Application for grant and renewal of licence.

–(1) Any owner desiring to obtain a licence referred to in the last preceding section shall make an application in writing to the competent authority in such form and manner, and accompanied by such licence fee, not exceeding rupees fifty as may be prescribed.

• • Now “Official Gazette”. FRUIT NURSERIES (LICENSING) ACT, 1987199

1. (2) On the receipt of such application, the competent authority shall make such inquiry as it considers necessary. If the competent authority is satisfied––
   • (a) that the fruit nursery as per soil test and other prescribed conditions is suitable for the proper propagation of the fruit plants in respect of which the licence has been applied for ;
   • (b) that the applicant is competent to conduct such a fruit nursery ;
   • (c) that the applicant has paid the prescribed licence fee ; and
   • (d) that the applicant fulfils or undertakes to fulfil such other conditions as may be prescribed, being conditions for ensuring the quality of plants to be propagated, and their sale at a reasonable price fixed by the Government, the competent authority shall grant the licence to the applicant. If the competent authority is not so satisfied it may, after giving a reasonable opportunity to the applicant of being heard and after recording a brief statement of the reasons for refusal, refuse to grant the licence and furnish a copy of such statement to the applicant and refund to him the licence fee, which may have been paid to him.
2. (3) Every licence granted under this section shall in the first instance be valid for a period of two years and may, on an application made to it, be renewed by the competent authority for such period and on payment of such fee, and on such conditions, as may be prescribed. Where the competent authority refuses to renew a licence it shall record a brief statement of the reasons for such refusal and furnish a copy thereof to the applicant : Provided that, no order refusing to renew a licence shall be made unless the applicant is given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.