Section 18. Stay of proceedings

18. Stay of proceedings.-- (1) The Court may, at any time after the making of an order of adjudication, stay any suit or other proceeding pending against the insolvent before any Judge or Judges of the Court or in any other Court subject to the superintendence of the Court. (2) An order made under sub-section (1) may be served by sending a copy thereof, under the seal of the Court, by post to the address for service of the plaintiff or other party prosecuting such suit or 18. General proxy.-- A creditor may give a general proxy to his attorney or to his manager or clerk, or any other person in his regular employment. In such case the instrument of proxy shall state the relation in which the person to act thereunder stands to the creditor. 18. Inquiry into mortgage, etc.-- Upon application by any person claiming to be a mortgagee of any part of the insolvent's real or leasehold estate and whether such mortgage is by deed or otherwise, and whether the same is of a legal or equitable nature, or upon application by the official assignee with the consent of such person claiming to be a mortgagee as aforesaid, the Court shall proceed to inquire whether such person is such mortgagee, and for what consideration and under what circumstances; and if it is found till at such person is such mortgagee, and if no sufficient objection appears to the title of such person to the sum claimed by him under such mortgage, the Court shall direct such accounts and inquiries to be taken as may be necessary for ascertaining the principal, interest and costs due upon such mortgage, and of the rents and profits, or dividends, interest or other proceeds received by such person, or by any other person by his order or for his use in case he has been in possession of the property over which the mortgage extends, or any part thereof, and the Court, if satisfied that there ought to be a sale, shall direct notice to be given in such newspapers as the Court thinks fit, when and where, and by whom and in what way, the said premises or property, or the interest therein so mortgaged, are to be sold, and that such sale be made accordingly, and that the official assignee (unless it is otherwise ordered[1] ) shall have the conduct of such sale; but it shall riot be imperative on any such mortgagee to make such application. At any such sale the mortgagee may bid and purchase.