After this, the petitioner started representing to the Coal Board for cancelling its orders. By its letter dated March 24, 1958, the Coa) Board firmly reiterated its· stand and warned the petitioner B that he had raised and dispatched coal in contravention of. Coal Mines Conservation and -Safety Rules, 1954. On January 30, -1959, the Government of India refused to interfere with the decision ·of the Coal Board. On July 20, i'959, the Board declined to revise its decision. But the petitioner wa8 not disheartened. He started representing again and for some reason, not apparent on C the record, the Coal Board started showing a· receptive mind. In October 1959, it asked for the production of a licpnce or registration certificate under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (65 of 1951). Some letters were exchanged on this topic. . Then the petitioner approached the Union Gl}verruilent, D who asked for more information.· In the reply, , the petitioner stated that 'on receipt of several letters from the concerned department the working of the colliery was stopped from August 1, 1958'. Later, more information was asked for and supplied to the Union Government. Ultimately, the petitioner was informed that it was not necessary for him to have a licence under Act 65 E qf 1951. From now on the petitioner was time and-agaqi told by the Coal Board that tlie matter was under consideration, while the· petitioner continued to press his case. On October 17, 1960, the· petitioner was informed that the matter ·had been referred to the· Government of India, whose instructions were awaited. From now on the scene shifts to the Ministry of Steel, Mines and Fuel, which , F kept on acknowledging letters addressed by the petitioner. Enquiries were made in April 1961 whether the colliery was unworked. On July 1, 1961, the Central Government issued a Notification, No. S.0. 1581, under sub-s. (1) of s. 4 of the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957, giving notice of its intention to prospect for coal in the colliery of the pet_itioner. G Another Notification No. S.O. 484, under s. 4(1) of the Act of 1957, was issued on February 6, 1962, in respect of another area of 25 . 15 acres. The petitioner did not file any objections to the· proposed acquisition under s. 8 of the Act. It was only on November 23, 1961, that the petitioner was informed by the Government that the area in question appears to. have been notified under ff sub-s. (I) of s. 4 of tl;!e Act 20 of 1957. In reply to this intimation, the petitioner asserted that he was not bound in law by the aforesaid notification.
