The West Bengal Escheats And Forfeitures Act, 2012
west-bengal · 2012
The scanned source for this Act is imperfect — headings or section boundaries may be off. Verify against the official source.
- S. 1—
- S. 2Section 2 defines key terms used in the West Bengal Escheats and Forfeitures Act, 2012, including "Appellate Authority," "Claimant," "Collector," and "Competent Authority."
- S. 3Section 3 transfers property of intestate persons or defunct corporations to the State Government upon dissolution or inactivity.
- S. 4Section 4 mandates the Collector to report escheats to the Competent Authority, which then conducts a summary inquiry to transfer property to the State Government.
- S. 5Section 5 directs the Collector to take over escheated property and outlines methods for serving notices on property owners.
- S. 6Section 6 mandates the Collector to publish a notice in newspapers and local gazettes to inform claimants of escheated property.
- S. 7(1) Notwithstanding anything contained herein, on being passing of an order and management
- S. 8Section 8 allows the State Government to sell or dispose of escheated movable or immovable property after publication of satisfaction order.
- S. 9Section 9 bars suits against the State Government for actions under the Act, except as specified, while allowing High Court and Supreme Court jurisdiction.
- S. 10Section 10 mandates unclaimed property found in public to be seized by police and sent to the Collector for disposal.
- S. 11Section 11 mandates the Collector to publish notices in newspapers and the Gazette to invite claims for unclaimed property, with perishable items sold at auction.
- S. 12Section 12 mandates the Collector to forfeit and sell unclaimed properties to the State Government if no claim is made within the specified period.
- S. 13Uncontested claims on unclaimed property within allowed time are transferred to the Collector.
- S. 14Section 14 resolves contested claims by referring to court, allowing Collector to auction perishable items before court decision.
- S. 15Section mandates state officers to report escheats and forfeitures to the Collector.
- S. 16(1) Subject to the general or special order of the State Government, the and custody
- S. 17Section 17 allows the State Government to appoint an administrator for escheated property management.
- S. 18Section 18 directs civil courts to transfer escheat or forfeiture cases to the Competent Authority for further proceedings.
- S. 19Section 19 mandates the Collector to manage escheat property during legal proceedings unless possession is with the objector.
- S. 20Section 20 prohibits the sale or transfer of escheat properties without state government approval.
- S. 21Section 21 penalizes non-compliance with specified objections and appeals under the Act with imprisonment and fine.
- S. 22Section 22 protects individuals and the State Government from legal actions for actions done in good faith under the Act.
- S. 23Section 23 allows the State Government to create rules for implementing the West Bengal Escheats and Forfeitures Act, 2012.
- S. 24Section 24 overrides any conflicting laws or decrees when implementing the West Bengal Escheats And Forfeitures Act, 2012.
- S. 25The section allows the State Government to issue orders to resolve any difficulties in implementing the Act.
- S. 26Section 26 repeals specified prior laws in West Bengal, transfers pending escheats proceedings, and deems prior escheated properties under this Act.
- S. 1810The Bengal Wills and Intestacy Regulation, 1799
- S. 2012(2) It extends to the whole of the State of West Bengal