If the amount of gratuity payable under this Act is not paid by the employer, within the prescribed time, to the person entitled thereto, the controlling authority shall, on an application made to it in this behalf by the aggrieved person, issue a certificate for that amount to the Collector who shall recover the same, together with compound interest thereon1[at such rate as the Central Government may, by notification, specify], from the date of expiry of the prescribed time as arrears of land revenue and pay the same to the person entitled thereto:
2[Provided that the controlling authority shall, before issuing a certificate under this section, give the employer a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the issue of such certificate:
Provided further that the amount of interest payable under this section shall, in no case exceed the amount of gratuity payable under this Act.]
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1. Substituted by Act 22 of 1987, section 8, for "at the rate of nine per cent, per annum" (w.e.f. 1-10-1987).
2. Added by Act 22 of 1987, section 8 (w.e.f. 1-10-1987).