Section 38. Disposal of undelivered postal articles at office of Post Master General

38. Disposal of undelivered postal articles at office of Post Master General. — (1) Every postal article received at the office of the Post Master General under sub-section (3) of Section 37 shall be dealt with as follows: — (a) if practicable, it shall be re-directed and forwarded by post to the addressee; or (b) if it cannot be re-directed and forwarded as aforesaid, it shall be opened by some officer, appointed by the Post Master General in this behalf and bound to secrecy, in order to ascertain the name and address of the sender. (2) If the name and address of the sender are so ascertained, it shall be returned by post to the sender, free of further charge or subject to such further charge as the Central Government may, by rule, direct. — 39. Final disposal of undelivered postal articles. Undelivered postal articles which cannot be disposed of under the foregoing provisions, shall be detained in the office of the Post Master General for such further period (if any), and shall be dealt with in such manner, as the Central Government may, by rule, direct: Provided that — (a) letters and postcards shall be destroyed; (b) money or saleable property, not being of a perishable nature, found in any undelivered postal article, shall be detained for a period of one year in the office of the Post Master General, and, if on 1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "are in force". 2. Subs., ibid., for "Indian State or foreign country". 3. The words and letters "Indian State corresponding to a Part B State" omitted by Act 25 of 1950, s. 11 and the Fourth Schedule. 4. Subs. by s. 11 and the Fourth Schedule, ibid ., for "the States". 5. Subs. by the A.O. 1950 for "State or country". 6. The words and letter "Part B State" omitted by Act 25 of 1950, s. 11 and the Fourth Schedule. the expiration of that period no person has established his right thereto, shall, if money, be credited to the Post Office and, if saleable property, be sold, the sale-proceeds being credited to the Post Office. CHAPTER VIII SHIP LETTERS