Section 19E: Places of registration.

(1) Every application for registration shall be made to a registering authority within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the owner of the inland mechanically propelled vessel ordinarily resides or carries on business.

(2) Where the owner applying for a certificate of registration is a company within the meaning of section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the application may be made to a registering authority within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the principal office of the company is situate.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, an inland mechanically propelled vessel may be registered by a registering authority in any State, although the owner does not ordinarily reside or carry on business in that State or, if a com pany, the principal place of business of the company is not situate in that State:

Provided that the Government of the State in which the owner ordinarily resides or carries on business, or in the case of a company the Government of the State where the principal place of business of the company is situate, has accorded its previous approval thereto.