(1)A licensed dealer may employ, whether on a whole-time or part-time basis or on payment of daily wages or other remuneration, an artisan-(a)who is or was a dealer or a goldsmith or was employed by a dealer, for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the commencement of Part XII-A of the Defence of India Rules, 1962 or at any time thereafter but before the commencement of this Act, or(b)who is eligible to obtain a certificate recognising him as a goldsmith.(2)No person shall be employed by any licensed dealer as an artisan unless an identity card has been given to such artisan by the licensed dealer and no artisan, the counter-signature of whose identity card has been refused or whose identity card has been cancelled, shall be employed by licensed dealer after such refusal or cancellation.(3)Before employing an artisan, a licensed dealer shall make inquiries as to the antecedents of the artisan and grant him an identity card, in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed, and enter the name and the prescribed particulars of such artisan in a register to be maintained in such form as may be prescribed and shall send such identity card within one month from the date of issue thereof to the Gold Control Officer for approval and counter-signature.(4)On receipt of the identity card of an artisan under this Act the Gold Control Officer may, after making such inquiry, if any, as he may consider necessary, either countersign the identity card or if he is of opinion that the applicant is not a suitable person for employment as an artisan, refuse in writing to countersign such identity card.(5)The Gold Control Officer may, if he is satisfied that the particulars of an artisan, as entered in the register referred to in sub-section (3) are incorrect or false in material particulars or that the artisan has contravened any provision of this Act or any rule or order made thereunder or of any other law relating to gold or foreign exchange for the time being in force, cancel the identity card of such artisan:Provided that no such cancellation shall be made unless the artisan has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action.(6)The identity card,-(a)of an artisan, who is dismissed by the dealer by whom he is employed, or(b)the countersignature of which has been refused, or(c)which has been cancelled,shall be immediately recovered by the licensed dealer by whom the artisan holding such card is employed and such dealer shall immediately recover all the quantity of gold which was in the possession, custody or control or control or such artisan on the date of such dismissal, refusal or cancellation, as the case may be.(7)No licensed dealer or certified goldsmith shall accept employment as an artisan unless he has, before commencing work as an artisan, surrendered his licence or certificate, as the case may be, to the Gold Control Officer:Provided that where such licensed dealer or certified goldsmith makes an application to the effect that he intends to resume business as such dealer or goldsmith, the licence or certificate as the case may be, which was surrendered by him may be restored to him and thereupon he shall surrender the identity card which was granted to him under this section:Provided further that no such restoration shall be made if such dealer or goldsmith has, while functioning as an artisan, contravened any provision of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder or of any other law, for the time being in force, relating to gold or foreign exchange.
