Section 14 in The Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 1959
14. Royalty on petroleum and furnishing of return and particulars. - [(1)(a) Notwithstanding anything in any agreement, a lessee shall--
(i)where the lease has been granted by the Central Government, pay to that Government, and(ii)where the lease has been granted by the State Government, pay to that Government, ][a royalty in respect of any mineral oil mined, quarried excavated or collected by him from the leased area at the rate specified in Schedule of the Act from time to time. The royalty shall be payable on monthly basis, as may be provided for in the lease and shall be paid by the last day of the month succeeding the period in respect of which it is payable] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 295(E), dated 1.4.2003.][Provided that the Central Government or, as the case may be, the State Government with the approval of the Central Government, may direct that such royalty be paid in petroleum and natural gas:] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966.][Provided further that such royalty shall not be payable in respect of any crude oil, casing head [coal bed methane or gas obtained from gas hydrate] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1034(E), dated 25.8.1986.] which is unavoidably lost or is returned to the reservoir or is used for drilling or other operations relating to the production of petroleum or natural gas or both.](b)[ Every lessee shall pay to the State Government, where the lease has been granted by that Government, royalty for the period of the lease before the 1st November, 1962, at the rate specified in the lease deed.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966.](2)The lessee shall, within the first seven days of every month or within such further time as [the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966.] may allow, furnish or cause to be furnished to [the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be] [Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966. ], a full and proper return showing the quantity [* * *] [ Omitted by G.S.R. 339, dated 26.2.1965.] of all crude oil, casinghead condensate and natural gas obtained during the preceding month from mining operations conducted pursuant to the lease. The monthly return required to be furnished shall be, as nearly as may be, in the form specified in the Schedule annexed to these rules.(3)If [the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be] [Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966. ] is not satisfied with any return furnished in accordance with sub-rule (2), it may require the person furnishing the same to furnish such further particulars as it may demand with respect to the crude oil, casing head condensate or natural gas obtained as aforesaid, and may appoint an officer in this behalf to make all necessary enquiries in relation to such crude oil, casing head condensate or natural gas. The officer so appointed may make all such enquiries and may require the lessee or the manager or person acting as manager or secretary of such lessee to produce for his inspection at the office of such lessee any books, accounts, documents, writings, papers or instruments in his possession or under his control which such officer may consider necessary to enable him to ascertain the quantity [* * *] [ Omitted by G.S.R. 339, dated 26.2.1965.] of the crude oil, casing-head condensate and natural gas obtained as aforesaid and may make copies of any entries or matters contained in such books, accounts, documents, writings, papers or instruments and upon completion of such enquiries such officer shall report thereon to [the Central Government or the State Government as the case may be.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966.][On receipt of such report, ] [Substituted by G.S.R. 329, dated 26.2.1965. ][the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be,] [Substituted by G.S.R. 371, dated 9.3.1966. ][if it is of the opinion that the quantity of any crude oil, casing-head condensate or natural gas declared in the return furnished in accordance with this rule is too low; may determine the quantity of such crude oil, casing-head condensate or natural gas and royalty shall be paid" on the quantity so assessed.] [Substituted by G.S.R. 329, dated 26.2.1965. ](4)Every officer in [the Central or State Government service] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 329, dated 26.2.1965.] shall preserve and aid in preserving secrecy with regard to the contents of any return made under this rule which have come to his knowledge in his official capacity and shall not communicate such matter to any other person unless required in the performance of his official duties or under the authority of a Court of competent jurisdiction,
