Sale of Goods Act, 1930
Bare Act
Section 1
Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the 1[***] Sale of Goods
Act, 1930.
2 [(2) It extends to the whole of India 3[except
the State of Jammu and Kashmir].]
(3) It shall come into force on the lst day of July, 1930.
Section 2
Definitions In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject
of context,-
(1) "buyer" means a person who buys or agrees to buy
goods;
(2) "delivery" means voluntary transfer of possession
from one person to another;
(3) goods are said to be in a "delivered state" when
they are in such state that the buyer would under the contract be bound to take
delivery of them;
(4) "document of title to goods" includes bill of
lading dock-warrant, warehouse keeper's certificate, wharfingers' certificate,
railway receipt, 4[multimodal transport document,] warrant or order
for the delivery of goods and any other document used in the ordinary course of
business as proof of the possession or control of goods or authorizing or
purporting to authorize, either by endorsement or by delivery, the possessor of
the document to transfer or receive goods thereby represented;
(5) "fault" means wrongful act or default;
(6) "future goods" means goods to be manufactured or
produced or acquired by the seller after making of the contract of sale;
(7) "goods" means every kind of moveable property
other than actionable claims and money; and includes stock and shares, growing
crops, grass, and things attached to or forming part of the land which are
agreed to be severed before sale or under the contract of sale;
(8) A person is said to be "insolvent" who has ceased
to pay his debts in the ordinary course of business, or cannot pay his debts as
they become due, whether he has committed an act of insolvency or not;
(9) "mercantile agent" means a mercantile agent having
in the customary course of business as such agent authority either to sell
goods, or to consign goods for the purposes of sale, or to buy goods, or to
raise money on the security of goods;
(10) "price" means the money consideration for a sale
of goods;
(11) "property" means the general property in goods,
and not merely a special property;
(12) "quality of goods" includes their state or
condition;
(13) "seller" means a person who sells or agrees to
sell goods;
(14) "specific goods" means goods identified and
agreed upon at the time a contract of sale is made; and
(15) expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in
the Indian Contract Act, 1872, have the meaning assigned to them in that act.
Section 3
Application of provisions of Act 9 of 1872
The unrepeated provisions of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, save
insofar as they are inconsistent with the express provisions of this Act, shall
continue to apply to contracts for the sale of goods.
Section 4
Sale and agreement to sell
(1) A contract of sale of goods is a contract whereby the seller
transfers or agrees to transfer the property in goods to the buyer for a price.
There may be a contract of sale between one part-owner and another.
(2) A contract of sale may be absolute or conditional.
(3) Where under a contract of sale the property in the goods is
transferred from the seller to the buyer, the contract is called a sale, but
where the transfer of the property in the goods is to take place at a future
time or subject to some condition thereafter to be fulfilled, the contract is
called an agreement to sell.
(4) An agreement to sell becomes a sale when the time elapses or
the conditions are fulfilled subject to which the property in the goods is to be
transferred.
Section 5
Contract of sale how made
(1) A contract of sale is made by an offer to buy or sell goods
for a price and the acceptance of such offer. The contract may provide for the
immediate delivery of the goods or immediate payment of the price of both, or
for the delivery or payment by installments, or that the delivery or payment or
both shall be postponed.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law for the time being in
force, a contract of sale may be made in writing or by word of mouth, or partly
in writing and partly by word of mouth or may be implied from the conduct of
the parties.
Section 6
Existing or future goods
(1) The goods which form the subject of a contract of sale may
be either existing goods, owned or possessed by the seller, or future goods.
(2) There may be a contract for the sale of goods the
acquisition of which by the seller depends upon a contingency which may or may
not happen.
(3) Where by a contract of sale the seller purports to effect a
present sale of future goods, the contract operates as an agreement to sell the
goods.
Section 7
Goods perishing before making of contract
Where there is a contract for the sale of specific goods, the
contract is void if the goods without the knowledge of the seller have, at the
time when the contract was made, perished or become so damaged as no longer to
answer to their description in the contract.
Section 8
Goods perishing before sale but after agreement to sell
Where there is an agreement to sell specific goods, and
subsequently the goods without any fault on the part of the seller or buyer
perish or become so damaged as no longer to answer to their description in the
agreement before the risk passes to the buyer, the agreement is thereby avoided.
Section 9
Ascertainment of price
(1) The price in a contract of sale may be fixed by the contract
or may be left to be fixed in manner thereby agreed or may be determined by the
course of dealing between the parties.
(2) Where the price is not determined in accordance with the
foregoing provisions, the buyer shall pay the seller a reasonable price. What
is a reasonable price is a question of fact dependent on the circumstances of
each particular case.
Section 10
Agreement to sell at valuation
(1) Where there is an agreement to sell goods on the terms that
the price is to be fixed by the valuation of a third party and such third party
cannot or does not make such valuation, the agreement is thereby avoided;
PROVIDED that, if the goods or any part thereof have
been delivered to, and appropriated by, the buyer, he shall pay a reasonable
price therefor.
(2) Where such third party is prevented from making the
valuation by the fault of the seller or buyer, the party not in fault may
maintain a suit for damages against the party in fault.
Section 11
Stipulations as to time
Unless a different intention appears from the terms of the
contract, stipulations as to time of payment are not deemed to be of the
essence of a contract of sale. Whether any other stipulation as to time is of
the essence of the contract or not depends on the terms of the contract.
Section 12
Condition and warranty
(1) A stipulation in a contract of sale with reference to goods
which are the subject thereof may be a condition or a warranty.
(2) A condition is a stipulation essential to the main purpose
of the contract, the breach of which gives rise to a right to treat the
contract as repudiated.
(3) A warranty is a stipulation collateral to the main purpose
of the contract, the breach of which gives rise to a claim for damages but not
to a right to reject the goods and treat the contract as repudiated.
(4) Whether a stipulation in a contract of sale is a condition or
a warranty depends in each case on the construction of the contract. A
stipulation may be a condition, though called a warranty in the contract.
Section 13
When condition to be treated as warranty
(1) Where a contract of sale is subject to any condition to be
fulfilled by the seller, the buyer may waive the condition or elect to treat
the breach of the condition as a breach of warranty and not as a ground for
treating the contract as repudiated.
(2) Where a contract of sale is not severable and the buyer has
accepted the goods or part thereof, 5[***] the breach of any
condition to be fulfilled by the seller can only be treated as a breach of
warranty and not as a ground for rejecting the goods and treating the contract
as repudiated, unless there is a term of the contract, express or implied, to
that effect.
(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the case of any
condition or warranty fulfillment of which is excused by law by reason of
impossibility or otherwise.
Section 14
Implied undertaking as to title, etc.
In a contract of sale, unless the circumstances of the contract
are such as to show a different intention there is-
(a) an implied condition on the part of the seller that, in the
case of a sale, he has a right to sell the goods and that, in the case of an
agreement to sell, he will have a right to sell the goods at the time when the
property is to pass;
(b) an implied warranty that the buyer shall have and enjoy
quiet possession of the goods;
(c) an implied warranty that the goods shall be free from any
charge or encumbrance in favor of any third party not declared or known to the
buyer before or at the time when the contract is made.
Section 15
Sale by description
Where there is a contract for the sale of goods by description,
there is an implied condition that the goods shall correspond with the
description; and, if the sale is by sample as well as by description, it is not
sufficient that the bulk of the goods corresponds with the sample if the goods
do not also correspond with the description.
Section 16
Implied conditions as to quality or fitness
Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any other law for
the time being in force, there is no implied warranty or condition as to the
quality or fitness for any particular purpose of goods supplied under a contract
of sale, except as follows:-
(1) Where the buyer, expressly or by implication, makes known to
the seller the particular purpose for which the goods are required, so as to
show that the buyer relies on the seller's skill or judgment, and the goods are
of a description which it is in the course of the seller's business to supply
(whether he is the manufacturer or producer or not), there is an implied
condition that the goods shall be reasonably fit for such purpose:
PROVIDED that, in the case of a contract for the sale
of a specified article under its patent or other trade name, there is no
implied condition as its fitness for any particular purpose.
(2) Where goods are bought by description from a seller who
deals in goods of that description (whether he is the manufacturer or producer
or not), there is an implied condition that the goods shall be of merchantable
quality;
PROVIDED that, if the buyer has examined the goods,
there shall be no implied condition as regards defects which such examination
ought to have revealed.
(3) An implied warranty or condition as to quality or fitness
for a particular purpose may be annexed by the usage of trade.
(4) An express warranty or condition does not negative a
warranty or condition implied by this Act unless inconsistent therewith.
Section 17
Preventive action to be taken by the law and order machinery
(1) A District Magistrate or a Sub-divisional Magistrate or any
other Executive Magistrate or any police officer not below the rank of a Deputy
Superintendent of Police may, on receiving information and after such inquiry
as he may think necessary, has reason to believe that a person or a group of
persons not belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, residing
in or frequenting any place within the local limits of his jurisdiction is
likely to commit an offence or has threatened to commit any offence under this
Act and is of the opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding,
declare such an area to be an area prone to atrocities and take necessary
action for keeping the peace and good behavior and maintenance of public order and
tranquility and may take preventive action.
(2) The provisions of Chapters VIII, X and XI of the Code shall,
so far as may be, apply for the purposes of sub-section (1).
(3) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
make one or more schemes specifying the manner in which the officers referred
to in sub-section (1) shall take appropriate action specified in such scheme or
schemes to prevent atrocities and to restore the feeling of security amongst
the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Section 18
Goods must be ascertained
Where there is a contract for the sale of unascertained goods, no
property in the goods is transferred to the buyer unless and until the goods
are ascertained.
Section 19
Property passes when intended to pass
(1) Where there is a contract for the sale of specific or
ascertained goods the property in them is transferred to the buyer at such time
as the parties to the contract intend it to be transferred.
(2) For the purpose of ascertaining the intention of the parties
regard shall be had to the terms of the contract, the conduct of the parties
and the circumstances of the case.
(3) Unless a different intention appears, the rules contained in
sections 20 to 24 are rules for ascertaining the intention of the parties as to
the time at which the property in the goods is to pass to the buyer.
Comment: It was one of the terms of the contract
between the parties that the seller would not be liable for any future loss of
goods and that the goods were being dispatched at the risk of the respondent.
The respondent had also obtained insurance of the goods and had paid the policy
premium. He, therefore, intended the goods to be treated as his own so that if
there was any loss of goods in transit, he could validly claim the insurance
money. The weighment of the goods at Hyderabad or the collection of documents
from the bank or payment of price through the bank at Hyderabad were
immaterial, inasmuch as the property in the goods had already passed at Kerala
and it was not dependant upon the payment of price or the delivery of goods to
the respondent. Agricultural Market Committee v. Shalimar Chemical Works Ltd.,
AIR 1997 SUPREME COURT 2502
Section 20
Specific goods in a deliverable state
Where there is an unconditional contract for the sale of
specific goods in a deliverable state, the property in the goods passes to the
buyer when the contract is made, and it is immaterial whether the time of
payment of the price or the time of delivery of the goods, or both, is
postponed.
Section 21
Specific goods to be put into a deliverable state
Where there is a contract for the sale of specific goods and the
seller is bound to do something to the goods for the purpose of putting them
into a deliverable state, the property does not pass until such thing is done
and the buyer has notice thereof.
Section 22
Specific goods in a deliverable state, when the seller
has to do anything thereto in order to ascertain price
Where there is a contract for the sale of specific goods in a
deliverable state, but the seller is bound to weigh, measure, test or do some
other act or thing with reference to the goods for the purpose of ascertaining
the price, the property does not pass until such act or thing is done and the
buyer has notice thereof.
Section 23
Sale of unascertained goods and appropriation
(1) Where there is a contract for the sale of unascertained or
future goods by description and goods of that description and in a deliverable
state are unconditionally appropriated to the contract, either by the seller
with the assent of the buyer or by the buyer with the assent of the seller, the
property in the goods thereupon passes to the buyer. Such assent may be
expressed or implied, and may be given either before or after the appropriation
is made.
(2) Delivery to carrier- Where, in pursuance of the
contract, the seller delivers the goods to the buyer or to a carrier or other
bailee (whether named by the buyer or not) for the purpose of transmission to
the buyer, and does not reserve the right of disposal, he is deemed to have
unconditionally appropriated the goods to the contract.
Section 24
Goods sent on approval or "on sale or
return"
When goods are delivered to the buyer on approval or "on
sale or return" or other similar terms, the property therein passes to the
buyer-
(a) when he signifies his approval or acceptance to the seller
or does any other act adopting the transaction;
(b) if he does not signify his approval or acceptance to the
seller but retains the goods without giving notice of rejection, then, if a
time has been fixed for the return of the goods, on the expiration of such
time, and, if no time has been fixed, on the expiration of a reasonable time.
Section 25
Reservation of right of disposal
(1) Where there is a contract for the sale of specific goods or
where goods are subsequently appropriated to the contract, the seller may, by
the terms of the contract or appropriation, reserve the right of disposal of
the goods until certain conditions are fulfilled. In such case, notwithstanding
the delivery of the goods to a buyer, or to a carrier or other bailee for the
purpose of transmission to the buyer, the property in the goods does not pass
to the buyer until the conditions imposed by the seller are fulfilled.
6 [(2) Where goods are shipped or delivered to a railway
administration for carriage by railway and by the bill of lading or railway
receipt, as the case may be, the goods are deliverable to the order of the
seller or his agent, the seller is prima facie deemed to reserve right of
disposal.
(3) Where the seller of goods draws on the buyer for the price
and transmits to the buyer the bill of exchange together with the bill of
lading or, as the case may be, the railway receipt, to secure acceptance or
payment of the bill of exchange, the buyer is bound to return the bill of
lading or the railway receipt if he does not honor the bill of exchange; and,
if he wrongfully retains the bill lading or the railway receipt, the property
in the goods does not pass to him.
Explanation : In this section, the expressions
"railway" and "railway administration" shall have the
meanings respectively assigned to them under the Indian Railways Act, 1890.]
Section 26
Risk prima facie passes with property
Unless otherwise agreed, the goods remain at the seller's risk
until the property therein is transferred to the buyer, but when the property
therein is transferred to the buyer, the goods are at the buyer's risk whether
delivery has been made or not:
PROVIDED that, where delivery has been delayed through
the fault of either buyer or seller, the goods are at the risk of the party in
fault as regards any loss which might not have occurred but for such fault:
PROVIDED ALSO that nothing in this section shall affect the
duties or liabilities of either seller or buyer as a bailee of the goods of the
other party.
Section 27
Sale by person not the owner
Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any other law for
the time being in force, where goods are sold by a person who is not the owner
thereof and who does not sell them under the authority or with the consent of
the owner, the buyer acquires no better title to the goods than the seller had,
unless the owner of the goods is by his conduct precluded from denying the
seller's authority to sell:
PROVIDED that, where a mercantile agent is, with the
consent of the owner, in possession of the goods or of a document of title to
the goods, any sale made by him, when acting in the ordinary course of business
of a mercantile agent, shall be as valid as if he were expressly authorized by
the owner of the goods to make the same; provided that the buyer acts is good
faith and has not at the time of the contract of sale notice that the seller
has not authority to sell.
Section 28
Sale by one of joint owners
If one of several joint owners of goods has the sole possession
of them by permission of the co-owners, the property in the goods in
transferred to any person who buys them of such joint owner in good faith and
has not at the time of the contract of sale notice that the seller has not
authority to sell.
Section 29
Sale by person in possession under voidable contract
When the seller of goods has obtained possession thereof under a
contract voidable under section 19 or section 19A of the Indian Contract Act,
1872, but the contract has not rescinded at the time of the sale, the buyer
acquires a good title to the goods, provided he buys them in good faith and
without notice of the seller's defect of title.
Section 30
Seller or buyer in possession after sale
(1) Where a person, having sold goods continues or is in
possession of the goods or of the documents of title to the goods, the delivery
or transfer by that person or by a mercantile agent acting for him of the goods
or documents of title under any sale, pledge or other disposition thereof to
any person receiving the same in good faith and without notice of the previous
sale shall have the same effect as if the person making the delivery or
transfer were expressly authorized by the owner of the goods to make the same.
(2) Where a person, having bought or agreed to buy goods,
obtains with the consent of the seller, possession of the goods or the
documents of title to the goods, the delivery or transfer by that person or by
a mercantile agent acting for him, of the goods or documents of title under any
sale, pledge or other disposition thereof to any person receiving the same in
good faith and without notice of any lien or other right of the original seller
in respect of the goods shall have effect as if such lien or right did not
exist.
Section 31
Duties of seller and buyer
It is the duty of the seller to deliver the goods and of the
buyer to accept and pay for them, in accordance with the terms of the contract
of sale.
Section 32
Payment and delivery are concurrent conditions
Unless otherwise agreed, delivery of the goods and payment of
the price are concurrent conditions, that is to say, the seller shall be ready
and willing to give possession of the goods to the buyer in exchange for the
price, and the buyer shall be ready and willing to pay the price in exchange
for possession of the goods.
Section 33
Delivery
Delivery of goods sold may be made by doing anything which the
parties agree shall be treated as delivery or which has the effect of putting
the goods in the possession of the buyer or of any person authorized to hold
them on his behalf.
Section 34
Effect of part delivery
A delivery of part of goods, in progress of the delivery of the
whole has the same effect, for the purpose of passing the property in such
goods, as a delivery of the whole; but a delivery of part of the goods, with an
intention of severing it from the whole, does not operate as a delivery of the
remainder.
Section 35
Buyer to apply for delivery
Apart from any express contract, the seller of goods is not
bound to deliver them until the buyer applies for delivery.
Section 36
Rules as to delivery
(1) Whether it is for the buyer to take possession of the goods
or for the seller to send them to the buyer is a question depending in each
case on the contract, express or implied, between the parties. Apart from any
such contract, goods sold are to be delivered at the place at which they are at
the time of the sale, and goods agreed to be sold are to be delivered at the
place at which they are at the time of the agreement to sell, if not then in
existence, at the place at which they are manufactured or produced.
(2) Where under the contract of sale the seller is bound to send
the goods to the buyer, but no time for sending them is fixed, the seller is
bound to send them within a reasonable time.
(3) Where the goods at the time of sale are in the possession of
a third person, there is no delivery by seller to buyer unless and until such
third person acknowledges to the buyer that he holds the goods on his behalf:
PROVIDED that nothing in this section shall affect the
operation of the issue or transfer of any document of title to goods.
(4) Demand or tender of delivery may be treated as ineffectual
unless made at a reasonable hour. What is a reasonable hour is a question of
fact.
(5) Unless otherwise agreed, the expenses of and incidental to
putting the goods into a deliverable state shall be borne by the seller.
Section 37
Delivery of wrong quantity
(1) Where the seller delivers to the buyer a quantity of goods
less than he contracted to sell, the buyer may reject them, but if the buyer accepts
the goods so delivered he shall pay for them at the contract rate.
(2) Where the seller delivers to the buyer a quantity of goods
larger than he contracted to sell the buyer may accept the goods included in
the contract and reject the rest, or he may reject the whole. If the buyer
accepts the whole of the goods so delivered, he shall pay for them at the
contract rate.
(3) Where the seller delivers to the buyer the goods he
contracted to sell mixed with goods of a different description not included in
the contract, the buyer may accept the goods which are in accordance with the
contract and reject the rest, or may reject the whole.
(4) The provisions of this section are subject to any usage of
trade, special agreement of course of dealing between the parties.
Section 38
Installment deliveries
(1) Unless otherwise agreed, the buyer of goods is not bound to
accept delivery thereof by installments.
(2) Where there is a contract for the sale of goods to be
delivered by stated installments which are to be separately paid for, and the
seller makes no delivery or defective delivery in respect of one or more
installments, or the buyer neglects or refuses to take delivery of or pay for
one or more installments, it is a question in each case depending on the terms
of the contract and the circumstances of the case, whether the breach of
contract is a repudiation of the whole contract, or whether it is a severable
breach giving rise to a claim for compensation, but not to a right to treat the
whole contract as repudiated.
Section 39
Delivery to carrier or wharfinger
(1) Where, in pursuance of a contract of sale, the seller is
authorized or required to send the goods to the buyer, delivery of the goods to
a carrier, whether named by the buyer or not, for the purpose of transmission
to the buyer, or delivery of the goods to a wharfinger for safe custody, is
prima facie deemed to be a delivery of the goods to the buyer.
(2) Unless otherwise authorized by the buyer, the seller shall
make such contract with the carrier or wharfinger on behalf of the buyer as may
be reasonable having regard to the nature of the goods and the other
circumstances of the case. If the seller omits so to do, and the goods are lost
or damaged in course of transit or whilst in the custody of the wharfinger, the
buyer may decline to treat the delivery to the carrier or wharfinger as a
delivery to himself, or may hold the seller responsible in damages.
(3) Unless otherwise agreed, where goods are sent by the seller
to the buyer by a route involving sea transit, in circumstances in which it is
usual to insure, the seller shall give such notice to the buyer as may enable
him to insure them during their sea transit and if the seller fails so to do,
the goods shall be deemed to be at his risk during such sea transit.
Section 40
Risk where goods are delivered at distant place
Where the seller of goods agrees to deliver them at his own risk
at a place other than that where they are when sold, the buyer shall,
nevertheless, unless otherwise agreed, take any risk of deterioration in the
goods necessarily incident to the course of transit.
Section 41
Buyer's right of examining the goods
(1) Where goods are delivered to the buyer which he has not
previously examined, he is not deemed to have accepted them unless and until he
has had a reasonable opportunity of examining them for the purpose of
ascertaining whether they are in conformity with the contract.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed, when the seller tenders delivery of
goods to the buyer, he is bound, on request, to afford the buyer a reasonable
opportunity of examining the goods for the purpose of ascertaining whether they
are in conformity with the contract.
Section 42
Acceptance
The buyer is deemed to have accepted the goods when he intimates
to the seller that he has accepted them, or when the goods have been delivered
to him and he does any act in relation to them which is inconsistent with the
ownership of the seller, or when, after the lapse of a reasonable time, he
retains the goods without intimating to the seller that he has rejected them.
Section 43
Buyer not bound to return rejected goods
Unless otherwise agreed, where goods are delivered to the buyer
and he refuses to accept them, having the right so to do, he is not bound to
return them to the seller, but it is sufficient if he intimates to the seller
that he refuses to accept them.
Section 44
Liability of buyer for neglecting or refusing delivery
of goods
When the seller is ready and willing to deliver the goods and
requests the buyer to take delivery, and the buyer does not within a reasonable
time after such request take delivery of the goods, he is liable to the seller
for any loss occasioned by his neglect or refusal to take delivery and also for
a reasonable charge for the care and custody of the goods:
PROVIDED that nothing in this section shall affect the
rights of the seller where the neglect or refusal of the buyer to take delivery
amounts to a repudiation of the contract.
Section 45
"Unpaid seller" defined
(1) The seller of goods is deemed to be an "unpaid
seller" within the meaning of this Act.-
(a) When the whole of the price has not been
paid or tendered;
(b) When a bill of exchange or other
negotiable instrument has been received as conditional payment, and the condition
on which it was received has not been fulfilled by reason of the dishonor of
the instrument or otherwise.
(2) In this Chapter, the term "seller" includes any
person who is in the position of a seller, as, for instance, an agent of the
seller to whom the bill of lading has been endorsed, or a consignor or agent
who has himself paid, or is directly responsible for, the price.
Section 46
Unpaid seller's rights
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any law for the
time being in force, notwithstanding that the property in the goods may have
passed to the buyer, the unpaid seller of goods, as such, has by implication of
law-
(a) a lien on the goods for the price while he
is in possession of them;
(b) in case of the insolvency of the buyer a
right of stopping the goods in transit after he has parted with the possession
of them;
(c) a right of re-sale as limited by this Act.
(2) Where the property in goods has not passed to the buyer, the
unpaid seller has, in addition to his other remedies, a right of withholding
delivery similar to and co-extensive with his rights of lien and stoppage in
transit where the property has passed to the buyer.
Section 47
Seller's lien
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the unpaid seller of
goods who is in possession of them is entitled to retain possession of them
until payment or tender of the price in the following cases, namely:-
(a) where the goods have been sold without any
stipulation as to credit;
(b) where the goods have been sold on credit,
but the term of credit has expired;
(c) where the buyer becomes insolvent.
(2) The seller may exercise his right of lien notwithstanding
that he is in possession of the goods as agent or bailee for the buyer.
Section 48
Part delivery
Where an unpaid seller has made part delivery of the goods, he
may exercise his right of lien on the remainder, unless such part delivery has
been made under such circumstances as to show an agreement to waive the lien.
Section 49
Termination of lien
(1) The unpaid seller of goods loses his lien thereon-
(a) when he delivers the goods to a carrier or
other bailee for the purpose of transmission to the buyer without reserving the
right of disposal of the goods;
(b) when the buyer or his agent lawfully
obtains possession of the goods;
(c) by waiver thereof.
(2) The unpaid seller of goods, having a lien thereon, does not
lose his lien by reason only that he has obtained a decree for the price of the
goods.
Section 50
Right of stoppage in transit
Subject to the provisions of this Act, when the buyer of goods
becomes insolvent, the unpaid seller who has parted with the possession of the
goods has the right of stopping them in transit, that is to say, he may resume
possession of the goods as long as they are in the course of transit, and may
retain them until payment or tender of the price.
Section 51
Duration of transit
(1) Goods are deemed to be in course of transit from the time
when they are delivered to a carrier or other bailee for the purpose of transmission
to the buyer, until the buyer or his agent in that behalf takes delivery of
them from such carrier or other bailee.
(2) If the buyer or his agent in that behalf obtains delivery of
the goods before their arrival at the appointed destination, the transit is at
an end.
(3) If, after the arrival of the goods at the appointed
destination, the carrier or other bailee acknowledges to the buyer or his agent
that he holds the goods on his behalf and continues in possession of them as
bailee for the buyer or his agent, the transit is at an end and it is
immaterial that a further destination for the goods may have been indicated by
the buyer.
(4) If the goods are rejected by the buyer and the carrier or
other bailee continues in possession of them, the transit is not deemed to be
at an end, even if the seller has refused to receive them back.
(5) When goods are delivered to a ship chartered by the buyer,
it is a question depending on the circumstances of the particular case, whether
they are in the possession of the master as a carrier or as agent of the buyer.
(6) Where the carrier or other bailee wrongfully refuses to
deliver the goods to the buyer or his agent in that behalf, the transit is
deemed to be at an end.
(7) Where part delivery of the goods has been made to the buyer
or his agent in that behalf, the remainder of the goods may be stopped in
transit, unless such part delivery has been given in such circumstances as to
show an agreement to give up possession of the whole of the goods.
Section 52
How stoppage in transit is effected
(1) The unpaid seller may exercise his right of stoppage in
transit either by taking actual possession of the goods, or by giving notice of
his claim to the carrier or other bailee in whose possession the goods are.
Such notice may be given either to the person in actual possession of the goods
or to his principal. In the latter case the notice, to be effectual, shall be
given at such time and in such circumstances, that the principal, by the
exercise of reasonable diligence, may communicate it to his servant or agent in
time to prevent a delivery to the buyer.
(2) When notice of stoppage in transit is given by the seller to
the carrier or other bailee in possession of the goods, he shall re-deliver the
goods to, or according to the directions of, the seller. The expenses of such
re-delivery shall be borne by the seller.
Section 53
Effect of sub-sale or pledge by buyer
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the unpaid seller's
right of lien or stoppage in transit is not affected by any sale or other
disposition of the goods which the buyer may have made, unless the seller has
assented thereto:
PROVIDED that where a document of title to goods has
been issued or lawfully transferred to any person as buyer or owner of the
goods, and that person transfers the document to a person who takes the
document in good faith and for consideration, then, if such last mentioned
transfer was by way of sale, the unpaid seller's right of lien or stoppage in
transit is defeated, and, if such last mentioned transfer was by way of pledge
or other disposition for value, the unpaid seller's right of lien or stoppage
in transit can only be exercised subject to the rights of the transferee.
(2) Where the transfer is by way of pledge, the unpaid seller
may require the pledge to have the amount secured by the pledge satisfied in
the first instance, as far as possible, out of any other goods or securities of
the buyer in the hands of the pledge and available against the buyer.
Section 54
Sale not generally rescinded by lien or stoppage in
transit
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a contract of
sale is not rescinded by the mere exercise by an unpaid seller of his right of
lien or stoppage in transit.
(2) Where the goods are of a perishable nature, or where the
unpaid seller who has exercised his right of lien or stoppage in transit gives
notice to the buyer of his intention to re-sell, the unpaid seller may, if the
buyer does not within a reasonable time pay or tender the price, re-sell the
goods within a reasonable time and recover from the original buyer damages for
any loss occasioned by his breach of contract, but the buyer shall not be
entitled to any profit which may occur on the re-sale. If such notice is not
given, the unpaid seller shall not be entitled to recover such damages and the
buyer shall be entitled to the profit, if any, on the re-sale.
(3) Where an unpaid seller who has exercised his right of lien
or stoppage in transit re-sells the goods, the buyer acquires a good title
thereto as against the original buyer, notwithstanding that no notice of the
re-sale has been given to the original buyer.
(4) Where the seller expressly reserves a right of re-sale in
case the buyer should make default, and, on the buyer making default, re-sells
the goods, the original contract of sale is thereby rescinded, but without
prejudice to any claim which the seller may have for damages.
Section 55
Suit for price
(1) Where under a contract of sale the property in the goods has
passed to the buyer and the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to pay for the
goods according to the terms of the contract, the seller may sue him for the
price of the goods.
(2) Where under a contract of sale the price is payable on a day
certain irrespective of delivery and the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses
to pay such price, the seller may sue him for the price although the property
in the goods has not passed and the goods have not been appropriated to the
contract.
Section 56
Damages for non-acceptance
Where the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to accept and pay
for the goods, the seller may sue him for damages for non-acceptance.
Section 57
Damages for non-delivery
Where the seller wrongfully neglects or refuses to deliver the
goods to the buyer, the buyer may sue the seller for damages for non-delivery.
Section 58
Specific performance
Subject to the provisions of Chapter II of the Specific Relief
Act, 1877, in any suit for breach of contract to deliver specific or
ascertained goods, the court may, if it thinks fit, on the application of the
plaintiff, by its decree direct that the contract shall be performed
specifically, without giving the defendant the option of retaining the goods on
payment of damages. The decree may be unconditional, or upon such terms and
conditions as to damages, payment of the price or otherwise, as the court may
deem just, and the application of the plaintiff may be made at any time before
the decree.
Section 59
Remedy for breach of warranty
(1) Where there is a breach of warranty by the seller, or where
the buyer elects or is compelled to treat any breach of a condition on the part
of the seller as a breach of warranty, the buyer is not by reason only of such
breach of warranty entitled to reject the goods; but he may-
(a) set up against the seller the breach of
warranty in diminution or extinction of the price, or
(b) sue the seller for damages for breach of
warranty.
(2) The fact that a buyer has set up a breach of warranty in
diminution or extinction of the price does not prevent him from suing for the
same breach of warranty if he has suffered further damage.
Section 60
Repudiation of contract before due date
Where either party to a contract of sale repudiates the contract
before the date of delivery, the other may either treat the contract as
subsisting and wait till the date of delivery, or he may treat the contract as
rescinded and sue for damages for the breach.
Section 61
Interest by way of damages and special damages
(1) Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of the seller or
the buyer to recover interest or special damages in any case whereby law
interest or special damages may be recoverable, or to recover the money paid
where the consideration for the payment of it has failed.
(2) In the absence of a contract to the contrary, the court may
award interest at such rate as it thinks fit on the amount of the price-
(a) to the seller in a suit by him for the
amount of the price-from the date of the tender of the goods or from the date
on which the price was payable;
(b) to the buyer in a suit by him for the
refund of the price in a case of a breach of the contract on the part of the
seller-from the date on which the payment was made.
Section 62
Exclusion of implied terms and conditions
Where any right, duty or liability would arise under a contract
of sale by implication of law, it may be negatived or varied by express
agreement or by the course of dealing between the parties, or by usage, if the
usage is such as to bind both parties to the contract.
Section 63
Reasonable time a question of fact
Where in this Act any reference is made to a reasonable time,
the question what is reasonable time is a question of fact.
Section 64
Auction sale
In the case of sale by auction-
(1) where goods are put up for sale in lots, each lot is prima
facie deemed to be the subject of a separate contract of sale;
(2) the sale is complete when the auctioneer announces its
completion by the fall of the hammer or in other customary manner; and, until
such announcement is made, any bidder may retract his bid;
(3) a right to bid may be reserved expressly by or on behalf of
the seller and, where such right is expressly so reserved, but not otherwise,
the seller or any one person on his behalf may, subject to the provisions
hereinafter contained, bid at the auction;
(4) where the sale is not notified to be subject to a right to
bid on behalf of the seller, it shall not be lawful for the seller to bid
himself or to employ any person to bid at such sale, or for the auctioneer
knowingly to take any bid from the seller or any such person; and any sale
contravening this rule may be treated as fraudulent by the buyer;
(5) the sale may be notified to be subject to a reserved or
upset price;
(6) if the seller makes use of pretended bidding to raise the
price, the sale is voidable at the option of the buyer.
