s 18 Power to sell goods remaining in custody
(1) Subject to this section and without prejudice to section 19 the authority may, where any goods which have been placed in the custody of the authority are not removed from the premises of the authority within a period of twenty-one days from the time when such goods were placed in such custody, at the expiration of such period sell by public auction any or all of such goods as are still in the said custody: Provided that— (a) in the case of goods for which a through bill of lading has been issued there shall be substituted a period of forty-two days for the period of twenty-one days referred to in this subsection; and (b) if the goods are of a perishable nature the authority may direct their removal within such shorter period (not being less than twenty-four hours after the landing) as the authority may think fit, and the said power of sale may be exercised at the expiration of such period. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a sale shall not be rendered invalid by reason only that it takes place on premises or in an area to which the public is not admitted except on presentation of a pass. (3) Before making such sale the authority shall give three days’ notice thereof by advertisement in two local newspapers circulating in the State in which the said sale is to be held, unless the goods are of so perishable a nature as in the opinion of the authority to render their immediate sale necessary or advisable, in which event such notice shall be given as the urgency of the case permits. (4) If their addresses are ascertainable from the manifest of the cargo or from any of the documents which have come into the hands of the authority or are otherwise known, notice shall also be given to the owners of the goods and to the agent of the discharging vessel. Power to compound or compromise claim or demand 18A . The authority may compound, or compromise for or in respect of, any claim or demand made against it, for such sum of money or other compensation as it deems sufficient.