Grant /Renewal of licence to market functionaries other than traders

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and Rules made in this behalf, every person who, in respect of notified agricultural produce including livestock, desires to operate in the principal market yard or sub-market yard or market sub-yard as commission agent, weighman, measurer, hammal (loader- unloader) or such other market functionary , except trader, shall apply to the Market Committee for grant or renewal of licence in such form and such manner as may be prescribed. (2) The Market Committee or its Chairperson, if so authorized by the Market Committee may, on an application made under sub-section (1) and after making such inquiries as it deemed fit, grant or renew the licence , or may refuse to grant or renew any such licence on the basis of one or more of the following reasons- (i) The applicant is minor or not bonafide. (ii) The applicant has been declared defaulter under the Act or Rules made thereunder and Bye-laws. (iii) The applicant has been found guilty under the Act. (iv) Any dues relating to Market Committee and/or Board and/or department/directorate of agricultural marketing are outstanding against the applicant. (3) The Market Committee or its Chairperson, if so authorized under sub-section (2) shall dispose off the application received under sub-section (1) within twenty days from such date when application is complete in all respects. Explanation: The Market Committee shall, on scrutiny of application and the documents annexed therewith within five working days from the date of its receipt, grant /renew the licence within twenty working days from such date when application is found complete in all respects; or may, after recording the reason (s) in writing therefor , refuse to do so. (4) On expiry of a period of twenty working days as under sub-section (3), if the application has not been disposed off, it shall be deemed that licence has been granted or renewed, as the case may be. (5) The Market Committee or its Chairperson, if so authorized may, for reasons to be recorded, specifying the breach of any provision of Act/Rules/Bye-laws, instructions, orders, suspend or cancel the licence ,granted under this section , by passing a speaking order: Provided that no order for suspension or cancellation of licence shall be passed without giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard.