(1)[The Controller shall, on the application of any person and on payment by such person of a fee of two hundred and fifty rupees, grant to such person a miner's licence or a dealer's licence. Such licence shall remain in force up to the 31st day of December, following the date on which it is granted:Provided that the Controller may refuse to grant such a licence to a person who-(i)is convicted of an offence under Chapter XVII of the Indian Penal Code committed in respect of mica; or(ii)is not in lawful possession of any mica mine:Provided further that the Controller shall not grant a miner's licence to a person who does not hold a certificate of approval from the State Government under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, and the Rules made thereunder:Provided also that the licence may be renewed every year on payment of the annual fee in accordance with the provision of sub-section (3).] [Substituted by Bihar Act 28 of 1953, Section 6 (1).](2)[] [Inserted by Bihar Act 20 of 1950.] Any person who has been refused a licence by the Controller under the proviso to sub-section (1) may, within thirty days of the order of the Controller, appeal to the Commissioner of the Division whose order [subject to any order of the State Government under Section 25-A] [Inserted by Bihar Act 28 of 1953.] shall be final.](3)[] [Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) re-numbered as sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) by Bihar Act 20 of 1950.] There shall be paid to the Controller in respect of every licence granted under sub-section (1) an annual fee of one hundred and fifty rupees. Such annual fee shall be paid on the 1st day of January next following the date on which the licence is granted and on the 1st day of January in each succeeding year.(4)[] [Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) re-numbered as sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) by Bihar Act 20 of 1950.] If the fee payable under [sub-section (3)] [Substituted by Bihar Act 20 of 1950 for the words and figure 'sub-section (2)'.] in respect of any licence is not paid within one month of the date of which it is required by that sub-section to be paid, such licence shall case to be in force.(5)[] [Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) re-numbered as sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) by Bihar Act 20 of 1950.] If at any time a licence granted under sub-section (1) is lost by the licensee or is destroyed, the licensee shall forthwith report the fact in writing to the Controller and shall explain the circumstances in which the licence has been lost or destroyed. Upon the receipt of such intimation, the Controller shall make such inquiries as he may think fit, and if he is satisfied that the licence has been lost or destroyed, he may issue a duplicate licence on payment of a fee of five rupees by the licensee. Such a licence shall be stamped with the word "Duplicate".(6)[ When granting a miner's licence under sub-section (1), or renewing such licence under sub-section (3) the Controller shall endorse on the licence the particulars of the mines in lawful possession of the licensee and may, at any time, make any change in such particulars.] [Inserted by Bihar Act 28 of 1953.][Explanation. - A person shall be deemed to be not in lawful possession of a mica mine, if he does not hold a valid lease under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act 1948, and the Rules made thereunder.] [Inserted by Bihar Act 28 of 1953.]
