Section 18. Payment of amount or deposit of same in Court.

(1) On making order under section 7 or 8, the authorised officer shall out of the monies provided by the State Government in this behalf tender payment of the amount ordered by him to the persons entitled thereto according to the order and shall pay it to them unless prevented by someone or more of the contingencies mentioned in sub-section (2). (2) If they shall not consent to receive it, or if there be any dispute as to the eligibility of any person to receive the amount or as to the apportionment of it, the authorised officer shall deposit the amount in the District Court : Provided that, any person admitted to be interested may receive such payment under protest as to the sufficiency of the amount : Provided further that, no person who has received the amount otherwise than under protest shall be entitled to make any application under section 9 : Provided also that, nothing herein contained shall affect the liability of any person, who may receive the whole or any part of any amount under this Act to pay the same to the person lawfully entitled thereto. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) there shall be paid out of the Temples Fund to the State Government such portion of the total amount paid or deposited by the authorised officer under this section as the State Government may determine in this behalf and such portion shall be paid by the Committee during such period and on payment of interest at such rate as the State Government may specify in that behalf.