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INTRODUCTION
Property is one of the most fundamental elements of the socio-economic life of an individual. Juridically, property can be said to be a bundle of rights in a thing or a land. However, the word has gradually been given a wider meaning. Economic significance of the property, therefore, rests more on its dispositions. Property law has therefore become an important branch of civil law. The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 deals with the transfer of immoveable property intervivos (although some provisions deal with the transfer of moveable as well as immovable property). Before this enactment, the transfers of immovable property were mostly governed by English equitable principles as applies by Anglo-Indian Courts. The doctrine of part-performance is one of the equitable doctrines applied by these Courts. In this project, the various aspects of doctrine of part-performance have been analyzed in detail.
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The words the contract, though required to be registered, has not been registered or has been omitted by Section 10 of the Registration and Other Related Laws Amendment Act 2001 (Act no. 48 of 2001) with effect from 24 September, 2001. 2 Mian Pir Bux v. Sardar Mahomed Tahar, AIR 1934 PC 235; AMA Sultan and Ors. v. Seydu Zohra Beevi, AIR 1990 Ker 186. 3 Maneklal Manuskhbahi v. Honnusji Jamshedji, AIR 1950 SC 1; Chaliagulla Ramchandrayya v. Boppana Satyanarayana, AIR 1964 SC 877; See also Nathu Lal v. Phoolchand, [1970] 2 SCR 854; Sardar Govindrao Mahadik & anr. v. Devi Sahai and ors., AIR 1982 SC 989. 4 Amrao v. Baburao, (1950) ILR Nag 25. See Hamida v. Smt Humer and ors., AIR 1992 All 346. 5 U.N.Sharma v. Puttegowda and anr., AIR 1986 Kant. 99.
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE were not in existence before the enactment was passed.6 These rights to retain possession rest on the express provisions of the statute. It has been held that the doctrine of part performance is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.7 Section 53A was first enacted in 1929 by the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Act 1929, and imports into India a modified form of equity of part-performance as developed in England in Maddison8. The enactment of the section sets at rest the considerable uncertainty prevailing in Indian law as can be seen by three decisions of the Privy Council.9 Recently, para 4 of Section 53A has been amended by Section 10 of the Registration and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Act 2001 (Act 48 of 2001) whereby the words the contract, though required to be registered, or has been omitted.10
Kripa Ram v. Bishen Das, AIR 1944 Lah 179. Swaran Kumar Jain v. Dev Dutt Mahajan and ors., AIR 1994 J&K 33. 8 (1883) 8 App Cas 467. 9 Mahomed Musa v. Aghore Kumar Ganguli, (1914) ILR 42 Cal 801; Ariff v. Jadunath, AIR 1931 PC 79; Mian Pir Bux supra note 2. 10 G.C.BHARUKA, MULLA THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT 417 (10th ed Lexis Nexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur 2006). 11 Nathulal supra note 3; Shrimat Shamrao Suryavanshi v. Prahlad Bhairoba Suryavanshi, AIR 2002 SC 960; Rambhao Namdeo Gajre v. Narayan Bapuji Dhotra, (2004) 8 SCC 614; Ram Kumar Agarwal v. Thawar Das, (1999) 7 SCC 303; Jacobs Private Limited v. Thomas Jacob, AIR 1995 Ker 249. See also Damodaran v. Shekharan, AIR 1993 Ker 242, M. Mariappa v. A.K. Sathyanarayan Shetty, AIR 1984 Kant 58.
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE So far as applicability of Section 53A is concerned, what is to be seen is that the Section provides for a shield of protection to the proposed transferee to remain in possession against the original owner who has agreed to sell to the transferee to remain in possession against the original owner, who has agreed to sell to the transferee, if the proposed transferee satisfies the other conditions of Section 53A.12 Proposed transferor remains full owner of the lands till they are legally conveyed by a sale deed to the proposed transferees. 13 Such a right to protect possession against the vendor cannot be pressed in service against a third party like a state when it seeks to enforce the provisions of the Act against the tenure-holder.14 In absence of the pleadings and evidence of all the essential conditions, making out a defence of part performance to protect possession claimed by the plaintiff, would not be attracted.15 The plea under Section 53 A of the TP Act raises a mixed question of law and fact, and therefore, cannot be permitted to be urged for the first time at the stage of second appeal.16 IS THE SECTION RETROSPECTIVE? There is a sharp cleavage of judicial opinion on this question. The Madras High Court has consistently held that the Section has no retrospective operation and does not apply to transfers effected prior to 1st April, 1930. 17 The Calcutta High Court has said that the section applies retrospectively, except that the Section would not apply to such transactions which were the subject matter of pending actions on 1st April, 1930.18 This is the present view also of Patna High Court though there are earlier decisions of the Court to the contrary. The Allahabad High Court also holds that Section 53A applies to transactions that took place prior 1st April, 1930 provided the suit is brought after that date.19 The Bombay High Court agrees with this view. The present view of all the High Courts is that Section 53A does not affect any proceeding commenced before the Amending Act of 1929.20
supra note 10. Id. 14 State of Uttar Pradesh v. District Judge, AIR 1997 SC 53. 15 Hazilal v. Jugal Kishore, AIR 1999 MP 104. 16 Ram Kumar Agarwal supra note 11; Sham Lal v. Mathi, AIR 2002 HP 66 . 17 Kanakamma v. Krishnamma, (1943) 1 MLJ 335(F.B.), Mahalakshmi v. Venkatareddi, AIR 1944 Mad 556. 18 Madan Mohan v. Srinivas Prasad, AIR 1943 Pat 343. 19 Gajdhar v. Bachan, AIR 1943 All 768. 20 VERA P. SARTHI, G.C.V. SUBBA RAOS LAW OF TRANSFER OF PROPERTY (EASEMENTS, TRUST AND WILLS) 691 (Reprint ed Alt Publications Hyderabad 2005).
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE put in possession under an unregistered contract of sale, it amounts to an act of part performance. However, this Section does not apply when a mortgage in possession continues in possession under an oral sale.27 Where a lessee retained possession after the expiry of the lease, under a written agreement to purchase the property for which he had paid consideration, it was held to be an act of part performance.28 For a tenant continuing in possession of an immovable property after a contract of transfer, written and signed by the landlord, to get the protection under Section 53A, it is necessary to show that he continues in possession in pursuance of the contract. Mere continuance in possession does not satisfy the requirement of the Section.29 Also, the cat in question must be referable to the contract alleged to have been partly performed.30
Ma Shwe Kin v. Ka Hee, AIR 1924 Rang 381. Annamalai Goundan v. Venkataswami Naidu, AIR 1959 Mad 354. 29 Sunil Kumar Sarkar v. Aghor Kumar Basu, AIR 1989 Gau 39. 30 Ranchhoddas Chhaganlal v. Devaji Supdu, AIR 1977 SC 1517. 31 Radhanath Swain v. Madhusudan, AIR 1956 Ori 58. 32 Achayya v. Venkata Subba Rao, AIR 1957 AP 854; Maruti v. Krishna, AIR 1967 Bom 34. 33 Delhi Motor Co. v. Basurkar, AIR 1968 SC 794.
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Hemraj v. Rustomji, AIR 1953 SC 503. Balram Jairam v. Kewalram, AIR 1940 Nag 396; Ranchod v. Zipru, AIR 1954 Bom 153. 36 Maneklal Mansukhbhai, supra note 3. 37 Id. 38 Shukla Malhotra v. Vyasa Bank Ltd., (1998) 45 DRJ 504. 39 Ayyan Kunhi v. Krishna, AIR 1950 Tr&Coch 81; Rami Reddi v. Venkat Reddi, AIR 1963 AP 489. 40 Jileba v. Marmersa, AIR 1950 All 700. 41 Rashakretayya v. Sarasamma, AIR 1951 Mad 213. 42 Bhabhi Dutt v. Ramlalbyamal, AIR 1934 Rang. 303.
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE demand for rent. Of he did so, he will be disentitled to the benefit of the Section as not being willing to perform his part of the contract. so also where a lessee has already put in possession of certain premises in part performance of an unregistered lease, the lessor can enforce the term of the lease entitling him to re-enter, if there default in payment of six months rent.43 Similarly, if the unregistered lease was only for a term, there would be no right to continue in possession after the expiry of the term.44
NATURE OF RIGHT
AVAILABLE ONLY AS A DEFENCE The Privy Council in Probodh Kumar Das v. Dantmara Tea Co. 45 has held that the right conferred by Section 53A is a right available to the defendant to protect his possession. The Section is so framed so as to impose statutory bar on the transfer; it confers no active title to the transferee. The above law laid down has been followed with approval by the Supreme Court in the case of Technicians Studio Pvt. Ltd. v. Leela Ghosh.46 It has been held that Section 53A is only a partial importation in the statute law of India of the English doctrine of part performance. Thus, a person who is lead into possession on the strength of a void lease does not acquire any interest in the property, but gets under Section 53A only a right to defend his possession. It can be used only as a defence.47 Following Probodh Kumar, the Supreme Court again in Delhi Motor Company v. U.A.Basrurkar48 has held that Section 53A is only available as defence to the lessee, and not as confirming a right as the basis of which the lessee can claim rights against the lessor. This Section does not confer title on the defendant in possession49; and he cannot maintain a suit on title.50 The Supreme Court has approved this principle.51 Thus it can be concluded that this
Muralidhar v. Tara Dye, AIR 1953 Cal 349. Radha Charan Das v. Pranbati Dassi, (1959) 63 Cal WN 535. 45 AIR 1940 PC 1. 46 AIR 1977 SC 324. 47 Ram Gopal Reddy v. Additional Custodian, Evacuee Property, AIR 1966 SC 1438. 48 AIR 1968 SC 794. 49 Kuchwar Lime Stone Co. v. Secretary of State, AIR 1936 Pat 372. 50 S.N.Banerjee v. Kuchwar Lime & Stone Co. Ltd., AIR 1941 PC 128. 51 supra note 47
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE section does not create a title in the defendant but merely acts as a bar to the plaintiff in asserting his title. It is limited to the cases where the transferee has taken possession, and against whom the transferor is debarred from enforcing any right, other than that mentioned in the contract. However, it is only in a case of suit for specific performance that the part performance assists plaintiff. A transferee who has come into the possession of the property in part performance of a written agreement can continue in possession, if he is ready and willing of perform his part of agreement. In such a case, it is not necessary that the transferee should have filed a suit for specific performance within the limitation period prescribed for a suit for specific performance.52 PART PERFORMANCE NOT A SWORD Some Indian decisions betray a misconception of the limited scope of the Section. In a decided case53, a defendant who had taken possession under an unregistered lease, was held liable for the rent, and the damages were awarded to the plaintiff. In this case, this Section was used as a ground of attack, and the cardinal principle was overlooked, i.e., part performance was an act of person seeking to avail himself of the equity, and that the cats of the person sought to be charged are of no avail. In another case54, the Court granted a declaration of right to the person claiming under the transferee. However, in this regard the Supreme Court has laid down to rest all doubts, and held that the benefit of Section 53A cannot be taken aid of by the transferee/plaintiff to establish his right as the owner of the property.55 It has been further held that Section 53A can be used as a shield, but not as an independent claim either as a plaintiff or as defendant.56It is a weapon of defence and not attack.57 A Full Bench of Bombay High Court has held that when it is said that proposed transferee-in-possession can use Section 53A as a shield, and not as a sword, it means that he can use Section 53A either as a plaintiff or as a defendant to protect his possession, but he cannot use Section 53A either for getting title or for getting possession if is not actually in possession. In other words, when the transferee-in-possession comes to the court as a plaintiff seeking a decree
Chaman Lal v. Surinder Kumari, AIR 1983 P&H 323. Sulleman v. Patel, AIR 1933 Bom. 381. 54 Mastram v. Ma Obn, AIR 1934 Rang 284. 55 supra note 47. 56 N.P.Tripathi v. Damayanti Devi & Anr, AIR 1988 Pat. 123; Patel Natwarlal Rupji v. Kondh Group Kheti Vishayak, AIR 1996 SC 1088. 57 Chetak Construction Ltd. v. Om Prakash, AIR 2003 MP 145.
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE of perpetual injunction against the transferor, he is using Section 53A as a shield to protect his possession.58 Hence, it can be concluded that right conferred by Section 53A is a right available only to the defendant to protect his position; it does not create any title in the defendant. It operates merely as a bar to the plaintiff asserting his title, and cannot be used as a weapon of attack.
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE performance to the extent of the share of the widow and also a suit for partition as it was a Hindu undivided family property.63
CONCLUSION
The doctrine of part performance is an equitable doctrine designed to relieve the rigor of the law and provide a remedy when a transfer or an agreement for transfer falls short of the requirements laid down by the law. In England the doctrine was developed by the Equity Courts. In a modified form it has been recognized statutorily in India being embodied in Section 53A.64 Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act applies to a person who contracts to transfer immovable property in writing. If the proposed transferee in agreement has taken possession of the property or he continues in possession thereof being already in possession, in part performance of the contract and has done some act in furtherance of the contract, and the transferee has performed or is willing to perform his part of the contract, the transferor shall be debarred from enforcing any right in respect of the property.65 Also, Section 53A does not confer any title or interest to the transferee in respect of the property in his possession. Furthermore, it does not give to the transferee any right of action. It provides merely a right of defence. This is the essence of the principle incorporated in Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act.66
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS 1. B.B.MITRA, TRANSFER OF PROPERTY (18th ed Kamal Law House Kolkata 2005) 2. Dr.SIR HARI SINGH GOUR, COMMENTARY ON TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT (12 ed Vol 1 Delhi Law House 2010) 3. G.C. BHARUKA, MULLA THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT (10th ed Lexis Nexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur 2006) 4. SOLI J SORABJEE, DARASHAW J VAKILS COMMENTARIES ON THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT (2nd ed Wadhwa Nagpur 2004) 5. VERA P. SARTHI, G.C.V. SUBBA RAOS LAW OF TRANSFER OF PROPERTY (EASEMENTS, TRUST AND WILLS) 691 (Reprint ed Alt Publications Hyderabad 2005) CASE LAWS 1. Achayya v. Venkata Subba Rao, AIR 1957 AP 854; 2. Probodh Kumar Das v. Dantmara Tea Co, AIR 1940 PC 1. 3. Delhi Motor Company v. U.A.Basrurkar, AIR 1968 SC 794. 4. Technicians Studio Pvt. Ltd. v. Leela Ghosh, AIR 1977 SC 324. 5. AMA Sultan and Ors. v. Seydu Zohra Beevi, AIR 1990 Ker 186. 6. Amrao v. Baburao, (1950) ILR Nag 25 7. Annamalai Goundan v. Venkataswami Naidu, AIR 1959 Mad 354. 8. Ariff v. Jadunath, AIR 1931 PC 79 9. Ayyan Kunhi v. Krishna, AIR 1950 Tr&Coch 81; 10. Balram Jairam v. Kewalram, AIR 1940 Nag 396 11. Bhabhi Dutt v. Ramlalbyamal, AIR 1934 Rang. 303. 12. Bhagwandas v. Surajmal, AIR 1961 MP 237. 13. Chaliagulla Ramchandrayya v. Boppana Satyanarayana, AIR 1964 SC 877 14. Chaman Lal v. Surinder Kumari, AIR 1983 P&H 323. 15. Chetak Construction Ltd. v. Om Prakash, AIR 2003 MP 145. 16. Damodaran v. Shekharan AIR 1993 Ker 242,
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE 17. Delhi Motor Co. v. Basurkar, AIR 1968 SC 794. 18. Gajdhar v. Bachan, AIR 1943 All 768. 19. Hamida v. Smt Humer and ors., AIR 1992 All 346. 20. Hazilal v. Jugal Kishore, AIR 1999 MP 104. 21. Hemraj v. Rustomji, AIR 1953 SC 503. 22. Jacobs Private Limited v. Thomas Jacob, AIR 1995 Ker 249 23. Jileba v. Marmersa, AIR 1950 All 700. 24. Kanakamma v. Krishnamma, (1943) 1 MLJ 335(F.B.) 25. Kripa Ram v. Bishen Das, AIR 1944 Lah 179. 26. Kuchwar Lime Stone Co. v. Secretary of State, AIR 1936 Pat 372. 27. Kukaji v. Basantilal, AIR 1955 Madh Bh 93. 28. M. Mariappa v. A.K. Sathyanarayan Shetty, AIR 1984 Kant 58. 29. Ma Shwe Kin v. Ka Hee, AIR 1924 Rang 381. 30. Madan Mohan v. Srinivas Prasad, AIR 1943 Pat 343. 31. Mahalakshmi v. Venkatareddi, AIR 1944 Mad 556. 32. Mahomed Musa v. Aghore Kumar Ganguli, (1914) ILR 42 Cal 801 33. Maneklal Manuskhbahi v. Honnusji Jamshedji, AIR 1950 SC 1 34. Manjural Hoque v. Mewajan Bibi, AIR 1956 Cal 350. 35. Maruti v. Krishna, AIR 1967 Bom 34. 36. Mastram v. Ma Obn, AIR 1934 Rang 284. 37. Mian Pir Bux v. Sardar Mahomed Tahar, AIR 1934 PC 235 38. Muralidhar v. Tara Dye, AIR 1953 Cal 349. 39. N.P.Tripathi v. Damayanti Devi & Anr, AIR 1988 Pat. 123 40. Nathu Lal v. Phoolchand, [1970] 2 SCR 854 41. Pannalal v. Labhchand, AIR 1955 Madh Bh 99. 42. Patel Natwarlal Rupji v. Kondh Group Kheti Vishayak, AIR 1996 SC 1088. 43. Prova Rani v. Lalit Mohini, AIR 1960 Cal 541 44. Radha Charan Das v. Pranbati Dassi, (1959) 63 Cal WN 535. 45. Radhanath Swain v. Madhusudan, AIR 1956 Ori 58. 46. Ram Gopal Reddy v. Additional Custodian, Evacuee Property, AIR 1966 SC 1438. 47. Ram Kumar Agarwal v. Thawar Das (1999) 7 SCC 303
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DOCTRINE OF PART PERFORMANCE 48. Rambhao Namdeo Gajre v. Narayan Bapuji Dhotra, (2004) 8 SCC 614 49. Rami Reddi v. Venkat Reddi, AIR 1963 AP 489. 50. Ranchhoddas Chhaganlal v. Devaji Supdu, AIR 1977 SC 1517. 51. Ranchod v. Zipru, AIR 1954 Bom 153. 52. Rashakretayya v. Sarasamma, AIR 1951 Mad 213. 53. S Veerabadra Naicker v. S Sambanda Naicker, AIR 2003 Mad 19 54. S.N.Banerjee v. Kuchwar Lime & Stone Co. Ltd., AIR 1941 PC 128. 55. Sadashiv Chander Bhamgare v. Eknath Pandharinath Nangude, AIR 2004 Bom 378. 56. Sardar Govindrao Mahadik & anr. v. Devi Sahai and ors., AIR 1982 SC 989. 57. Sham Lal v. Mathi, AIR 2002 HP 66 . 58. Shrimat Shamrao Suryavanshi v. Prahlad Bhairoba Suryavanshi, AIR 2002 SC 960 59. Shukla Malhotra v. Vyasa Bank Ltd., (1998) 45 DRJ 504. 60. State of Uttar Pradesh v. District Judge, AIR 1997 SC 53. 61. Sulleman v. Patel, AIR 1933 Bom. 381. 62. Sunil Kumar Sarkar v. Aghor Kumar Basu, AIR 1989 Gau 39. 63. Swaran Kumar Jain v. Dev Dutt Mahajan and ors., AIR 1994 J&K 33. 64. U.N.Sharma v. Puttegowda and anr., AIR 1986 Kant. 99. 65. Yasodammal v. Janaki Ammal, AIR 1968 Mad 294
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