CHAPTER III
EFFECTS OF THE CONTRACT
Transfer of Property as between Seller and Buyer
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.
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 in to the 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 circumstance of the case.
(3)
Unless a different intention appears, the rules contained in section
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.
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.
6.
S.16-A, inserted by Sale of Goods (Amendment) Act (XVIII of 1994), S.2
with effect from 23-10-1994.
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 of 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.
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.
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 express
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 to other bailee (whether
named by the buyer or not) for the purpose of transmission to the buyer,
and does not reserve the right to disposal, he is deemed to have unconditionally
appropriated the goods to the contract.
24.
Goods sent on approval or "on sale or return".--- When
goods are delivered to the buyer on approval or "on sale or return"
of 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 does without giving 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.
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, be 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.
7[(2) Where goods are shipped or are dispatched by railway
and are by the bill of lading or by railway receipt deliverable to the
order of the seller or his agent the seller is prima facie deemed to reserve
the right of disposal].
(3) Where the seller of goods draws on the buyer for the price and transmits
the bill of exchange and 8[bill of landing or railway receipt]
to the buyer together, to secure acceptance or payment of the bill of
exchange, the buyer is bound to return the 9[bill of lading
or railway receipt] if he does not honour the bill of exchange and if
he wrongfully retains the 10[bill of lading or railway receipt]
the property in the goods does not pass to him.
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, 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.
Transfer of Title
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
sole 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:
7. Subs. by the Sale of Goods (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962 (47 of 1962),
S.4 (with effect from the 7th June 1962), for the original subsection
(2).
8.
Subs. by the Sale of Goods (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962 (47 of 1962),
S.4 with effect from the 7th June, 1962), for "bill of lading"
9.
Subs. by the Sale of Goods (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962 (47 of 1962),
S.4 (with effect from the 7th June, 1962), for "bill of lading".
10.
Subs. by the Sale of Goods (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962 (47 of 1962),
S.4 (with effect from the 7th June, 1962), for "bill of lading".
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 authorised
by the owner of the goods to make the same; provided that the buyer
acts in goods faith and has not at the time of the contract of sale
notice that the seller has not authority to sell.
28.
Sale by one of joint owners.--- If one of several joint owners of
goods has the sole possession of the by permission of the co-owners,
the property in the goods is 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.
29.
Sale by person in possession under voidable contact.--- When the
seller of goods has obtained possession thereof under a contract voidable
under section 19 or section 19-A of the Contract Act, 1872, but the
contract has not been rescinded at the time of the sale, the
buyer acquires a goods title to the goods, provided he buys them in
goods faith and without notice of the seller's defect of title.
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 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 authorised 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 effects
as if such lien or right did not exist.
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