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Section 14 of The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878

Any person who has so appeared and claimed may, within one month from the date of such order, institute a suit in the Civil Court to obtain a decree declaring his right; and in every such suit the finder of the treasure and all persons disputing such claim before the Collector shall be made defendants.

Summary

This section allows a person involved in a land dispute to take the matter to court.
The person must start a lawsuit in a Civil Court within one month of the Collector's order to stop the case.
The goal of the lawsuit is to get a formal court order, called a decree, that proves their right to the land.
The person who found the treasure must be named as a defendant, which is the person being sued.
Anyone else who claimed to own the land before the Collector must also be named as a defendant in the suit.

Practical examples

1On July 1st, the Collector orders the treasure case to stop because of a dispute. Mr. Verma, who claims the land, files his lawsuit in the local Civil Court on July 20th. He names the finder, Ravi, and another claimant, Mr. Das, as defendants.

2Sunita claims she owns the garden where a gold pot was found. After the Collector stays the case, Sunita has exactly 30 days to file her papers in court to prove the garden belongs to her.

FAQ

1. How much time does a claimant have to go to court?

A person has one month from the date of the Collector's order to start a lawsuit.

2. Who must be sued in this land dispute case?

The finder and all other people who claimed the land before the Collector must be made defendants.

3. What is the purpose of this lawsuit?

The purpose is to obtain a decree, which is a formal court decision, declaring the person's right to the land.

Test yourself

Q1.Under Section 14 of The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878, how long does a claimant have to institute a suit in Civil Court after the Collector's order?

Q2.Who must be made a defendant in a suit filed under Section 14 of The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878?

Q3.Under Section 14 of The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878, what is the legal goal of the person starting the suit?

Q4.If a Collector stays proceedings under Section 13, which section of The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878, explains how that dispute is settled in court?

Q5.In a suit under Section 14 of The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878, what happens if the finder is not made a defendant?

13PreviousSection 13 In case of dispute as to ownership of place, proceedings to be stayed.15NextSection 15 And division thereupon.

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