(1) A registration certificate shall be granted in the prescribed manner to any owner applying therefor to the prescribed authority [* * * * *] on payment of a fee of [five rupees.]
(2) Every such registration certificate shall be valid without renewal till it is cancelled or suspended.
[(3) * * * * *]
(4) If the prescribed authority is satisfied that any owner is liable to pay tax under the provisions of this Act in respect of any period but who has wilfully failed to apply for registration or to pay the tax, [or where such authority has reason to believe that the tax due has not been paid correctly] the said authority may, after giving the owner, a reasonable opportunity of being heard, assess the amount of tax, if any, due from the owner, and also direct that the owner shall pay in the prescribed manner by way of penalty, a sum not exceeding [five times the amount of the tax so assessed.]
(5) If any owner, who has been granted a certificate of registration under sub-section (1) transfers, discontinues or closes his business, he shall inform the prescribed authority within thirty days of his doing so, and the said authority shall cancel the registration certificate from the date of transfer, discontinuance or closing down of the business.
(6) (i) On the death of an owner any person claiming to be the legal representative of the deceased shall inform the prescribed authority of this fact within a period of thirty days.
(ii) The prescribed authority shall thereupon transfer the certificate in the name of the applicant.
[(7) When any owner transfers any motor vehicle, the transferee shall be liable to pay tax and penalty, if any, remaining unpaid by the transfer or upto the date of transfer as if he was the registered owner and the transferee shall not carry passengers and goods in the said vehicle without getting himself registered or getting his registration certificate amended, if he is already registered.]
[10. Exemptions. - The State Government may, by general or special order and subject to specific conditions, if any, exempt any person or class of persons from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act, if in its opinion, such exemption would promote national or public interest.]