Membership in the Fund

(1) Any person holding a valid licence of document writer or scribe under the Kerala Document Writers' Licence Rules, 1960 or a valid licence of a Stamp Vendor under the Kerala Manufacture and Sale of Stamp Rules, 1960, as the case may be, and is below the age of 65 years on the date of application may apply to the Board for admission as a member of the Fund in such form and manner as may be specified in the Scheme: Provided that, where the Fund under the Kerala Document Writers, Scribes and Stamp Vendors Welfare Fund Scheme, 1991 is transferred to the bund under sub-section (1) of section 30, those who arc members of the said Scheme shall be deemed to be the members of the Fund from the date of such transfer: Provided further that no person employed as a Document Writer, Scribe or Stamp Vendor after retiring from the service of the Central Government or any State Government or any public sector undertaking or local Authority with retirement benefits, shall be eligible for membership in the Fund. (2) On an application under sub-section (1), the Board may make such enquiry as it deem fit and either admit the applicant to the Fund or for reasons to be recorded in writing reject the application: Provided that no order rejecting an application shall be passed unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard: Provided further that any person aggrieved by an order rejecting any application for membership may prefer an appeal to the Government within such period as may be specified in the Scheme. (3) Every applicant shall pay an application fee of one hundred rupees along with