Unit -II
Special Contracts
Q. 1: Define a contract of indemnity as per Indian Contract Act, 1872.
A1): According to Section 124 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, a contract of indemnity means “a contract by which one party promises to save the other from the loss caused to him by the conduct of the promissory himself or by the conduct of any other person”.
Q. 2: State the essentials of a valid contract of indemnity.
A2): The essential elements of a contract of indemnity are stated below-
Q. 3: Enumerate the rights of an indemnity-holder.
A3): Section 125 of the Act deals with the following rights of indemnity holder when sued:
Q. 4: Define contract of guarantee as per Indian Contract Act, 1872.
A4): According to section 126 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, a contract of guarantee is a contract to perform the promise, or discharge the liability of a third person in case of his default. The person who gives the guarantee is called the surety/guarantor, the person in respect of whose default the guarantee is given is called the principal debtor and the person to whom the guarantee is given is called the creditor. The contract of guarantee may be oral or written.
Q.5: State the essentials of a contract of guarantee.
A5): The essential elements of a contract of guarantee are stated below:
Q. 6: Distinguish between contract of indemnity and contract of guarantee.
A6): Difference between Contract of Indemnity and Guarantee-
| Contract of Indemnity | Contract of Guarantee |
1. | Defined U/S 124 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. | Defined U/S 126 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. |
2. | Two parties are involved- Indemnity Holder and Indemnifier. | Three parties are involved- Creditor, Principal Debtor and Surety. |
3. | There exists only one contract. | There exist three contracts. |
4. | Indemnifier’s liability is primary. | Surety’s liability is secondary. |
5. | Liability arises on happening of contingency. | Liability arises on existence of debt. |
6. | All parties must be competent. | Principal debtor may be a minor. |
7. | No Right of Subrogation | There is right of subrogation available to the surety. |
Q. 7: Enumerate the rights and liabilities of surety.
A7): The liability of the surety arises in case of default of the principal debtor. The extent of the surety’s liability is discussed below:
The surety has the following rights against the Creditor, Principal Debtor and against co-sureties:
B. Rights of surety against the Debtor
C. Rights of surety against co-sureties
Q. 8: Define bailment.
A8): According to Section 148 of the Indian Contract Act, a bailment is the delivery of commodities by one individual to another for some purpose, upon a contract, that they shall, when the purpose is accomplished, be returned or otherwise disposed of according to the direction of the person delivering them. The person delivering the goods is called the ‘Bailor’ and the one to whom they are delivered is called the ‘Bailee’. The transaction is called ‘bailment’. Bailment involves change of possession & not transfer of ownership. Example of bailment is- delivering of cloth to a tailor for making suit.
Q. 9: State the characteristics of bailment.
A9): The characteristics of bailment are stated as follows:
Q. 10: What are the different types of bailment?
A10): The different types of bailment are discussed below:
Voluntary bailment is the result of express contract between bailor and bailee whereas involuntary bailment is the result of operation of law.
Q. 11: Discuss the rights and duties of bailor.
A11): The rights enjoyed by the bailor are:
The bailor has the following duties:
Q. 12: Discuss the rights and duties of bailee.
A12): The rights enjoyed by a bailee are as follows:
2. Right to deliver goods to one of the several joint bailers: when goods have been bailed by several joint owners, the bailee has a right to deliver the goods to one of the several joint owner without the consent of all, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary.
3. Right to deliver goods, in good faith, to bailor: If the bailor has no title to the goods, and the bailee delivers them back to the bailor in good faith, the bailee is not responsible to the true owner in respect of such delivery.
4. Right of action against third party: if a third party wrongfully deprives bailee of the use or possession of the goods bailed, he ha s a right of action against such third party in the same manner as the true owner has against the third person.
5. Right of lien: The bailee has a right to claim his lawful charges and if they are not paid, he is given the right to retain the goods until the charges due in respect of them are paid.
The bailee owes the following duties:
Q. 13: How is a contract of bailment terminated?
A13): A contract of bailment terminates under the following circumstances:
Q. 14: Define Pledge.
A14): According to Sec. 172 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, pledge means the bailment of goods as security for payment of a debt or performance of a promise. In this case the bailor is called the ‘Pledger’ or ‘Pawnor’ and the bailee is called the ‘Pledgee’ or the ‘Pawnee’.
This is a special type of bailment where both moveable and immovable properties are pledged.
Q. 15: Discuss the circumstances in which a pledge by non-owners is valid.
A15): The general rule is that it is the owner who ordinary can create a valid pledge. But in the following even non-owner can make a valid pledge.
(a) Pledge by mercantile representative: Where a mercantile mediator is in possession of commodities or the credentials of the title of the commodities, any pledge made by him with the approval of the owner, will be valid and will bind the owner. (Sec. 178).
(b) Pledge by seller in possession after sale: A seller left in possession of commodities after sale can make a valid pledge. The original buyer can obtain damages from the seller but cannot recover the goods from the pledge.
(c) Pledge by co-owner in possession: One of the co-owners in sole possession of the goods may make a valid pledge of the goods with the consent of other co-owners.
(d) Pledge by person in possession under a voidable contract: Pledge created by a person who obtains possession of goods under a voidable contract, is valid, provided the contract has not been rescinded at the time of the pledge and the pledgee acts in good faith.
Q. 16: Discuss the rights of pawnee. A16): The rights enjoyed by a pawnee may be enumerated as follows:
2. Right of retainer for subsequent advances: When the Pawnee borrows money to the same pawnor after the time of the pledge, it is assumed that the right of retainer over the pledge of goods extends to subsequent advances also. (Sec174).
3. Rights to extraordinary express: The Pawnee is to receive from the pawnor extraordinary expenses incurred by him for the preservation of the goods pledged but he has no right to retain the goods. (Sec. 175)
4. Right against true owner, when the pawnor’s title is defective: When the pawnor obtained possession of the goods pledged by him under a voidable contract i.e. (by fraud, undue influence, coercion) but the contract has not been rescinded at the time of the pledge, the Pawnee acquires a good title to the commodities (Sec178-A)
5. Pawnee’s right’s where pawnor makes default: Where the pawnor fails to pay debt or performance of the promise, the Pawnee may exercise the following rights:
Q. 18: Define agency.
A18): The terms ‘agent’ and ‘principal’ are contained in Section 182 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Accordingly, an agent is a person employed to do any act for another or to represent another in dealings with third persons. The person for whom such act is done, or who is represented, is called the principal. Thus, an agency is a comprehensive word which is used to describe the relationship that arises where one person is employed by another in order to bring the latter into legal relations with a third person.
Q. 19: State the characteristics of agency.
A19): A contract of agency has all the essentials of a contract with some special features of its own. They are as follows:
Q. 20: What are the different types of agents?
A20): Agents are classified in the following categories:A. Classification according to extent of authority:
B. Classification according to nature of work:
2. Non-mercantile agent: Non-mercantile agents include legal practitioners, attorneys, insurance persons, clearing and forwarding agents and wife etc.
Q. 21: Discuss the different modes of creation of agency.
A21): An agency may be created in different ways. It need not be created expressly. It is created from circumstances and conduct of the parties.
(a) Agency by estoppel: In many cases an agency may be implied from the conduct of the party, though no express authority has been given. Where the principal knowingly permits a person to act in a certain business on his behalf, such principal is stopped from denying the authority of the agent.
(b) Agency by holding out: This agency is based on the ‘doctrine of holding out’ which is a part of the law of estoppels. In this case also the alleged principal is bound by the acts of the supposed agent, if he has induced third parties to believe that they are done with his authority. But unlike an ‘agency by estoppel’, this kind of agency requires some positive act or conduct by the principal to establish agency subsequently.
(c) Agency by necessity: In certain urgent circumstances, the law confers an authority on a person to act as an agent for the benefit of another, there being no opportunity of communicating with the other. Such agency is called an ‘agency of necessity’.
3. Agency by Ratification: Ratification means subsequent adoption and acceptance of an act originally done without instruction or authority. Thus, where a principal affirms or adopts the unauthorized act of his agent, he is said to have ratified that act and there comes into existence an agency by ratification.
4. Agency by operation law: Sometimes an agency arises by operation of law. For example, partners of firm, promoters of a company.
Q. 22: what are the rights and duties of an agent?
A22): An agent has the following rights:
An agent has the following rights:
Q. 23: Enumerate the rights and duties of the principal.
A23): The duties of the agent are the rights of the principal, such as:
The duties of the principal are the rights of the agent, such as:
Q. 24: Explain the liabilities of the principal and agent towards third parties.
A24): The liabilities of the principal and agent towards third parties are:
B. When agent is acting for unnamed principal: Where the agent does not disclose the name of his principal to the third party, such principal is known as unnamed principal and is liable for all lawful acts of the agent.
C. When agent is acting for an undisclosed principal: Where a third party enters into a contract with the agent without knowing that he is merely an agent of some principal, then the agent will be personally liable to the third party. The principal may intervene any time and demand the third party to perform.
Liability of agent towards third party
An agent working in good faith, on behalf of the principal, and disclosing that he is merely an agent, cannot be held liable towards third parties. However, the agent is liable for any criminal acts done by him.
Q. 25: How is an agency terminated? Discuss the various modes of termination of an agency.
A25): According to Sec. 201, the various modes of termination of agency are as follows:
1. Termination of the agency by an act of the parties:-(a) Agreement: The relation of principal and agent, like any other agreement, may be terminated at any time and at any state by the mutual agreement between the principal and agent.
(b) Revocation by the principal: A principal has an authority to terminate the agency at any time before the agent has exercised his authority, so as to bind the principal unless the agency is irrevocable.
(c) Revocation by the agent: An agency may also be terminated by the agent after giving a reasonable notice to the principal.
2. Termination of organization by operation of law:(a) Performance of the contract: The most obvious mode of terminating the agency is to do what the agent has undertaken to do. An agency is terminated when the object of the appointment of agent is accomplished.(b) Death and insanity: When the agent or the principal dies or becomes insane, the agency is terminated.(c) Destruction of subject matter: An agency which is created to deal with a certain subject matter comes to an end by the destruction of the subject matter.(d) Principal becoming an alien enemy: When the agent and the principal are alien enemies, the contract of agency is void until the countries of the principal and the agent are at peace. If war breaks out between the two countries, the contracts of agency are terminated.(e) Termination of sub-agents’ authority: The termination of an agent’s authority puts an end to the sub-agent’s authority.(f) Dissolution of a company: If the principal or agent is an incorporated company, the agency automatically ceases to exist on dissolution of the company.(g) Termination by subsequent impossibility: When the implication of an agency becomes unlawful due to subsequent change of law, the agency automatically gets terminated.