Power to suspend, cancel or revoke licence

(1) Not withstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Government or the licensing authority may at any time suspend, cancel or revoke a license granted under section 5 on one or more of the following grounds namely:- (a) The license was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation; (b) the licensee has committed a breach of any of the provision of this Act or the rules made there under or of any condition or restriction in the license, or of any direction issued under sub-section(4) of section 5; (c) on account of any changes occurring in the locality of the place licensed, the continuance of the license is considered prejudicial to decency or morality; or (d) the licensee has been convicted of an offence under section 7 of this Act or section 7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (XXXVII of 1952). (e) the licensee has been convicted for not less than three times of an offence punishable under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 15 of the Punjab Entertainments Duty Act, 1955, or has copounded such offence for not less than three time under section 16 of that Act; (f) a penalty under section 14-A of the Act referred to in clause (e) has been imposed for not less than three times on the licensee; or (g) a tax exceeding Rs. 200 has been assessed on the licensee in any one case under sub-clause (ii) of clause (e) of section 2 of the Act referred to in clause (e). (2) Where the Government or the licensing authority is of the opinion that a license granted under section 5 should be suspended, cancelled or revoked it shall as soon as may be, communicate to the licensee the grounds on which the action is proposed to be taken and shall afford him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken. (3) If, after giving such opportunity, the Government or the licensing authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the license should be suspended, cancelled or revoked, it shall record an order stating therein the ground or grounds on which the order is made, and shall communicate the same to the licensee in writing. (4) Where the order suspending cancelling or revoking a license under subsection (3) has been passed by a licensing authority, any person aggrieved by the order may, within thirty days of the communication of such order to him prefer an appeal to Government which may pass such order as it thinks fit. (5) The order of the Government shall be final. (i) The licensee shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of these rules and with conditions of his licence, for the maintenance of the licensed premises at all times and in all respects conformity with the standards prescribed by these rules, and for taking all necessary measures, before any cinematograph exhibition is commenced, to ensure the safety of the public and his employees against fire and other accidents. (ii) The licensee or some responsible person nominated by him in writing for the purpose shall be in general charge of the licensed premises and cinematograph during the whole time that any exhibition is in progress.