In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "Act" means the Punjab Fruit Nurseries Act, 1961;
(b) "Agriculture Inspector" means the Agriculture Inspector in charge of horticulture extension work.
(c) "Director" means the Director of Agriculture, Punjab, and includes the Joint Director, Agriculture;
(d) "Form" means a form appended to these rules; and
(e) all other terms and expressions used herein but not defined have the meaning assigned to them in the Act.
3. Procedure for grant of licence. [Section 4] - (1) An application for a licence to conduct or establish a fruit nursery shall be made to the competent authority in Form I. The applicant shall deposit an amount of thirty rupees under Head "XXIX - Agriculture - Agricultural Research - Income from Research Sections - General Section" in the Government treasury as licence fee and shall enclose the original treasury challan with the application.
(2) The fee specified in sub-rule (1) shall be refunded, if the licence is refused.
(3) The competent authority shall, on receipt of the application, inspect or cause to be inspected, by any person not below the rank of a Gazetted Officer of the Agriculture Department, the fruit nursery for which licence has been applied. The Inspecting Officer shall record the result of his inspection on the back of the application in Form I-A.
(4) On receipt of the report of the Inspecting Officer, the competent authority may, if satisfied that the applicant fulfils the condition mentioned in or notified under sub-section
(2) of section 4, grant a licence in Form II. If it is not so satisfied it may refuse the issue of licence and shall in its order give reasons for such refusal :
Provided that every order granting or refusing a licence shall be made within a period of ninety days of the date of the receipt of the application for licence.
(5) The competent authority shall maintain a register in Form III in which the names of persons to whom licences are granted from time to time shall be entered.