any of their isotopes contained therein and return the substance to the person concerned on payment of compensation which shall be determined in accordance with section 21:
Provided that such compensation shall not, in any case, exceed the cost incurred by the person in the production, mining or irradiation of the substance and in determining the same no account shall be taken of the value of the uranium, plutonium or any of their isotopes extracted from the substance.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Central Government from. permitting, subject to such conditions as it may deem fit to impose, the use of small quantities of natural uranium for the purpose of examination, test or analysis.
SECTION 16: CONTROL OVER RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
The Central Government may prohibit the manufacture, possession, use, transfer by sale or otherwise, export and import and in an emergency, transport and disposal, of any radioactive substances without its written consent.
SECTION 17: SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS TO SAFETY
(1) The Central Government may, as regards any class or description of premises or places, being premises or places, in which radioactive substances are manufactured, produced, mined, treated, stored or used or any radiation generating plant, equipment or appliance is used, make such provision by rules as appear to the Central Government to be necessary-
(a) to prevent injury being caused to the health of persons employed at such premises or places or other persons either by radiations, or by the ingestion of any radioactive substance ;
(b) to secure that any radioactive waste products resulting from such manufacture, production, mining, treatment, storage, or use as aforesaid are disposed of safely ;
(c) to proscribe qualifications of the persons for employment at such premises or places and the regulation of their hours of employment, minimum leave and periodical medical examination ;
and the rules may, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of this sub-section, provide for imposing requirements as to. the erection or structural alterations of buildings or the carrying out of works.
(2) The Central Government may, as respects the transport of any radioactive substance or any prescribed substance specified by an order issued under this Act as being dangerous to health, make such rules as appear to be necessary to
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