Section 25. Chairman and Vice-Chairman to hand over charge of their respective offices and consequences of refusal to hand over charge.

(1) On the election of a new Chairman or Vice-Chairman, the outgoing Chairman or Vice Chairman, as the case may be, shall immediately hand over charge of their respective office and all papers and property of the committee to the new Chairman, or as the case may be, to the Vice-Chairman. (2) If the outgoing Chairman or Vice-Chairman fails or refuses to hand over charge of his office and all papers and property of the committee as required under sub-section (1), the Metropolitan Commissioner or any officer empowered by him in writing in this behalf may, by order in writing, direct the Chairman or the Vice-Chairman, as the case may be, to forthwith hand over charge of his office and all papers and property of the Committee, if any, in his possession as such Chairman or Vice-Chairman to the new Chairman or Vice-Chairman. (3) If the outgoing Chairman or Vice-Chairman, to whom a direction has been issued under sub-section (2), does not comply with such direction, the Metropolitan Commissioner or any office authorised by him under sub-section (2), may apply to the Executive Magistrate within whose jurisdiction the committee is functioning for seizing and taking possession of papers, funds and property of the committee in the possession of such Chairman or Vice-Chairman. (4) On receipt of an application under sub-section (3), the magistrate may authorise any police officer, not below the rank of a Sub-inspector of Police, to enter and search any place where the papers, funds and property are kept or likely to be kept and to seize them and hand over possession thereof to the new Chairman or Vice-Chairman, as the case may be.