Licensing of Private Markets

Licensing of Private Markets. –

1. (1) No person shall open a new private market or continue to keep open a private market unless he obtains from the Village Panchayat a licence to do so.
2. (2) Applications for the grant or renewal of a licence to a private market shall be made to the Executive Authority in such form and with such particulars as may be prescribed.
3. (3) The Village Panchayat may grant or renew or refuse to grant or renew a licence for a private market, subject to such restrictions and control as to days and hours of business, drainage, lighting, sanitary convenience, water supply and generally to the maintenance of cleanliness and order in such market and the rates of fees to be charged, as the Village Panchayat may think fit.
4. (4) When the Village Panchayat refuses to grant or renew a licence, it shall record the reasons for such refusal and communicate the same to the applicant.
5. (5) The Village Panchayat may at any time cancel or suspend any licence granted under sub-section
6. (3) for breach of any of the conditions subject to which the licence was granted: Provided that no such order shall be made unless the licensee has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such cancellation or suspension.
7. (6) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Village Panchayat refusing to grant or renew a licence or cancelling or suspending a licence may appeal to the Panchayat Union Council within such time as may be prescribed and the decision of the Panchayat Union Council on such appeal shall be final.
8. (7) Every licence granted under this section shall expire at the end of the year for which it is granted.
9. (8) Any person who keeps open a private market in contravention of sub-section (1), or fails to comply with any restriction or condition imposed under sub-section (3), shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, and in the case of a continuing offence, with a further fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every day during which the offence continues after conviction for the first such offence.