4Prohibition of chits not sanctioned or registered under the Act

(1) No chit shall be commenced or conducted without obtaining the previous sanction of the State Government within whose jurisdiction the chit is to be commenced or conducted or of such officer as may be empowered by that Government in this behalf, and unless the chit is registered in that State in accordance with the provisions of this Act:

Provided that a sanction obtained under this sub-section shall lapse if the chit is not registered within twelve months from the date of such sanction or within such further period or periods not exceeding six months in the aggregate as the State Government may, on application made to it in this behalf, allow.

(2) An application for the purpose of obtaining a sanction under sub-section (1) shall be made by the foreman in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The previous sanction referred to in sub-section (1) may be refused, if the foreman,--

(a) had been convicted of any offence under this Act or under any other Act regulating chit business and sentenced to imprisonment for any such offence; or

(b) had defaulted in the payment of fees or the filing of any statement or record required to be paid or filed under this Act or had violated any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder; or

(c) had been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to imprisonment for any such offence unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release:

Provided that before refusing any such sanction, the foreman shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(4) The order of the State Government, and, subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), the order of the officer empowered under sub-section (1), issuing or refusing previous sanction under this section shall be final.

(5) Any person aggrieved by the refusal to issue previous sanction by an officer empowered under sub-section (1) may appeal to the State Government within thirty days of the date of communication to him of such refusal and the decision of that Government on such appeal shall be final.