In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Appellate Authority” means the Government or such authority that the Government may by general or special order delegate such function to;
(b) “Bona vacantia” includes any property, situated in the State of Goa, of which there is no rightful owner, but does not include an escheat or any movable property found in a public place;
(c) “Claimant” means a person who had a legal claim on the previous owner, or just or natural right or claim to succeed to the previous owner’s property or to any part thereof and claiming any interest in escheated property;
(d) “Competent Authority” means any person or authority authorised by the Government not below the rank of Junior Scale Officer-Class A, by notification in the Official Gazette, to perform such functions of the competent authority or functions incidental thereto under this Act;
(e) “Court” means any civil court of competent jurisdiction;
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(f) “Escheat” means the automatic transfer to the Government of property of a person who dies intestate and without any legal heirs according to his personal law;
(g) “Escheated property” means any movable or immovable property such as land, building or other real or personal property or any interest, legal or equitable in it, which has vested or having become vested or shall vest in the Government by escheat or lapse, or as bona vacantia under the provisions of this Act;
(h) “Government” means the Government of Goa;
(i) “Notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette; and the word “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(k) “property” means and includes movable or immovable property, as the case it may be.
CHAPTER-II Escheats