BAILMENT

Chapter IX (Section 148 – 181) of the Indian Contract Act, 1872

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 • The Chapter is not exhaustive on the topic of bailment – there are various other Acts
which deal with other types of bailment like the Carriers Act, 1865, the Railways Act,
1890, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.
• Bailment and Pledge are examples of specific contracts.
• Indian Contract Act 1872 is not a comprehensive Act, dealing with all types of specific
contracts. There are various other Acts which deal with specific contracts.
• Bailment and Pledge are two special contracts that are often confused. Every pledge is a
bailment but every bailment is not pledge. Bailment means a delivery of goods from one
person to another for a special purpose. Whereas Pledge means delivery of goods as
security for the payment of debt or performance of a promise. Therefore, Bailment &
Pledge are two different contracts. Pledge is a special kind of bailment.

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Definition - Contract of Bailment (Sec. 148)
• A ‘bailment’ is the delivery of goods by one person 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 directions of the person delivering them.
• The person delivering the goods is called the "bailor". The person to whom they are delivered is
called the "bailee".
• Section 148 states that if a person already in possession of the goods of another person contracts to
holds the goods as a bailee, he becomes the bailee even though the goods may not have been
delivered to him by way of bailment in the first place. For example, a seller of goods becomes a
bailee if the goodscontinue to be in his possession after sale is complete. Here the original
possession of goods was with the seller as the owner of the said goods and after the sale, his
possession is converted into a contract of bailment.
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• Only ‘goods’ can be bailed and thus, only movable goods can be the subject matter of bailment.
Current money or legal tender cannot be bailed.
• Deposition of money in a bank is not bailment as money is not ‘goods’ and the same money is not
returned to the client. But the coins and notes that are no longer legal tender and are more or less just
objects of curiosity, then they can be bailed.
• Mere custody of goods is not the same as delivery of possession. A guest who uses the goods of the
host during a party is not a bailee. Similarly, it was held in Reaves vs. Capper that a servant in
custody of certain goods by the nature of his job is not a bailee. Similarly, a servant holding his
master’s umbrella is not a bailee but is a custodian.
• Similarly, hiring and storing goods in a bank locker by itself is not bailment thought there is delivery
of goods to the bank premises. The goods are in no way entrusted to the bank. A bank cannot be
presumed to know what goods are stored in any given locker at all the times. If a bank is given actual
and exclusive possession of the property inside a locker by the person who hired the locker, only then
can bailment under Section 148 can be presumed.
In Atul Mehra vs. Bank of Maharashtra [AIR 2003 P&H 11], it was held that mere hiring of a bank’s
locker and storing things in it would not constitute a bailment. But the position changes completely if the
locker in the safe deposit vault of the bank can be operated even without the key of the customer.

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• A hired a locker in a bank and kept some of his valuables in it. He was given one key to open the locker. But
the bank manager of the particular branch had fraudulently filed the levers of the locks of the lockers. Thus,
the lockers could be opened even without the key of the customers. A’s valuables went missing. A’s control
over the valuables in that locker had gone because the locker could be operated even without A’s key. The
bank was liable for the loss of A’s belongings from the locker as it became a bailee. This example is similar
to the case of National Bank of Lahore vs. Sohan Lal [AIR 1962 Punj. 534]
• Thus, it is clear that the nature of possession is very important to determine whether a delivery is for
bailment or not. If the owner continues to have control over the goods, there can be no bailment.
• To create a bailment, the bailee must intend to possess and in some way physically possess or control the
bailed goods or property. In a situation where a person keeps the goods in possession of another person but
in fact, continues to have control over such goods, there is no delivery for the purpose of bailment.
• The delivery of possession does not mean that the bailee now represents the bailor with respected to the
bailed goods. The bailee only has certain power over the property of the bailor with his permission. The
bailee has no power to make contracts on behalf of the bailor or make the bailor liable for his own acts with
the goods bailed.
• Example: If a person delivers his damaged car to a garage for repair under his insurance policy, the
insurance company becomes a bailee and the garage a subbailee. If the car is stolen from the garage or
destroyed by fire in the garage, both – the insurance company and the garage will be liable to the owner of
the car, the bailor.

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 Modes of Delivery (Sec.149)
• Actual delivery
Transfer of physical possession of goods from one person to another. Here, the bailor hands over the physical
possession of the goods to the bailee.
• Symbolic delivery
Physical possession of goods is not actually transferred. A person does some act resulting in transfer of possession to
any other person.
Examples: Delivery of keys of a car to a friend, Delivery of a railway receipt.
• Constructive delivery
If A person is already in possession of goods of owner. Such person contracts to hold the goods as a bailee for a third
person. Then –Such person becomes the bailee, and the third person becomes the bailor. Constructive delivery is an
action that the law treats as the equivalent of actual delivery.

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• In constructive delivery, the physical possession of the goods may not be handed over. The possession of
the goods may remain with the bailor with the consent or authorization of the bailee. In constructive
delivery, an action on part of the bailor merely puts the bailee in position of power with respect to the
bailed goods. The bailor gives the bailee the means of access to taking custody of it, without its actual
delivery.
• Section 149 specifically deals with constructive delivery of goods. It states that anything done which has
the effect of putting the goods in the possession of the intended bailee or any other person authorized to
hold them on his behalf is to be treated as constructive delivery of the goods.
• Constructive delivery is a legal fiction – thus, a legal delivery is presumed even where the delivery of
the actual goods has not taken place. Even the delivery of a railway receipt is taken as the equivalent of
delivery of the goods.
• In Bank of Chittor vs. Narsimbulu [AIR 1966 AP 163], a person pledged cinema projector with the
bank but the bank allowed him to keep the projector so as to keep the cinema hall functional. It was held
that there was constructive delivery because action on part of the bailor had changed the legal character
of the possession of the projector. Even though the actual and physical possession was with the person,
the legal possession was with the bank, the bailee.

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 Essentials of a Valid Contract of Bailment
(Sec.148)
• Contract-There must be a contract.
The contract may be expressed or implied. This contract between the parties for the delivery of goods.
The goods shall be delivered for a special purpose only.
• Goods-Bailment can be made of goods only.
Bailment can only be done for movable goods and not for immovable goods or money.
• Delivery-There must be delivery of goods by one person to another person. Purpose of delivery The
goods must be delivered for some purpose. The purpose may be expressed or implied.
• There shall be a transfer of possession of goods, The delivery of goods must be conditional. The
condition shall be that the goods shall be –returned (either in original form or in any altered from); or
disposed of according to the directions of the bailor, when the purpose is accomplished.
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• Ownership is not transferred to Bailee, therefore Bailor remains the owner, Bailee is duty bound to
deliver the same goods back and not any other goods.
• The money deposited in the bank shall not account to bailment as the money returned by the bank
would not be the same identical notes. And it is one of the essentials of the bailment that same goods
are to be delivered back.
• Delivery of possession of goods:
Delivery of goods from one person to another person for some purpose is an essential element of
bailment. It is necessary that the goods should be delivered to the bailee. It is the essence of the contract
of bailment. It follows that bailment can be of movable goods only. It is further necessary that the
possession of the goods should be voluntarily transferred and is in accordance with the contract. For
example, A, a thief enters a house and by showing the revolver, orders the owner of the house to
surrender all ornaments in the house to him. The owner of the house surrenders the ornaments. In this
case although, the possession of goods has been transferred, but it does not create bailment because the
delivery of goods is not voluntary.

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• Delivery of possession upon a contract: There can be no bailment without a contract. All
conditions for valid contract are to be satisfied, such as competent parties, free consent lawful object
etc. It is necessary that the goods are delivered to the bailee and returned to the bailor when the
purpose is accomplished upon a contract. This means there should a contract between the two parties
for such transaction of delivery and subsequent return. If there is no contract, there is no bailment.
The contract giving rise to bailment can be express or implied.
• Property deposited in a court under orders is not property delivered under a contract. Such delivery
or transfer does not constitute bailment.
Exception to the delivery upon contract: A finder of goods is treated as a bailee even if there is no
contract of Bailment or delivery of goods under a contract. A finder of the goods is a person who finds
the goods belonging to some other person and keeps them under his protection till the actual owner of
the goods is found. An involuntary contract of bailment arises and the finder automatically becomes
bailee even in absence of bailment by the bailor – the owner of the lost goods. Since the person is in the
position of the bailee, he has all the rights and duties of a bailee.
• The case of Lasalgoan Merchants Bank vs. Prabhudas Hathibhai is one the first where the Courts
started imposing the obligations of a bailee even without a contract. In State of Gujarat vs. Memon
Mahomed, the Supreme Court of India accepted this view and stated that “…Bailment is dealt with
by the Contract Act only in cases where it arises from a contract, but it is not correct to say that there
cannot be bailment without an enforceable contract.”
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• Purpose: In a bailment, the goods are delivered for some purpose. The purpose for which the goods
are delivered is usually in the contemplation of both the bailor and the bailee.
• Return or dispose of goods according to the direction: In bailment the goods are delivered for
specific purpose. After the purpose is accomplished the goods may be returned to the bailor in the
same or altered direction, condition or maybe disposed of as directed by bailor. If the person to whom
the goods are delivered is not bound to restore them to the person delivering them or to deal with them
according to the mandate their relationship will not be that of bailor and bailee. This is a feature of
bailment that distinguishes it from other relations like agency, etc.
• The delivery of goods must be for some specific task or performance. Delivery of goods in bailment is
not permanent. There has to be a purpose for the bailment of goods and it is mandatory that once such
purpose is accomplishing, the goods have to be returned to the bailor or be disposed of per his
instructions. A tailor is given a cloth for stitching a shirt, a watch repair shop is given a watch to mend
it.
• That the goods must be returned to the bailor or be taken care of as per the instructions of the bailor. If
a person is not bound to return the goods to another, then the relationship between them is not of
bailment. If there is an agreement to return the equivalent and not the same goods, it is not bailment.
An agent who collects money on behalf of his principal is not a bailee because he is not liable to return
the same money and coins.

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• If the goods are not returned or dealt as per the directions of the bailor there is no bailment. For example,
depositing money into bank by a customer does not give rise to a contract of bailment because the bank is
not bound to return the same notes and coins to the customer. This same point was also made in the case
of Ichcha Dhanji v. Natha [1888 13 Bom 338]
• In Secy of State v. Sheo Singh Rai [1880 ILR 2 All 756], a man delivered nine government promissory
notes to the Treasury Officer at Meerut for cancellation and consolidation into a single note of Rupees
48,000 only. The notes were misappropriated by the servants of the Treasury Officer. The man sued the
State to hold it responsible as a bailee. But the action failed as there can be no bailment without delivery
of goods and a promise to the return the same. The government was in no way bound to return the same
notes or dispose the surrendered notes in accordance with the instructions of the man.
• Where goods are transferred by the owner to another, in misdirection of price, it is a safe. Similarly,
where the goods are not to be delivered back in specie but their price is paid, it is not a bailment. Again,
where money is deposited by a customer with a bank in a current, savings or fixed deposit account, and,
therefore, there is no obligation to return the identical money but an equivalent of it, it is no bailment. But
what is thus created is a relationship of creditor and debtor. But if valuables or even coins or notes in a
box deposited for safe custody there is a contract of bailment, for these are too stunned as they are, and
not their monetary value.

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• L.M. Co-Operative Bank v. Prabhudas Hathibhai, the Bombay High Court has taken the contrary view.
In this case some packages of tobacco belonging to A had been pleadged to the plaintiff bank but they were
still lying in A's godown. The bodown was locked and its keys were handed over to the plaintiff bank.
Owing to the non-payment of some income-tax dues by A, the said goods were attached by the Collector
though they were allowed to remain in the same godown. The key of the godown was handed over to the
police there were heavy rains, roof of the godown leaked and the goods inside were damaged. Even though
the goods were not in the possession of the Government under a contract, the state was still held liable as a
bailee.
• B. Dutta, Senior Advocate v. Management of State, (2010) 1 CPC 319. To hold that laws of bailment
apply when a customer pays to park his car in a parking lot and it is then stolen or damaged. It was noted
that the price paid for food consumed in the hotel would include consideration for a contract of bailment
from the consumer (bailor) to the hotel (bailee). Applying this to the facts of this case, the State
Commission observed that though the Appellanthotel had averred that Respondent No. 2 had not had
dinner at the hotel that night, it was improbable for him to have stayed inside the hotel from 11 p.m. to 1
a.m. without consuming any food or snacks or paying any kind of bill. Hence, the State Commission
proceeded on the assumption that Respondent No. 2 had paid consideration for the contract. In light of this,
the State Commission allowed the complaint and directed the Appellant-hotel to pay Respondent No. 1 a
sum of £2,80,000 (the value of the car) with interest at 12% per annum and L 50,000 as litigation costs. In
addition to this, it directed payment of £1,00,000 to Respondent No. 2 for inconvenience and harassment
faced by him. The State Commission also held that Respondent No. 3 (insurer of the hotel) would not be
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liable to indemnify the loss caused to the Appellant hotel, as the theft of the car had not been notified to it
within due time.
• In the case of Atul Mehra v Bank of Maharashtra to determine whether the hiring of the lockers by the
plaintiffs constitutes actual delivery of possession to the defendants. This case was filed by Atul Mehra in
appeal at the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. It is one of the landmark cases in India because it lays
down the principle that hiring lockers at banks does not constitute a contract of bailment. It was previously
talked about in some cases, and this court has upheld the principle that merely hiring a bank locker does
not constitute delivery of possession which is a necessary ingredient for the contract of bailment. It was
also said by the learned Judge that in order to constitute a contract of bailment, the bailee must be made
aware of the contents of the locker so that it can gauge the nature and extent of the security and possible
liability.

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 Gratuitous & Non-GratuitousBailment
• When there is no consideration involved in the contract of bailment it is called gratuitous
bailment. For example, when you lend your cycle to your friend so that he can have ride or when
you borrow his books to read, it is a case of gratuitous bailment because no exchange of money
or any other consideration is involved. Neither you nor your friend would be entitled to any
remuneration here. No hire charges are paid by bailee; andNo custody charges are paid by bailor.
• Non-Gratuitous is a bailment for reward. It is for the benefit of both the bailor and bailee.A
contract of bailment which involves some consideration passing between bailor and bailee, is
called a non-gratuitous bailment. For example, if your friend hired a cycle from a cycle shop or
you borrowed a book from a bookshop on hire, this would be a case of non-gratuitous bailment.
Hire charges are paid by bailee; or Custody charges are paid by bailor.

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 Bailor’s Duties
• Duty to disclose defects: Section 150 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 bound the bailor
with certain duties to disclose the latent facts specifically pertaining to defect in goods.
Bailor’s duties of disclosure are:
Gratuitous Bailment: It is the duty of the bailor to disclose all the defects in the goods that
he is aware of to the Bailee that can interfere with the use of goods or can expose him to
extraordinary risks. And failure to do the same will make bailor liable for damages.
Non-Gratuitous Bailment (Bailment for Reward): This duty particularly deals with the
goods given on hire. As per this provision, when the goods are bailed for hire, then in such a
situation even if the bailor is aware of the defect in the goods or not will be held liable for the
injury that has been caused due to the existence of such defect.
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Disclose faults in goods [Sec. 150]: Bailor is bound to disclose to Bailee, faults in the goods bailed, of
which he has knowledge. He should also disclose such information which – (a) materially interferes with
the use of goods, or (b) expose the Bailee to extraordinary risk. The bailor is bound to disclose to the bailee
faults in the goods bailed, of which the bailor is aware, and which materially interfere with the use of them,
or expose the bailee to extraordinary risk; and if he does not make such disclosure, he is responsible for
damage arising to the bailee directly from such faults.
Example: A owning a motorcycle, allows B, his friend, to take it for a joy ride. A knows that its brakes
were not proper but does not disclose it to B. B meets with an accident. A is liable to compensate B for
damages. But when A had lent the motorcycle on hire, he is liable to B even if he did not know of the failure
of his brakes.
• Duty to bear expenses: Section 158 of the Indian Contract Act says that, where, by the conditions of the
bailment, the goods are to be kept or to be carried, or to have work done upon them by the bailee for the
bailor, and the bailee is to receive no remuneration, the bailors shall repay to the bailee the necessary
expenses incurred by him for the purpose of the bailment. The general rule in those bailments where the
bailee is not to receive any remuneration is that the bailor should bear the usual expenses in keeping the
goods or in carrying the goods or to have work done upon them by the bailee for the bailor. The bailor
must repay to the bailee all the necessary expenses which the bailee has already incurred for the purpose
of bailment. For example- if A, a farmer gives some gold to his friend B. who is a goldsmith, to make a
gold ring. B is not to receive any remuneration for the job. But A has a duty to repay to B any expenses
incurred by him in making the ring. In cases of non-gratuitous bailments ( where the bailee is to receive
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remuneration). bailor has a duty to bear extraordinary expenses, borne by the bailee.
• Duty to indemnify the bailee: To indemnify the loss (Section159) Indemnity means promise to make
good the loss. According to Section 159 of the Indian Contract Act 1872 bailor has a duty to indemnify
the loss suffered by the bailee under the contract.
• The lender of a thing for use may at any time require its return, if the loan was gratuitous, even through
he lent it for a specified time or purpose. But if, on the faith of such loan made for a specified time or
purpose, the borrower has acted in such a manner that the return of the thing lent before the time agreed
upon would cause him losses exceeding the benefit actually derived by him from the loan, the lender
must, if he compels the return. Indemnify the borrower for the amount in which the loss so occasioned
exceeds the benefits so derived.
• It is the duty of the bailor to indemnify the bailee, for any loss which the bailee may suffer because of
the bailor's title being defective. The reason for this is that the bailor was not entitled to make the
bailment or to receive back the goods bailed or to give directions regarding the goods bailed. For
example, A asks his friend B to give him cycle for one hour. B instead of his own cycle gives C's cycle
to A. While A was riding, the true owner of the cycle catches A and surrenders him to police custody. A
is entitled to recover iron B all costs, which A had to pay in getting out of this situation.
• Duty to bear risks: It is the duty of bailor to bear the risk of loss, deterioration and destruction, of the
things bailed, provided that bailee has taken reasonable care to protect the goods from loss etc.

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• Duty to receive back the goods: It is the duty of the bailor that when the bailee, in accordance with the
terms of bailment, returns the goods to him that: bailor should receive them. If the bailor, without any
reasonable reasons refuses to take the goods back, when they are offered at a proper time and at a proper
place, the bailee can claim compensation from the bailor for all necessary and incidental expenses, which
the bailee undertakes to keep and protect the goods.
• To pay damages for defect in bailor's title (Section 164)-The bailor is responsible to the bailee for any
loss which the bailee may sustain the reason that the bailor was not entitled to make the bailment, or to
receive back the goods, or to give directions, respecting them.
• To put bailee into possession (Section 149)-The delivery to be bailee may be made by doing anything
which has the effect of putting the goods in the possession of the intended bailee or of any person
authorised to hold them on his behalf. Kaliaperumal V. Visalakshmi (1938) AIR 1938 Mad 32, In this
case Madras high court held that delivery is an essential element of bailment.
• Receive back the goods- It is the duty of the bailor to receive back the goods, when returned by bailee.If
the bailor wrongfully refuses to receive back the goods, he shall be liable to pay ordinary expenses of
custody of goods incurred by the bailee.

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 Bailee’s Duties
• Duty to take reasonable care of the goods bailed: Section 151 of the Indian Contract Act lays down the degree of care,
which a bailee should take, in respect of goods bailed to him. The bailee is bound to take as much care "if the goods bailed to
him as a man of ordinary prudence would, under similar circumstances, take of his own goods of the same bulk, quality and
value as the goods bailed. The standard of care is same whether the bailment is gratuitous or for reward. So a bailee is liable
when the goods suffer loss due to the negligence on the part of bailee. However, under Section 152 of the Act, the standard of
care of ordinary prudent man can be increased by entering into a contract, between the bailor and the bailee. In that situation
the bailee, in order to save himself from any liability, would be bound to take as much care, as provided by the terms of
contract. In the absence of any such contract, if the bailee has taken care as an ordinary prudent man of the goods bailed, he is
not responsible for the loss, destruction or deterioration of the goods bailed. To take an example, if a diamond ring is kept by
its owner A for safe custody with another person B and B is not to receive any reward for it. The bailee should keep it locked
in an iron safe, or some other safe place but not keep it in his room, simply because the bailment is gratuitous. Similarly, if a
cow is delivered for safe custody it is sufficient if it is kept in the backyard properly enclosed and even if it is for reward, no
one would expect it to be kept in the drawing room. If the goods get stolen, lost or otherwise destroyed, even after the bailee
has taken reasonably good care, the bailee would not be liable for this loss. The bailor, would have to bear this loss.

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• Not to make any Unauthorized use of goods: The bailee is under a duty to use the bailed goods in
accordance with the terms of bailment. If bailee does any act with regard to the goods bailed, which is not
in accordance with the terms of bailment, the contract is voidable at the option of the bailor. Besides it,
the bailee is liable to compensate the bailor for any damage caused to the goods. By an inconsistent use of
the goods bailed. If he makes unauthorised use of goods, bailee would not be saved from his liability even
if he has taken reasonable care of the ordinary prudent man. For example, A lends his car, B to be taken to
Delhi from Hyderabad. The car was to be driven by B himself. B takes along with him a friend C, who
has been driving his car for the last 10 years. B instead of going to Delhi goes to Calcutta. The contract
becomes voidable at the option of the bailor. On way to Calcutta, B allows C to drive the car. Inspite of
the fact that C, in accordance with the directions of B, drives the car at a very slow speed, an accident
takes place and the car is damaged. A is entitled to be compensated for the loss.
Bailee is duty bound to use the goods for a specific purpose only and not otherwise. If he uses the goods for
any other purpose than what is agreed for then the bailor has the right to terminate such bailment or is
entitled with compensation for damage caused due to unauthorized use. (Section 153-154)
• Duty not to mix bailor's goods with his own goods: Next duty of the bailee is to keep the goods of the
bailor separate from his own. Sections- 155 to 157 of the Act lays down this duty in the following ways:
i. If the bailee, with the consent of the bailor, mixes the goods of the bailor with his own goods, the bailor
and the bailee shall have an interest, in proportion to their respective shares, in the mixture thus
produced.
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ii. If the bailee, without the consent of the bailor, mixes the goods of the bailor with his goods, and the goods can
be a separated or divided, the property in the goods remains in the parties respectively; but the bailee is bound
to bear the expense of separation or division, and any damages arising from the mixture (Section 156). For
example, A bails 100 bales of cotton marked with a particular mark to B. B, without A's consent, mixes these
100 bales with other bales of his own, bearing a different mark, A is entitled to have his 100 bales returned, and
B is bound to bear all expenses incurred in the separation of the bales, and any other incidental damage.
iii. If the bailee, without the consent of the bailor, mixes the goods of the bailor with his own goods, in such a
manner that it is impossible to separate the goods bailed from the other goods and deliver them back, the bailor
is entitled to be compensated by the bailee for the loss of the goods (Section 157). A bails a barrel of cape flour
worth Rs. 50 to B. B without A's consent mixes the flour with country flour of his own, worth Rs. 20 a barrel.
B must compensate A for the loss of his flour. Where a bailee mixed his own goods with those of the bailor and
when ordered to return the goods of the bailor he offered to return the goods without sorting them out. It was
held that the bailor was entitled to refuse to take delivery in Toto and claim compensation for loss or damage.
It is the duty of the Bailee not to mix bailor’s goods with his own. But if he wants to do the same then he shall seek
consent from the bailor for mixing of goods. If the bailor agrees for the mixing of the goods then the interest in the
mixed goods shall be shared in proportion. In case, Bailee without the consent of bailor mixes the goods with his
own then two situations arise: goods can be separated and goods can’t be separated. In the former case the Bailee
has to bear the cost of separation and in the latter case since there is the loss of the goods, therefore, bailor shall be
entitled with damages of such loss. (Section 155-157)

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• Duty not to set up adverse title: The bailee is duty bound not to do any act which is inconsistent
which the title of the bailor. He should not set up his own title or the title of a third party on the goods
bailed to him.
• Duty to return the goods: It is the duty of the bailee to return or to deliver the goods according to the
directions of bailor, without demand, on the expiry of the time fixed or when the purpose is
accomplished. If he does not return or deliver as directed by the bailor, or tender the goods at the
proper time, he becomes liable to the bailor for any loss, destruction or deterioration of the goods from
that time. He is liable even without his negligence. For example, a book-binder kept books beyond the
time allowed to him for binding, and they were lost in an accidental fire, the binder is liable. If
however, the bailment is gratuitous, then the bailee will have to return the goods loaned, at any time
on demand by the bailor, even though the goods were lent for a specified time or purpose. But if on the
faith of such loan made for a specified time or purpose, the borrower has acted in such a manner that
the return of the thing lent before the time agreed upon would cause him loss exceeding the benefit
actually derived by him from the loan the lender must, if he compels the return, indemnify the
borrower for the amount in which the loss so occasioned exceeds the benefit so derived. (Section 160-
161)
In the case of Bank of India v. Grains & Gunny Agencies the court held that if the goods are lost or
destroyed due to the negligence of servant of Bailee, then in such case as well Bailee shall be liable.

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• Duty to return accretions to the goods: In the absence of any contract to the contrary, the bailee must
deliver to the bailor, or according to his directions, any increase or profit which have accrued from the
goods bailed. For example, A leaves a cow in the custody of B to be taken care of. The cow has a calf.
B is bound to deliver the calf as well as the cow to A. (Section 163).

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 Bailor’s Rights
As such Indian Contract Act, 1872 does not provide for Rights of a Bailor. But Rights of a Bailor is same as Duties
of the Bailee i.e. Rights of Bailor = Duties of Bailee.
• Enforcement of bailee's duties
• Right to claim damages
• Right to avoid the contract
• Right to get back the goods
• Right to share profit-The bailor has a right to share with bailee any profit earned from the goods bailed if it is so
provided by the contract.
• Expenses of separation-If the bailee has mixed the goods of bailor with someone other goods not belonging to
bailor without the consent of the bailor, the bailor has a right to get from bailee the expenses which he has to bear
for the separation of his goods from others.

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 Bailee’s Rights
The duties of bailor are the rights of bailee and bailee can enforce his rights against the bailor by suing him in case of a
default. The rights of bailee are as follows.
• Right to claim damages (Section 150).
• Right to claim reimbursement (Section 158).
• Right to recover losses (Section 158).
• Right to deliver goods to any one of the joint bailors (Section 165).
• Right to deliver the goods to bailor even if his title is defective (Section 166).
• Right to remuneration
• Right to recover compensation (Section 168)
• Right to lien (Section 170-171)
• Right to suit against a wrongdoer (Section 180)

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 Kinds of lien
• Lien of a finder of goods (Section 168)
• Particular lien of bailee (Section 170)
• General lien of bankers, factors, wharfingers, attorneys and policy brokers (Section
171)
• Lien of Pawnees (Sections 173; 174)
• Lien of agents (Section 221)
• Unpaid seller’s lien- sec 47, Sale of Goods act, 1930
• Partner’s lien – sec 52, Indian partnership act, 1932.
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Particular Lien: A lien which can be exercised only on goods in respect of which some payment is due is
called particular lien. Where the bailee has, in accordance with the purpose of the bailment, rendered any
service involving the exercises of labour or skill in respect of the goods bailed, he has, in the absence of a
contract to the contrary, a right to retain such goods until he received due remuneration for the services he
has rendered in respect of them (Section 170).
For example, A delivers a rough diamond to B, a jeweller, to be cut and polished, which is accordingly
done. B is entitled to retain the stone till he is paid for the service he has rendered. Again, A gives cloth to
B, a tailor, to make into a coat. B promises A to deliver the coat as soon as it is finished, and to give a
three months' credit for the price. B is not entitled to retain the coat. As a general rule a bailee is entitled
only to particular lien, which means the right to retain only that particular property in respect of which the
charge is due. The right is available subject to certain important conditions. The foremost among them is
that the bailee must have rendered some service involving the exercise of labour or skill or expenses
incurred in respect of the goods bailed. Further, a bailee's right of lien arises only where "Labour and
skill" have been used so as to confer an additional value on the article. So, a person who takes an animal
for feeding has no lien, but a veterinary surgeon who has treated the animals has right of lien. Further
conditions are that the contract has been fully in accordance with the contract, and goods, as you already
know, are still in possession of the bailee and there exists no contract for payment of price in future.

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General Lien: The right of general lien, as provided for in Section 171, means the right to hold the goods
bailed as security for a general balance of account. Whereas right of particular lien entitles a bailee to detain
only that particular property in respect of which charges are due. Right of general lien entitles the bailee to
detain any, goods bailed to him for any amount due to him whether in respect of these goods or any other
goods. The right of general lien is privilege and is specially conferred by Section 171 on certain kinds of
bailees only. They are bankers, factors, wharfingers, attorneys of a high court, and policy brokers.

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Right of Bailor and Bailee Against Wrongdoer
If a third person wrongfully deprives the bailee of the use or possession of the goods bailed, or does them any
injury, the bailee is entitled to use such remedies as the owner might have used in the like case if no bailment had
been made; and either the bailor or the bailee may bring a suit against a third person for such deprivation or injury.
Section 180 of the Act enables a bailee to sue any person who has wrongfully deprived him of the use or
possession of the goods bailed or has done them an injury. It says: If a third person wrongfully deprives the bailee
of the use of possession of the goods bailed, or does them any injury, the bailee is entitled to use such remedies as
the owner might have used is the like case if no bailment had been made; and either the bailor or the bailee may
bring a suit against a third person for such deprivation or injury. Section 181 provides for apportionment of the
relief obtained by the bailee and reads: Whatever is obtained by way of relief or compensation in any such suit
shall, as between the bailor and the bailee, be dealt with according to their respective interests. For example, A,
forcefully takes possession of a colour T.V. from B's repair shop. Now either the owner of the T.V. or B may sue A.
If B files the suit, he shall hand over the amount received, after deducting his repair charges, to the owner of the
T.V.

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 Duties of a Finder of Goods
• Under Section 71 of the Contract Act, a finder of goods has same duties with regards the goods found,
as that of a bailee. Hence, 1) The finder should take reasonable care of the goods found. 2) He should
not put the goods for his personal use. 3) He should not mix the goods found with his own goods. 4) It
is the duty of the finder of goods to find the real owner of the goods and then to entrust the goods to
him.
• According to section 71 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 by the finder of lost goods we mean a person
who comes across the goods that are unclaimed or whose actual owner is not known. Such a person
has to take care of these lost goods as Bailee unless a true owner is found. He has the same
responsibility, rights and duties of that of a Bailee as per section 151 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
He is duty bound to return the goods to the actual owner. He has to take all measures to find actual
owners. He cannot refuse the delivery of goods else he will be liable for non- delivery of goods.

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 Rights of Finder of Lost Goods
• The right of Lien: According to section 168 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 finder of the lost goods can
exercise his right of particular lien if the actual owner refuses to make the payment of the expenses incurred
to preserve those goods or to find the actual owner. But finder of the lost goods cannot sue him for the same.
• The right of Claiming the Award, if announced by the owner: According to section 168 of the Indian
Contract Act, 1872 finder of lost goods cannot sue the actual owner for expenses incurred by him. But he can
sue him for the award that is announced by the owner and he refuses to pay the same. For instance, X finds
Z’s wallet and gives it to him. Z promises X to give him Rs. 100 for the same. This is a contract of bailment
and Z is bound to pay the reward.
• Right to sell the goods found: According to section 169 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 finder of the lost
goods also have the right to sell the goods on certain circumstances i.e. either he could not find the actual
owner after taking all due diligence or the goods or of such nature that their value might perish.

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 Distinction between Bailee’s Particular and
General Lien
Bailee’s particular lien Bailee’s general lien
• Particular lien gives right to retain only such • General lien gives right to retain any goods belonging
goods in respect of which charges due to another person for any amount due from him.
remain unpaid. • General lien may be exercised even though no labour
or skill has been expended on the goods.
• Particular lien can be exercised only when • General lien can be exercised by only such persons as
some labour or skill has been expended on are specified u/s 171. e.g., bankers, factors,
the goods, resulting in an increase in value wharfingers, Attomeys of High Court, policy brokers.
of goods. Any other bailee may exercise general lien if there is
an agreement to this effect.
• Every bailee is entitled to particular lien.
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 Termination of Bailment
• On the expiry of fixed 'period
• On the fulfilment of the object
• Inconsistent use of bailed goods
• Destruction of the subject matter
• Termination of gratuitous bailment
• Death: A gratuitous bailment is terminated by the death of either the bailor
or the bailee. Sec. 162.
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