56. [ Grant of public carrier's permits. [Substituted by Act 100 of 1956, section 50, for the original section (w.e.f. 16-2-1957).]
(1)Subject to the provisions of section 55, a Regional Transport Authority may, on an application made to it under section 54, grant a public carrier's permit in accordance with the application or with such modifications as it deems fit or refuse to grant such a permit :Provided that no such permit shall be granted in respect of any area or route not specified in the application.(2)The Regional Transport Authority, if it decides to grant a public carrier's permit. may grant the permit for one or more goods vehicles of a specified description and may, subject to any rules that may be made under this Act, attach to, the permit any one or more of the following conditions, namely:-(i)that the vehicle or vehicles shall be used only in a specified area, or on a specified route or routes;(ii)that the laden weight of any vehicle used shall not exceed a specified maximum;(iii)that goods of a specified nature shall not be carried;(iv)that goods shall be carried at specified rates;(v)that specified arrangement shall be made for the housing, maintenance and repair of vehicles and the storage and safe custody of the goods carried;(vi)that the holder of the permit shall furnish to the Regional Transport Authority such periodical returns, statistics and other information as the State Government may, from time to time, prescribe;(vii)that the Regional Transport Authority may after giving notice of not less than one month,-(a)vary the conditions of the permit;(b)attach to the permit further conditions;(viii)that the conditions of the permit shall not be departed from save with the approval of the Regional Transport Authority;(ix)any other conditions which may be prescribed.(3)Where there is any free zone along or contiguous to the area or route for which a public carrier's permit is granted, the Regional Transport Authority shall include in such permit, wherever possible, an authorisation to carry any goods other than those prohibited by any law for the time being in force, anywhere in that free zone.(4)For the purposes of this section, "free zone" means such municipal limits of a town or such other area as the State Transport Authority may, subject to any rules that may be made under section 68 and having regard to the volume of traffic in the area and other circumstances, declare to be a free zone within which goods may be carried anywhere by any motor vehicle covered by a public carrier's permit.]
