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 Rs. 50, as may be prescribed. (1A) Every application referred to in sub-section (1) shall be disposed of by the Competent Authority within a period of one month from its receipt and in the manner provided in sub-section (2). (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 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 ; (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 ; 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 by him. (3) Every licence granted under this section shall be valid for the period specified therein, and may, on an application made to it, be renewed, from time to time, 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.