20. Suspension and cancellation of licence.- (1) The Controller may, if he has any reasonable cause to believe that the holder of any licence issued, renewed or continued under this Act has made any statement in, or in relation to, any application for the issue, renewal or continuance of the licence, which is incorrect or false in any material particular or has contravened any provision of the Standards Act or any State Act or this Act or any rule or order made thereunder, suspend such licence, pending the completion of any inquiry or trial against the holder of such licence: Provided that no such licence shall be suspended unless the holder thereof has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action: Provided further that where the inquiry or trial referred to in this sub-section is not completed within a period of three months from the date of suspension of a licence, such suspension shall, on the expiry of the period aforesaid, stand vacated. (2) The Controller may, if he is satisfied, after making such inquiry as he may think fit, that the holder of a licence has made a false or incorrect statement of the nature referred to in sub-section (1), or has contravened any law or order referred to in that sub- section, cancel such licence: Provided that no such licence shall be cancelled unless the holder thereof has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action. (3) Every person whose licence has been suspended shall, immediately after such suspension, stop functioning as such licensee and shall not resume business as such licensee until the order of such suspension has been, or stands, vacated. (4) Every licensee whose licence has been suspended or cancelled shall, after such suspension or cancellation, as the case may be, surrender such licence to the authority by which such licence was issued. (5) Every licensee whose licence has been cancelled shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of such cancellation, or within such further period, not exceeding three months from such date, as the Controller may, on sufficient cause being shown, allow, dispose of the weights or measures which were in his possession, custody or control on the date of such cancellation, and in the event of his failure to do so, the Controller or any other officer authorised by him, in writing, in this behalf, may seize and dispose of the same and distribute the proceeds thereof in such manner as may be prescribed. |
