Section 3 in West Bengal Escheats and Forfeitures Act, 2012
3. Escheats.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in other laws for the time being in force, where a person dies intestate and without leaving legal heirs according to his personal law or any corporation, trust, association or society or the governing body of such corporation, trust, association or society, by whatever name called, recognised by law to be capable of owning property, whether in its own name or in the name of any governing body or office bearer by whatever name called or otherwise, the transfer to the State Government of the property of such artificial person on its dissolution, winding up, becoming defunct whether by operation of law, declaration or in fact or has ceased to exist or is unable to hold the general meeting and reconstitute its new executive committee consecutively for last five years, the property of such person or artificial person, as the case may, be shall automatically stand transferred to the State Government, and the State Government may cause possession or management or administration of such property to be taken over by escheat or lapse, or as bona vacantia for want of rightful owner, and on such transfer having taken place automatically on such finding of fact as referred to in clause (g) of section 2 by the Competent Authority, the State Government shall become the owner of the property without any further act or document being needed.
