(1)

Whenever any person has died leaving assets within any State and the Administrator-General of such State is satisfied that such assets, excluding any sum of money deposited in a Government Savings Bank or in any provident fund to which the provisions of the Provident Fund Act, 1925 (19 of 1925) apply, did not at the date of death exceed in the whole [ten lakhs] [Substituted for the words amendment "two lakhs " Act No. 33 of 2012] rupees in value, he may grant to any person, claiming otherwise than as a creditor to be interested in such assets or in the due administration thereof, a certificate under his hand entitling the claimant to receive the assets therein mentioned left by the deceased within the State, to a value not exceeding in the whole [fifty thousand] [substituted for the words "fifteen thousand " by the Administrators-General (Amendment) Act, 1983 (18 of 1983), S.2 (26-08-1983)] rupees.

(2)

No certificate under this section shall be granted before the lapse of one month from the death unless before the lapse of the said one month the Administrator-General is requested so to do by writing under the hand of the executor or the widow or other person entitled to administer the estate of the deceased and he thinks fit to grant it.

(3)

No certificate shall be granted under this section,-

(i) where probate of the deceased's will or letters of administration of his estate has or have been granted; or

(ii) in respect of any sum of money deposited in a Government Savings Bank or in any provident fund to which the provisions of the Provident Funds Act, 1925 (19 of 1925), apply.