15. (1) Whenever goods deposited in a warehouse being to deteriorate or are likely to deteriorate from causes beyond the control of the warehouseman, he shall forthwith give notice thereof to the depositor, requiring him to take delivery of the goods immediately after surrendering the receipt duly discharged and paying all charges due to the warehouseman.
(2) Where the depositor does not, within the prescribed time, comply with the notice given to him under sub-section (1), the warehouseman may cause the goods to be removed from the warehouse and sold by public auction at the cost and risk of the depositor:
Provided that the warehouseman shall give notice of the sale to such authority as may be prescribed at least 48 hours before such sale.
[Explanation-Loss of weight or bulk by driage or shrink- age or gain of weight or bulk by absorption of moisture shall be deemed to amount to deterioration within the meaning of this section if the loss or gain exceeds such limits as the licensing authority may, from time to time, having regard to the climatic conditions of different areas, fix by notification published in the official Gazette.]