23. Procedure for registration of dealers who hold a certificate of registration under the earlier laws before repeal. -

(1) Any dealer who has been registered on any day before the first day of April,2005, and continues to be so registered under the earlier laws and liable to pay tax under those Acts on the day of coming into force of this Act, shall submit to the appropriate assessing authority particulars of his business in Form VAT-2 within thirty days for issue of a fresh registration certificate under this Act without any fee, and within a further period of ninety days with late fee of one hundred rupees, failing which he shall cease to be a dealer registered under the Act from next day following the expiry of the said period.

(2) Every dealer whose application for registration under any of the earlier laws is pending for decision before its repeal shall furnish particulars of his business in Form VAT-2 within thirty days to the appropriate assessing authority, failing which he shall be deemed to have failed to apply for registration under the Act.

(3) Application in Form VAT-2 furnished under sub- rule (1) or sub-rule (2) shall be signed as in the case of application in Form VAT-1.

(4) Where the assessing authority is satisfied, if necessary after making an enquiry, that the information furnished to him in Form VAT-2 is complete and correct and that the dealer is genuine, he shall issue to the dealer a certificate of registration in Form VAT-RC which shall be valid from the appointed day, and where the assessing authority finds otherwise after affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the applicant, he shall by order in writing specifying reason(s) thereof, reject the application.