§ 54:5-77 — Municipal action to bar redemption

54:5-77. a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1994, c.32.) b. Any municipality which holds the tax title may at any time file an action with the Superior Court in the county wherein said municipality is situate, demanding that the right of redemption on such land be barred. Such action shall be heard in a summary manner, and the court shall grant a judgment barring the right of redemption if it finds that the land or any improvement thereon is hazardous to the public health, safety and welfare, or unfit for human habitation; any judgment rendered pursuant to such summary proceeding shall be subject to the appropriate provisions of R.S.54:5-54, except that in the case of an unknown owner or unknown claimant, the equity of redemption shall be barred pursuant to the provisions contained in R.S.54:5-90. Notice and service of process shall be made pursuant to the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. It shall be an absolute defense to the action that the owner, mortgagee, or other person having an interest therein has abated, removed, or corrected the condition or conditions which cause the improvement to be hazardous to the public health, safety and welfare, or unfit for human habitation, or has deposited with the court (1) the amount of money required, as determined by the court, to abate, remove or correct the condition or conditions, or (2) a performance bond in double the amount thereof. Thereupon, the owner, mortgagee, or other person having an interest in said land, shall proceed to abate, remove or correct said condition or conditions within such time as the court shall deem reasonable under the circumstances. Moneys deposited with the court may, in the court's discretion, be used to abate, remove or correct the condition or conditions involved, or may be paid to the depositor or such other persons, as the court determines, who have abated, removed or corrected such condition or conditions. The amount of any performance guarantee deposited with the court may be proportionately reduced by the court as portions of the work are completed. Amended 1965,c.187,s.5; 1974,c.91,s.3; 1994,c.32,s.10.