Recovery of property tax on lands and buildings or any other tax or charge when owner of land or building is unknown or ownership is disputed.

(1) If any money is due under this Act from the owner of any land or building on account of tax on such land or building or any other tax, expense or charge recoverable under this Act, and if the owner of such land or building is unknown or the ownership thereof is disputed, the Chief Municipal Officer may publish twice, at an interval of not less than two months, a notification of such dues and of sale of such land or building for realization thereof, and may, after the expiry of not less than one month from the date of last publication of such notification and, unless the amount recoverable is paid, sell such land or building by public auction to the highest bidder, who shall deposit, at the time of sale, twenty- five per cent of the purchase money, and the balance thereof within thirty days of the date of sale. Such notification shall be published in the Official Gazette and in local newspapers and by displaying on such land or building, as the case may be. (2) After deducting the amount due to the Municipality as aforesaid, the surplus sale proceeds, if any, shall be credited to the Municipal Fund and may be paid, on demand, to any person who establishes his right thereto to the satisfaction of the Chief Municipal Officer or a court of competent jurisdiction. (3) Any person may pay the amount due at any time before the completion of the sale, whereupon the sale shall be abandoned. Such person may recover such amount by a suit in a court having jurisdiction from any person beneficially interested in such land or building.