Procedure in sale of immovable property.

In the sale of immovable property under this Act the following rules shall be observed:— First.- The sale shall be by public auction to the highest bidder. The time and place of sale shall be fixed by the Collector of the district in which the property is situated, or other officer empowered by the Collector in that behalf. The time may be either previous to or after the expiration of the fasli year. Second.—Previous to the sale the Collector, or other officer empowered by the Collector in that behalf, shall issue a notice thereof in English and in the language of the district, specifying the name of the defaulter; the position and extent of land and of his buildings thereon; the amount of revenue assessed on the land, or upon its different sections; the proportion of the public revenue due during the remainder of the current fasli; and the time, place, and conditions of sale. This notice shall be fixed up one month at least before the sale in the Collector's office and in the Taluk cutcherry, in the nearest police station-house, and on some conspicuous part of the land. Third.—A sum of money equal to fifteen per cent of the price of the land shall be deposited by the purchaser in the hands of the Collector, or other officer empowered by the Collector in that behalf, at the time of the purchase, and where the remainder of the purchase-money may not be paid within thirty days, the money so deposited shall be liable to forfeiture. Fourth.—Where the purchaser may refuse or omit to deposit the said sum of money, or to complete the payment of the remaining purchase-money, the property shall be resold at the expense and hazard of such purchaser, and the amount of all loss or expense which may attend such refusal or omission shall be recoverable from such purchaser in the same manner as arrears of public revenue. Where the lands may, on the second sale, sell for a higher price than at the first sale, the difference or increase shall be the property of him on whose account the said first sale was made. Fifth.- All persons bidding at a sale may be required to state whether they are bidding on their own behalf or as agents, and, in the latter case, to deposit a written authority signed by their principals. If such requisition be not complied with, their bids may be rejected.