WHATI SANEASEMENT?

Thet er m‘ easement ’comesf r om t heOl dLat inwor d‘ aisement um ’meani ng“ comf ort ,conv enienceor
privil
ege”andi tdev elopedi nto“ al egalr i
ghtorpr ivilegeofusi ngsomet hi ngnotone' sown"f rom t heear l
y15c.
Aneasementi st hegr antofanonpossessor ypr oper tyi nt erestt hatgr ant st heeasementhol derper mi ssi ont o
useanot herper son' sl and.I nsi mpl et er ms, itr efer st ot her i
ghtwhi chamansomet i
meshasov eronepi eceof
l
andbyr easonofhi sowner shipofanot her.
Sect ion4oft heI ndi anEasementAct , 1882def inesi tasf ol l
ows:
“ Aneasementi sar i
ghtwhi cht heowneroroccupi erofcer tainl andpossesses,assuch,f ort hebenef i
cial
enjoy mentoft hatl and, todoandcont inuet odosomet hing, ort opr ev entandcont inuet opr ev entsomet hing
beingdone, inorupon, ori nr espectofcer tainot herl andnothi sown. ”
Easement sar enowher edef inedi nEngl i
shl aw.Lor dEsheri n
#M et ropol i
tanRai lwayv.Fowl erdef inesi tas“ somer ightwhi chaper sonhasov erl andwhi chi snothi sown” .
TheEngl i
shCour ti ntroducest hem bysay ing: Thecommonl awr ecogni sedal imi tednumberof
ri
ght swhi chonel andownercoul dacqui r
eov ert hel andofanot her ;andt heser ight swer ecal ledeasement s
andpr of its.Exampl esofeasement si ncl udesr i
ght sofway , r
ight sofl ightandr ight sofwat er.
Il
lust rations
(a)A,ast heownerofacer tainhouse,hasar ightofwayt hitherov erhi snei ghbourB' sl andf orpur poses
connect edwi tht hebenef icial enjoy mentoft hehouse, t
hi si saneasement .
(b)A,ast heownerofacer tainhouse,hast her ightt ogoonhi snei ghbourB' sl and,andt ot akewat erf ort he
purposesofhi shousehol doutofaspr i
ngt her ein.Thi sisaneasement .
(c)A, ast heownerofacer tainhouse, hast her ightt oconductwat erf rom B' sst r
eam t osuppl yt hef ount ainsin
thegar denat tachedt ot hehouse.t hisi saneasement .
(d)A, ast heownerofacer tainhouseandf ar m, hast her ightt ogr azeacer t
ainnumberofhi sowncat t
leonB' s
fi
eld, ort ot ake, fort hepur poseofbei ngusedi nt hehouse, byhi msel f,hisf ami ly,guest slodger sandser vants,
wat erorf ishoutofC' st ank,ort i
mberoutofD' swoodort ouse,f ort hepur poseofmanur inghi sl and,t he
l
eav eswhi chhav ef all
enf rom t het reesonE' sl and.Thesear eeasement s.
(e)Adedi cat est ot hepubl ict her i
ghtt ooccupyt hesur f aceofcer tainl andf ort hepur poseofpassi ngandr e-
passi ng.Thi sr ighti snotaneasement .
(f)Ai sboundt ocl eanseawat er cour ser unni ngt hr oughhi sl andandkeepi tf reef rom obst ruct ionf ort he
benef itofB, alowerr i
par i
anowner .Thi si snotaneasement .
HI STORI CALBACKGROUNDOFEASEMENTS
Theconceptofeasement: canbet r
acedt oant iqui t
yandi tissai dt hateasementi sasol dast heconceptof
proper tyi tself.Theear l
iestr ef erenceofeasement si sf oundi na. Hal hedGent ooCodewhi chi sacompi l
at i
on
oft heanci entHi ndul awsi nf or cedur ingt heper iod1773- 1775i nI ndi aundert hedi rectionofWar renHast i
ngs.
From t hecodei tappear st hataper sonhadar i
ghtofeasementi nr espectofpr ivacy , l
ight,ai randdi schar geof
wat ert hr oughdr ains.Theanci entHi ndul aw t extb. ‘Vi v adaChi nt hamani ’al somakesar ef erencet ot he
conceptofeasement s.
Hami lton’ sedi tionoft hec. Heday adi gestshowst hatar ighti nt henat ureofawast elandi sacqui redbyone
whodi gsawel l int hewast el andt hatnooneshal ldigwi t hinacer taindi st anceofi tsoast odi stur bt hef lowof
wat er.I tal sor ecogni sesot hereasmet ar yr ight swhi chi ncl udet her i
ghtt owat erf ori r
rigationandt her i
ghtt o
dischar gewat eront het erraceofanot her .
Theconceptofeasement s:wer eknownasbyanumbr ellater m cal ledas‘ ser v i
tudes’i nRomanl aw whi ch
wasbr oadert hant hef ormer .Pr aedi alSer v i
tudeswast heRomanl aw equi valentofEasementr el
at ingt o
i
mmov abl es.Ser v itudeswer edi videdi nt ot wot ypesnamel y.,(a) .Rur alSer v i
tudes( Rightofwayf orman,
passagef orani mal s, etc.,
)( b).Ur banSer vitudes( Ri ghtt osuppor tt obui ldi ngs,Ri ghtt oLight ,et c.,)
.Ser v i
tudei s
adev icet hatt iesr ight sandobl i
gat i
onst oowner shi porpossessi onofl andsot hatt heyr unwi t
ht hel andt o
successi veowner sandoccupi ers.
Thewhol ebundl eofr i
ght swhi chconst i
t utet hecompl et eowner shipofpr oper tywascal ledasdomi nium,
serv i
tudeswer er egar dedasf ragment sofdomi nium sever edf rom t heor i
ginalst ockandgr ant edt osome
personot hert hant heor i
ginalpr opr i
et orinr est rictionoft hel at t
er ’
sabsol uteowner ship.Itwasr ef er r
edt oas
‘
ser vitudes’ becauset hepr oper ty,ov erwhi cht heyexer cised, becamesubj ecttoasor tofsl av ery ,asi twer efor
thebenef i
toft hedomi nantowner s.
Thenot ionofeasement sdur ingi tsear lyday si nEngl andwasanadmi xtureofRoman,Saxon,Dani shand
Br i
tonLaw.I nt hisper i
od, ther emedyf ordi st urbanceofaneasementl aybyact ionf ordamagesi nl aworasui t
fori njunct ionsi nequi ty.Af t
ert heabol it
ionoft heequi tycour t
sbyv irtueoft heJudi catur eAct ,1873bot h
remedi eswer eav ail
abl eintheCour ts.
EASEMENTDI FFERENTI ATEDFROM OTHERCONCEPTS
Aneasementi nvolvesar ighttouset heot her '
sland,ar ealcov enantt her i
ghtt oinsistt hatt heot her
perfor m al andr elateddut y,andanequi t
abl eser vi
tudet her i
ghtt ocont r
oltheuset owhicht heot hermayput
hisl and.Exampl esar e,respectivel
y,ar ightofwayt ocr ossov eranei ghbor '
sland,ar ightt hata nei ghbor
shar et hecostofmai ntai
ningaboundar yf ence,andar ightt hatanei ghbornotusehi sl andf orcommer cial
purposes.
Theowner shipofaneasementi samer er ightwhi chconf erscer tainrightsov erthelandi nquest i
on,but
nev eranyexcl usiver i
ghtt opossessi on.Incommonl aw, aneasementcamet o
bet reat edasapr oper t
yrightini t
selfandi sst il
ltreatedasaki ndofpr opertybymostj ur i
sdicti
ons.I nsome
j
ur i
sdi ctions, anot hert ermf or‘easement ’isequi tableservitude, alt
hougheasement sdonothav etheirorigi
ni n
equi ty.
Aneasement aryr ightisof tendescr i
bedast her i
ghtt ouset hel andofanot herforaspeci alpurpose.Unl i
kea
l
ease,aneasementdoesnotgi vet hehol derar i
ghtof" possessi on"oft hepr operty,onlyar ightofuse.I tis
distingui shedf r
om al icencet hatonlygi v
esoneaper sonalpr i
v i
legetodosomet hingev enmor elimitedont he
l
andofanot her.Anexampl eofal i
censei st her ighttopar kacari napar ki
ngl otwi t
ht heconsentoft he
parki ngl otowner .Licencesi ngener alcanbet erminat edbyt hepr opertyownermuchmor eeasi lythan
easement s.Easement salsodi fferf r
om l icencesi nt hatmosteasement s(“easement sappur tenant”)ar e
attachedt oandbenef itanot herparcelofland, notaspeci ficperson.Thi smeanst hata
proper t
yt hatenj oy saneasementov eranot herwi llcontinuet oenj oyt heeasementev eni fthepr opertyget s
transf erredt oadi fferentowner .
Apr of it
apr endr er eferst other i
ghtt oremov eandappr opr i
ateanypar tofthesoi lbelongingt oanot her,orany
othert hinggr owi nguponorat tachedt ot hesoi lforthepur poseoft hepr ofi
ttobegai nedf rom thepr oper ty,
therebyacqui red,t hati s,forexampl e,ar ightt ot akegr avel,stone,t r
eesandsof or h.(
t ChundeeChur nRoyv.
Shi
bChunderMundul
).
Histor ically,thecommonl awcour tswoul denf orceonl yf ourt ypesofeasement :ther ightof wayeasement sof
way ),easement sofsuppor t(pertainingt oexcav at i
ons) ,easement s of" li
ghtandai r
",andr i
ght sper tai
ningt o
arti
ficialwat erway s,althought hisi snotsonow.Tr aditional l
y,i twasar ightt hatcoul donl yat tacht oan
adjacentl andandwasf ort hebenef i
tofal l
,notaspeci f
icper son;t hisisal sonol ongert ruei nmany
j
urisdi ct i
ons.
DOMI NANTANDSERVI ENTHERI TAGE
Thel andownerwhowi l
lbenef itfrom t hepr oper t
ywhi chi snothi sownandov erwhi chhehasar ighti scal l
ed
domi nantt enementandt heownerofsuchal andi scal l
edt hedomi nantownerbecauset heownerhascont rol
overt heuseoft hatpar ticularl andwhi chhedoesnotpossess.
Theact uall andownerwhocannotobj ectt otheot herusi nghi sl andi scalledser vienttenementandt heowner
ofsuchal andi scal ledser v i
entownerbecausehehast oabi debyt her equirement sand conv enienceoft he
domi nantowner .Inf act,whet herhel ikesi tornot ,iti sabur denbr oughtt obearonhi m bygr ant,bycust om or
bypr escr i
pt i
on.Hecannotdoany thingonhi sownl andwhi chaf fectst hedomi nanther itageandhei sboundt o
sufferf ortheadv antageoft hedomi nantowner .
ServientHer it
agemeansani nheritedpr opertyov erwhi cht hedomi nantowner shav ear ightt ousei ttot heir
advant ages.Domi nantHer i
tagemeansi nherit
ingar ightov eranot her’
spr oper tywi thoutowni ngit.
Sect i
on4oft heI ndianEasement sAct ,
1882“ Thel andf ort hebenef icialenj oymentofwhi cht her i
ghtexi sts
i
scal ledt hedomi nanther itage, andt heowneroroccupi ert hereoft hedomi nantowner ;t hel andonwhi cht he
l
iabilityi simposedi scal ledt heser vienther i
tage, andt heowneroroccupi erther eoftheser vientowner .
”
Eg.Xownsapi eceofl and.Yhast her i
ghtofwayov eri t
.Her eXi st heser vientownerandhast heser v i
ent
heritage.Yi st hedomi nantownerandhehast hedomi nanther i
t age.Thedomi nantandser vientowner shav e
certainr ight sandobl igat ionst omai ntai
nandpr eser vet heeasement .Whi l
eexer cisinghi sr i
ghtov ert he
proper tyoft heser vi
enther i
tage,t hedomi nantownerhasr esponsi biliti
est opr eser vet heeasement .Hisact s
anddeedsshal lno putt heser vientowneri ntoi nconv eni ence.Bei ngt heact ualuserheshal lr ecti
fyt he
damagesi fanycausedbyhi sact sathi sownexpense.Theser vientowneri snotobl i
gedt odoany thingfort he
advant ageoft hedomi nanther itage.Hehasnol iabili
tywhat soev ert oconst ructawayf ort heuseoft he
domi nantownerort ocar ryoutr epai rsi ncaseofanydamaget ot hepassageway .Ast hehol deroft hepr oper ty
heis
fr
eet ouset heser vi
enther itagei nanymannerhel ikes,buthi sact sshal lnotdi lutether ightoft hedomi nant
owner .
 REQUIREMENTSOFAVALI DEASEMENT
Theessent i
alf eaturesofaneasement ,int hest r
ictsenseoft het erm,ar et hereforethese: (a)Iti
san
i
ncor porealri
ght ;arightt ot heuseandenj oymentofl andnott othel andi t
self;
(b)itisimposeduponcor por eal property
;
(c)itrequir
esf oritsconst i
tutiont wodi sti
ncttenement st he“domi nantt enement ”whi chenjoystheri
ght,and
the“ ser
vienttenement ”whi chsubmi tstoit.Thisl
astchar acterist
icexcl udesf rom thecat egor
yofeasement s
thesocal l
ed“easement singr oss,suchasar ightofwayconf err
edbygr antindependent lyofthepossession
ofanyt enementbyt hegr antee.Thet r
ueeasementi san"appendant"or"appur tenant"easement ,notan
“easementi ngr oss”.Bot ht heI ndianaswel lastheEngl i
shLawofeasement sdoesnotr ecognizetheconcept
of‘easement singr oss’ ast heydonotcompr i
seofthedomi nantandser vientest ate.
I
nordert oassesst hev ali
dityofaneasementi tisessent ialt
ol ookbot hati tssubstanti
ve
characteri
sti
csandatt hewayi nwhi chithasbeencr eated.Thechar acteri
sticst hatar enecessaryforthe
vali
dityofaneasementhasbeenl aiddownbyt hedecisionin
#InReEl lenboroughPar k.TheCour tofAppeal hadtodeci det hest atusofar ightforr esi
dentstouseagar den
i
nt hemi ddleofasquar ear oundwhi chtheirhouseswer ebui lt
.Thatcasegav eriset othefourwellknown
characteri
sti
csofeasement sv i
z.,

(1)theremustbeadomi nantt enementandaser vienttenement ;

(2)theeasementmustaccommodat ethedomi nantt enement ;
(3)thedomi nantandser vientt enement smustbeownedbydi f
fer entper sons;and
(4)theeasementmustbecapabl eoff ormi ngt hesubj ectmat terofagr ant .
InIndia, ther ear et womor er equir
ement snamel yt hattheeasementshoul dbef ort he‘benef ici
alenjoy ment’of
thedomi nantt enementandt hattheeasementshoul dent itl
et hedomi nantownert odoort ocontinuet odo
somet hing, ort opr ev entort ocont i
nuet oprev ent, somet hingi noruponori nrespectoft heser v
ienttenement .
(C.Mohammedv .Anant hachar i)Thecour t
shav ef r
om t i
met ot i
mer ejectedcl ai
mst oeasement sont he
groundt hatt her ightwoul dbet oowi deandv ague.
Char acter isticsofaneasementunderi ndianlaw:
A]Ther emustbeadomi nantandser v i
enttenement .
B]Ther ightofeasementmustbepossessedf ort hebenef icialrequi rementoft hedomi nantt enement s.
C]Domi nantandser vientowner smustbedi fferentper sons.
D]Ther ightshoul dent i
tlet hedomi nantownert odoandt ocont inuet odosomet hi ngort o prev entand
continuet opr eventsomet hi ngbei ngdone, i
noruponori nr espectoft heser vi
entt enement .
E]Thatsomet hingmustbeofacer tainorwel ldef i
nedchar acterandmustbecapabl eoff ormi ngt he
subjectmat t
erofagr ant
#InHunt ervCanar yWhar fLi mi t
ed,althought her ighttot elevisionr eceptionwasnotpl eadedasaneasement ,
theHouseofLor dsnonet hel essconsi deredt hei ssue.Lor dHof fmannconcl udedt hatsuchar i
ghtshoul dnot
ber ecogni sedasi twoul dpl aceabur denonawi deandi ndet ermi natearea.Asal readypoi ntedoutther emust
beadomi nantownerandaser vi
entowner , i
tmustbef or
theadv ant ageoft hedomi nantowner ,itmaybeper manentort empor ar y,orf oral imi tedper i
odoft imeor
seasonalorf oraspeci f
iedev entoroutofnecessi t y,t
heowner smustbet wodi fferentper sonsandi tmustbe
capabl eoff or mingt hesubj ectmat t
erofagr ant.
TheI ndianl awr elat ingt oEasement sincl udespr of i
tapr endr eprov idedi tissuppor tedbyadomi nant
andser vienther itage(pr of itaprendreappur t
enant ).Thi si st obecont rast edwi tht heEngl ishLawwher np
ei
rofi
taprendr eandeasement sar esepar ated.Howev er,theI ndianposi t
ioni ssucht hati tdoesnotr ecognize
pr
ofi
tapr
endr
eingr
oss.

DURATI ONANDNATUREOFEASEMENTS
A.Period:Accor di
ngt oSection6oft heIndi anEasement sAct ,1882“Aneasementmaybeper manent,
orfor
aterm ofy ear
sorotherli
mi t
edperiod,orsubj ectt
operiodi
calinterr
upti
on,or
exercisableonlyatacer tai
nplace,oratcer t
ai nti
mes,orbetweencer tai
nhours,orforaparti
cul
arpur
pose,or
oncondi t
ionthati
tshallcommer ceorbecomev oidorvoi
dableont he
happeni ngofaspecifi
edev entortheper f
or manceornonper f
or manceofaspeci f
iedAct.
”
B.Natureofeasement s: sect i
on7oft heI ndianEasementAct ,1882whi chstatesthateasementsare
rest
ricti
onsofoneorot herofthefoll
owingr ights(namely)
:
(a)Excl usiver ightt oenj oy: Theexcl usiver i
ghtofev eryownerofi mmov abl epr oper t
y( subj ectt oanyl awf or
theti
mebei ngi nf or ce)toenj oyanddi sposeoft hesameandal lproduct sther eofandaccessi onst hereto.
(b)Right stoadv ant agesar isingf rom si tuationTher i
ghtofev eryownerofi mmov abl eproper ty(subj ecttoany
l
awf ort het imebei nginf or ce)t oenj oywi thoutdisturbancebyanot herthenat uraladv antagesar isingfrom its
sit
uation.
TYPESOFEASEMENTS
Therear esev er alcl assificat i
onsofeasement swhi chi stobenot ed.Sect ion5ofTheI ndi anEasementAct ,
defi
nesdi fferentki ndsofeasement sThet ypesofeasement svar i
esf rom count r
yt ocount ry
.Someoft he
notablet ypesar eenumer at edher ein.Theyar edivi
dedi nto
(a)af firmat i
veorposi t
ive,t hosewhi chaut hori
zet hecommi ssi
onofanactbyt hedomi nantowner ,e.g.
ri
ghtsofway ,ar ightt odr aw wat erf rom aspr i
ng,r i
ghtsofaqueduct ,andnegat ive,whent heeasement
rest
rictst her i
ght soft heser vientownerov erhisownpr oper
ty,e.g.pr eventshi mf rom bui ldingonl andsoas
toobst ructanci entl ight s( cf.al sother ightt othesuppor tofneighbour i
ngsoi l
);
(b)cont inuous, ofwhi cht heenj oymentmaybecont i
nual wit
houtthei nterferenceofman, e. g.accesst oli
ght,
anddi scont i
nuous,wher et her emustbeaf reshactoneachoccasi onoft heexer ciseoft her i
ght ,e. g.aright
ofway , orri
ghtt odr awwat er;
(c)appar ent ,wher ether ear ev isibleext ernalsignsoft heexerci seoft her ight,e. g.ar ightt odam upa
watercour se,andnonappar ent ,wher esuchsi gnsar eabsent ,e. g.ar i
ghtt ol ateralsuppor tf rom land,a
prohi
bi ti
ont obui ldabov eacer tainhei ght.TheI ndianEasementAct ,1870expr esslycodi fiessev eraltypesof
easement s,thei reffect sandt heext ent towhi chtheyext endandwhent heycease.

THEI
MPOSI
TION,
ACQUI
SITI
ONANDTRANSFEROFEASEMENTS

ACQUI SITIONOFANEASEMENT
Condi ti
onsf ort heacqui sitionofaneasement:
A]Peaceabl y: Thewor d' peaceabl y'washel dt omeant hatt hepl aintif
fwhocl aimst obet hedomi nantowner
hasnei therbeenobl i
gedt or esor tt ophy sical for cehimsel fatanyt imet oexer cisehisr ightwi t
hi n20y ear s;nor
hadhebeenpr ev ent edbyt heuseofphy sical forcebyt hedef endanti nhisenj oymentofsuchr ight .
B]Openl y:Excepti nt hecaseofl ightandai r,t heenj oy mentmustbeopenandmani festandnotcl andest i
ne.
Ther easonoft her equi rementt hatt heusermustbeopenl i
esi nt hef actt hatacqui escencel iesatt her ootof
allprescr i
ption,andwher et heenj oy menti snotopeni tcannotbesai dthati tiswithint heknowl edgeoft he
owneroft heser vientt enement .
C]Asaneasement: I
fasper soncl aimsasi teasowner ,hecannotcl aim ar ightofwayov ert hesameasan
easement .Thewor dsdenot et hatt heact sr elieduponasev idenceoft heexi stenceofar i
ghtmustbedoneby
oneper sonupont hel andoft heot her.
D]Asofr i
ght: Itmeanst hatt heenj oymentmustbeasofar i
ghtf ort went yy ears(ifagai nstt hegov ernment
thir
tyy ears)ormor ewi thoutanyl eav eorl i
cence.
E]Wi thouti nterrupt i
on: Meanswi thoutanyobst ructi
onont hepar toft heper sonagai nstwhom t heeasement
i
scl aimed.Mer enonuseroft heeasementf orat i
mei snotani nterrupt i
onwi thinthe
meani ngoft hesect i
on.
F]Enj oy mentmustbef ort went yy ears: Theenj oymentmustbecont inueddownt owi thint woy earsoft he
dateofsui tinwhi cht her i
ghti scont estedi .
e.wher eaper soni sint hecont inuousenj oymentofaneasement
formor et han20y ear sandanobst ructioni st hereaftermade,hemustbr inghi ssui ttoest ablishhi sright
withinaper i
odofl imi tat i
onoft woy ear sfrom t hedat eofsuchobst ructi
on, other wisehi srightwi llbedef eated.
WHOWI LLACQUI RETHEEASEMENT
Thef ollowingar et hecat egor i
esoft heper sonswhoacqui retheeasement .
A]Occupi er:Wher eaper soni si npossessi onofpr opertyonbehal fofowner ,hecancl aim aneasement .
B]Tenant: Tenant si ndomi nantt enementenj oy i
nganeasementasofr ight,acqui reitfrom t hel andlord.When
thepl aintif
fanddef endantar et enant sofacommonl andl ord,t hepl aintiffcannotacqui r
eanyr ightof
easementov ert hedef endant s' tenancyl andei therundersect i
on13orsect ion15;f ort hebenf ici
alenj oyment
ofhi sland.Ther ei showev er,nobart ohi sacqui ri
ngt her ightasacust omar yeasementoront hebasi sof
i
mpl iedgr antf r
om t hel andl ordbutnotont hebasi sofpr escripti
on.Tenantcanacqui r
ean
easementov ert headj oiningl andbel ongingt ohi slandlordf ort hebenef icialenjoymentofot heri mmov able
proper t
ynothi sownbutbel ongi ngt osomeoneel sewhi chal sohehappenst ooccupyf ort hetimebei ngasa
tenant.Tenantcancl aimr ightofeasementov erhi slandlord'spr oper tybasedi nimmemor ialuserbutnoton
prescr i
ption.
C]Coowner: Easment aryr ightcan notbe cl aimed bycoowneri nr espectofa l and hel
d byhi m in
coowner shipwithot her.Theot hercoowner '
sconsenti snotnecessar yfort heacquisit
ionofanyeasementby
anycoowner .Butashi srightoft r
ansferofhisinterestisonlyal i
mitedrighthecannoti mposeanyeasement
ont hejointpr oper tyoranypar tthereofwit
houttheconsentofhi sothercoowner .
D]Lessee: Nol esseecanacqui r
eaneasementov ertheimmov abl
epr opertyleasedt ohimforthe benefi
cial
enjoy mentofanot herpropertyofwhi chhehappenst obet heowner .
E]Tr espasser: Althought hephr ase,“anypersoni npossessi on”woul dappar entl
yincludeat r
espasseral
so,
buti tcannotbesai dthat,heact s,“onbehalfof”ther ealowner”.Therefore,at r
espassercannotacquirethe
easement .
F]Tr ansfereeofl and:Ther ightofeasementofani mmov ablepropertyisrequiredforthebenefi
cialenj
oyment
ofsuchpr oper ty.Thisrightisaccor dtothecivi
l
izedsoci ety.Theenjoymentofr ightof
easementdependsont hecoor dinationoftheri
ght sexisti
ngont heseriventanddomi nanther
it
age.

HOW ANEASEMENTI SACQUI RE:

A]Bygr ant( section8): Vi desect i
on8,aneasementmaybei mposedbyany onei nt heci rcumst ancesandt o
theext ent ,inandt owhi chhemayt ransf erhisint eresti nt heher itageonwhi cht hel iabilit
yist obei mposed.A
grantofaneasementmaybwi thoutanywr i
tingbecauset hecr eationofeasementbyt he ser vi
entownerov er
thelandi nhi sowner shi poroccupat i
ondoesnotamountt oat ransf erofowner ship.Thegr antofeasement
maybeexpr essori mpl iedf rom t heci rcumst ancesandconductoft hepar t
iest ot he
easement .Itmaybepr esumedf rom t hel onguserormaybei nf erredf rom someusagepr ev ai
li
ngi nthe
l
ocality.
Aneasementcanbeacqui redbygr ant .Agr anti sgi v enbyanagr eementexecut edbyagr antori nfav ourofa
granteef oraconsi der ation.Thegr antbecomesef fect i
v ewhent hegr anteehast her i
ghtt oent erupont he
grantor'sl and.Thedeedofeasementmaybesepar at eort hegr antmaybei ncl udedi nadeedr elatingt othe
domi nanther it
age
EG:Xsel l
shi slandt oYandbyt hesamedeedhemaygr antar i
ghtofwayt oYf orsuchl andf oranot herland
ofhis.Gr antisgi venbyanagr eementexecut edbyt hegr ant orinf avouroft hegr ant eef oraconsi deration.The
grantbecomesef fectivewhent hegr ant eehast her ightt oent erupont hegr ant or’sland.Easementbyv ir
tueof
custom i sal egalr ightacqui redbyt heoper at i
onofl awt hroughcont inuoususeofal andov eral ongper iodof
ti
me.Ther eforet her ightofwaycont i
nuest oexi stbygr ant,prescr i
pt i
onorbyv irt
ueofcust om.
Easement s,whi char et hesubj ectmat ter sofagr eementbet weent hepar ti
es,ar ef orr ightofway ,rightt oair
and light .Someeasement sar eacqui r
ed bygr antand ot herspr escr i
ption and cust om.Cr eat i
on ofan
easementdoesnotmeant ransf erofpr opert y
.Int hesamemanner ,sur render i
nganeasementr ightdoesnot
i
mpl yt ransf erofpr oper ty.Easementcanbemade,al t eredandr eleased.Easementr ightcannotbecr eatedor
modi fi
edor al
ly.Itmustbei nawr ittenf orm.Howev er ,easement sbypr escr iptionandcust om neednotbei n
writ
ing.
Adeedofgr antmustcl ear lyment iont hepur poseofwhi cheasementi sgr ant ed.Byt hedeedofgr antthe
subser vientownergi vesf ul landf reer i
ghtt ot hedomi nantownerandhi ssuccessor sapassagewi deenough
formov ementofpeopl eandv ehiclesbet weent hedomi nantowner '
spr emi sesandt hepubl icr oadagai nsta
pri
ceconsi deration.
#InMoodyvSt eggl est hegr antofar ighttof ixasi gnboar dtot headj oiningpr oper tyadv erti
singt hepubl ic
housewhi chconst itutedt hedomi nantt enementwashel dt ocompr iseaneasement

B]Bynecessi ty,
whent hereisasev eranceoft wotenement s(secti
on13): Aneasementofnecessi t
ymeansa
necessitywhi chisabsolutel
ynecessar yf ortheenjoymentofat enementintosev eralindependentuni ts.Mer e
conv eni
encei snotthet estforaneasementofnecessi t
y.Easementofnecessi tyar isesonl yt her e,bya
transfer,bequestorpartit
ion,asinglet enementi sdivi
dedi nt
ot woormor etenement sandanyoft hosei sto
besi tuatedt hatitcannotbeenj oyedatal lwi t
houtcer t
ainpr i
vi
legeuponanot hersuch t enement s.The
creationofaneasementofnecessi t
yisanout comeoft hepr i
orrel
ationshi
pbetweent het enement s.
Aneasementofnecessi t
yisimpliedonl ywher etherightisessenti
al f
ortheuseoft hel andgr antedorr etained.
Thequest i
oni snotwhetheritisnecessar yf
ort hereasonableenjoymentoft helandbutwhet herthel andcan
beusedatal lwi t
houtthei mpli
edgr antorr eservati
on.Acl aim wi l
lonlybesuccessf ulwher ethel andis
“absolutelyinaccessi
bleoruseless”wi thouttheeasement .Themostobv i
ousEG: ofasi tuat
ioni nwhi chan
easementofnecessi tymaybei mpliedi swher eagr antorconveysanent i
replotofl andexceptf orapi ecein
themi ddle, whichiscompl etel
ysur roundedbyt hepar tconv eyed.Unl esst her eser vati
onofar i
ghtofwayov er
thel andgr ant
edi simpl i
ed, t
helandi nthecent rewoul dbecompl etel
ylandlocked.
Aneasementofnecessi t
ywi llnot,howev er,bei mpliedmer elybecausei tmakesi tmor econv eni
entt o
uset hel and.Aneasementofnecessi tyiscoext ensi vewi ththenecessi ty,asi texi st
edwhent he easement
wasi mposed.Theseeasement sar iseont hesev eranceoft enement s.Theyar esai dtobecr eatedbyi mplied
grant .Tot akeaconcr eteexampl e,iftheownerofacer t
ai nf i
eld,whoi rri
gateshi sent ir
ef i
eldbyt akingwat er
from awel lsi
tuatedwi t
hinfiel
d,sellsapar toft hef iel
dnotcont ainingthewel l,butr etainst hepar tcontaining
thewel l
,thequest ionwoul dnaturallyarisewhet hert hepur chaserhasr i
ghtt ot akewat erf rom thev endor ’
s
wel ltoi r
rigatehispar t.Ifthepart
ieshav eset t
ledt hisquest i
onbyspeci ficment ioni nthedeedofconv eyance,
theircommoni ntention assoexpr essedmustbegi v
enef f
ectt o.Butift hedeedofconv eyancecont ainsno
referencet othispoi nt,l
awwoul dgr anttothepur chaseroft hepar theri
tageaneasementi nfav ourofthesai d
parther i
taget otakewat erfrom t
hewel lsit
uatedint heot herpar therit
ager etainedbyt hev endor
.
#I nt hecaseofM uhammadRamzanv .NaseerBeg,1980CLC1555,t hepl aint
iffmustnotonl ypr ove
existenceofr ightofeasementatt het i
meoft r
ansf erofpr oper t
yt ohim butal sosuchr ightbei ngnecessar yfor
enjoy ingt r
ansf er
redpr oper t
y.

C]Byquasinecessi ty
,whent hereisasev eranceoft wot enement s( section13): Thet er
m quasi easementhas
beenappl i
edt ot hoseeasement swhichar enoteasementofabsol utenecessi t
ybutwhi chcomei ntoexistence
forthef ir
stt i
mebypr esumedgr antonsev eranceoft woormor et enementf ormerlyuni t
edi nt
ot hesol e
owner shi
pofoneper son.Quasieasementmustbe( a)appar ent(b)cont inuousand( c)necessar yforenjoying
thedomi nanther itageasi twasenj oyedbef oresev erance.Thequasieasementcl ai
medmustbei nexistence
atthet i
mewhent hesev erancest ookpl ace.Sot hatt heremaybepossi bil
it
yofani mpl i
edgr antorani mplied
reservati
on.Ift heywer enotpr esentatt het i
meofsev erancebutcamei ntoexistenceaf terwardssuchr i
ght
cannotbecl aimedasquasi easementundersect i
on13.
Thepr incipleofquasieasementi st hatwher et heonepor tionoft hepr oper t
yhasbeendependanton
anotherpor ti
onf ornecessar yadv antagesandt hef ormerpor t
ioni sali
enat ed,thedeni altothegr anteeoft he
enjoymentofsi milaradv antageswoul dbet odepr ivehisnew acqui redpr opertyofut i
li
tyandbenef i
tofhi s
bargain.Aquasieasementwi llnotcomei ntoexistencei fitisexpr esslyexcludedbyt het ermsoft hegr antor
areinconsistentwi ththeintentionofthepar t
ies.

D]Bypr escr i
ption( section15):
Pr escr i
ptionmeansget t
ingar i
ghtbycont inuousasser ti
onoft heright,whichhasbeeni nusef oral ongper iod
oft i
me.Thus,t oest abli
shi naCour tofl aw,ar i
ghtofeasementbywayofpr escri
pt i
on,thef ollowingcr i
ter i
a
aret obesat i
sfied:
a).Ther emustbeapr eexist i
ngeasementwhi chmusthav ebeenenj oyedbyt hedomi nantowner ;
b).Theenj oymentmusthav ebeenpeaceabl e;
c).Theenj oymentmusthav ebeenasaneasement ;
d).Theenj oymentmusthav ebeenasofr ight ;
e).Ther ightmusthav ebeenenj oyedopenl y;
f).Theenj oy mentmusthav ebeenf oraper iodoft went yyear s;
g).Theenj oymentf or20y earsmusthav ebeenwi thoutinterrupti
on;and
h).Theper iodoft went yy ear smusthav eendedwi thinaper iodoft woy earsimmedi atelyprecedi ngthedat eof
sui tclaimi ngsucheasement .
Thef i
rstsev enpoi ntswer especificallypoi nt edoutbyt hehonour ableHi ghCour tofKer alain#Kr ishnanv.
Nanukut t
anr epor tedinI LR1986( 1)Ker ala526.
Howev er,ifsuchenj oymenti sbasedonanagr eementbet weent hepar ti
es,whichst atesexpr essl yorimpliedly
thatt heenj oy menti snotasaneasement ,t hepr incipl
eofSect i
on15oft heEasement sActwi l
lnotappl y.
Fur ther,inor dert oconst i
tuteani nterrupt ion,t her eshoul dbeacessat i
onofenj oymentbyanobst ruction
creat edbyaper sonot hert hanthecl aimant , andt hecl ai
mantshoul dnothav eacqui escedt ot hesame.Al so, i
f
aper sonenj oyst hebenef itunderal i
fei nt er estorani nt
er estfixedataper iodofov erthr eey ears,thent hat
per iodwi llbeexcl udedf rom t hecal culationoft hetwent yy earsaccor dingtoSect i
on16oft heEasement sAct .
Sect i
on17oft heEasement sActpr ov i
dest hatt hef ol
lowingeasement scannotbeacqui r
edby
prescr i
ption:
(a).Aneasementt hatimposesal i
abi l
ityont hepr oper t
yorwoul dleadt othet otaldestructi
onoft hepr operty;
(b) .Ar i
ghtt ot hef r
eepassageofl ightorai rt oanopenspaceofgr ound;
(c).Ar
ightt
osurfacewaternotfl
owinginast
ream andnotper
manent
lycol
l
ect
edi
napool
,tankorot
her
wise;
d).Ari
ghttoundergroundwaternotpassi
ngi
nadef i
nedchannel

Prescr iptionmeansacqui sitionofar ightort itl

ebyuserofpossessi ondur ingt heper iodandi nt hemanner
prescr ibedbyl aw.Amanwhocannotshowanyot hert itlemayacqui r
epr oper tyorcer tainr i
ght sbyshowi ng
thathehasbeeni npossessi onoft hepr oper tyorenj oy ingr ight sf orav eryl ongt i
me.Ther easonwhyt hel aw
encour agest hismodeofacqui ringr i
ghti st hat ,ifamanaf terl ong, cont i
nueandi nterpr eteduserwasr equi red
i
nev erycaset opr ov et heor iginofhi st itl
eespeci al l
yi nt heol dt imes,whenwr itingwasnoti nv oguei twoul d
resulti ngr eathar dshi pandi nj ust icet ohi m.
(A)Easement ar yr ightofwayandot herv ar i
et i
esofeasementr i
ght scanbeacqui r
edi f( a)t heyhav ebeen
enjoy ed, (b)asaneasement( c)f ort went yy ear s, (d)wi thouti nt errupt i
onbyaper soncl aimi ngt i
tlet ot hem, (
e)
openl y, (
f)peaceabl yand( g)asofr ight .
(B)Easement aryr i
ght sofl i
ght ,ai randsuppor tcanbeacqui redi ft heyhav ebeenpeaceabl yenj oyed,wi t
hout
i
nter rupt i
on,asaneasement ,f ort went yy ear s.Ther i
ght sofl ight ,ai randsuppor tneednotbeenj oy edei ther
'
openl y'or' asofr ight 'or' byaper soncl ai mi ngt itl
et her et o'.Sucheasement scanbeacqui redbypeaceabl e
enjoy mentwi t
houti tsenj oy mentbei ngasofr ight .Itisonl yi ncaseofot hereasement s, i
ti snecessar yt oenj oy
them asofr ighti nor dert oacqui reanabsol uter ighti nr espectoft hem.
Alltheabov esev eni ngr edi ent sofaneasement ar yr ightmust bepr ov edt ohav ebeenpr esentdur ingt he
whol eoft hepr escr iptiveper iodof20y ear s.I ncaseofeasementagai nstGov er nmentt hest at utoryper iodi s
30y ear s.
InthecaseofUt tamr aoTul shi ramj iMadghev s.Shr awanNat thuj iBagul ,2014( 3)Mh. L.J.751. Sec.13of
EasementActpr ov idesf oreasementofnecessi tyandquasi easement ,whi leSec.15ofActpr ov idesf or
easementbypr escr iptionwhi char ei ndependentpr ov isions.I ft hepar ti
esar el egal lyent i
tledt oexer cise
easement ar yr i
ghtunderbot ht hepr ov isions, i
ti sopenf ort hem t odoso.
InthecaseofPundl ikNar ay anPednekarv s.August oFer nandes, 2013( 1)Mh. L. J.259. (a)Easement sActSec.
15–Easementbypr escr iption–pl aintiff '
scl aimt ot hesui taccessi sonl ybywayofeasementofpr escr iption
Quest i
onofpossi bi l
lityoft hepl ai ntiff'
sbei ngabl et ogot hepubl icr oadbyanal ter nat eaccess, doesnotar ise
andwoul dhav ear i
senonl yi ft heywant edt omai nt aint hei rcl ai mt ot hesui taccessbywayofeasementof
necessi t
y ,et c.( b)Sect i
on15–Easementbypr escr i
pt ion–Ev eni fiti st akenf orgr ant edt hatt hepl aint if
f s
havebeenusi ngt heaccessf rom t hepr oper t yoft hedef endant st ogot ot hesai dPanchay atr oad,t hesai d
usercanonl ybef rom t het imeofcomi ngi ntoexi stenceoft hesai dr oadwhi chwassomewher ei nt hey ear
198485–Sui tf il
edbyt hepl ai ntiffon27. 9.1988–Thus,t heal leged cont i
nuous,peacef ulandopenusewas
onlyf orf ewy ear ssi ncepr iort ot hef i
lingoft hesui twhi chi sl esst hanev en10y ear s–Ther efor e,thepl aintiff
i
snotent i
tledt ocl ai mt hesui taccessasaneasementbypr escr ipt i
on.
E]Byl ostgr ant ,pr esumedf rom i mmemor ialuser: Ar ightofeasementi sal socr eatedbygr ant .Agr antof
suchr ighti spr esumedf rom l onguseorpossessi onal thought heact ualt ransact ionofmaki ngsuchagr ant
cannotbedi scov er ed.I fapar tyhasbeenusi ngapar ti
cul arl andf orapar ticularpur posef rom t imei mmemor ial,
i
tcanbesai dt hathehasear nedt hatr ightont hebasi sofdoct rineofl ostgr ant .Ther ei snoper iodf ixedf or
theimmemor i
al.
F]Bycust oms( sect ion18): Acust omar yeasementi snotaneasementi nt het ruesenseoft hatexpr essi on.I t
i
snotannexedt ot heowner shi pofadomi nantt enement ,andi ti snotexer ci sabl efort hemor ebenef icial
enjoy mentoft hedomi nantt enement ;i ti sr ecogni zedandenf orcedasapar toft he commonl aw oft he
l
ocal itywher eitobt ains.Acust omar yeasementar isesi nf av ourofani ndet ermi nat ecl assofper sonssuchas
resident sofal ocal i
tyormember sofacer taincommuni ty,andt houghnotnecessar i
lyannexedt ot he
owner shipofl and,i ti senf orceabl easar i
ghtt odoandcont inuet odosomet hinguponl andorasar ight
preventandcont inuet opr ev entsomet hingdoneuponl and.Sanct ionf ori tsenf or ceabi litybei ngi ncust om, the
ri
ghtmustsat isfyal l thet est swhi chal ocal cust om f orr ecogni ti
onbycour t
smustsat isfy .
G]Byt ransf er: Sect ion19l ay sdownt hatat ransf erordev olut ionofapr oper tywhi chmaybeduet oactof
partiesorbyoper at ionofl aw, wi llconv eyt heper soni nwhosef av ourt het r
ansf erordev olutiont akespl aceal l
thoseeasement swhi char eannexedorar eappur tenantt ot heher i
taget ransf erred, unlessacont r
aryi ntent ion
appear s.I fnot hi ngi sment i
onedi nt hei nst rumentoft ransf er,al leasementenj oy edbef oret het ransf erwi l
l
passt ot het ransf er eeandi nt hi sr espect ,thi ssect ionenj oinsupont het ransf eror
tohav et het ransf er deeddr af tedv erycar eful lytoav oi df ut ur el i
tigat i
on.
H]Byl aw/ stat ue/ legi slat ur e: cer tainl aws/ statut e/legi sl atur e has gr ant ed t he easement .Fore. g.Land
Acqui sitions( Mi nes)Act .
I]Bytheoperati
onofthedoct r
ineofacquiescence:Wheret
heserv
ientownerbyacti
veencour
agementor
passi
veacquiescenceorothersuchconduct,hasinduct
edabeli
efinthedominantowneruponwhichthe
dominantownerhasacted,
hewouldacquir
eaneasementov ert
heser
vientpr
oper
ty.

RI
GHTTOALTERMODEOFENJOYMENTANDNECESSARYRI
GHTS.

Chapt erI I
Ioft heEasementAct , contempl at est hepr ovisi onsr egar dingt hei nci dent sofeasement s.
Aspersect i
on21oft heAct ,aneasementmustnotbeusedf oranypur posenotconnect edwi tht he
enjoy mentoft hedomi nanther i
tage.
Il
lust ration:A, asownerofaf arm Y, hasar i
ghtofwayov erB' sl andt oY.Ly i
ngbey ondY, Ahasanot herf arm
Z,t hebenef icialenj oymentofwhi chi snotnecessar yf ort hebenef icialenj oy mentofY.Hemustnotuset he
easementf ort hepur poseofpassi ngt oandf rom Z.
Aspersect ion22oft heAct , thedomi nantownermustexer cisehi sr ighti nt hemodewhi chisl eastoner oust o
theser v i
entowner ;and,whent heexer ciseofaneasementcanwi thoutdet rimentt ot hedomi nantownerbe
conf inedt oadet er minat epar toft heser vienther i
tage, suchexer ciseshal l
,att her equestoft heser vientowner ,
besoconf ined.
Thissect i
oni sdi videdi nt o2par ts.Thef i
r stpar tpr escr ibest hef irstmodei nwhi cht hedomi nantownermust
exer cisehi sr ightandt hesecondpar tput sl imi tationont her ightoft hedomi nantownert oexer cisehi sr ightof
easementonser vienther itage.Thi ssect ionshowst hatt her ightofeasementi snotabsol ute.
RIGHTTOALTERMODEOFENJOYMENT( SECTI ON23)
Subj ectt ot hepr ov isionsofsect i
on22,t hedomi nantownermay ,from t imet ot i
me,al tert hemodeand
placeofenj oy ingt heeasement ,prov idedt hathedoesnott her ebyi mposeanyaddi ti
onalbur denont he
serv ienther i
tage.
Except ion–Thedomi nantownerofar i
ghtofwaycannotv ar yhi sl i
neofpassageatpl easur e,ev ent houghhe
doesnott her ebyi mposeanyaddi ti
onalbur denont heser v
ienther i
tage.Thedomi nantownerhasbeengi ven
fulldi scretioni nt heenj oymentofaneasement .Howev er ,hecannotv i
ol atet he
prov isionsofsect ion22oft heEasementAct .Inaway ,sect ion22const itut eanexcept i
onofsect ion23.
Simi larly,rest rictioni si mposedupont hedomi nantownert hathecannoti mposeanyaddi ti
onalbur denont he
serv ienther i
tagewhi l
eenj oyinghi sr ightofeasementi nanywayhel i
kes.Thus, suf fi
ci entchecksandbal ances
hav ebeenpr ov i
dedont her i
ghtoft hedomi nantownert oexer cisehi srightoft heeasement .
Ashel dbyHon' bleApexCour ti n#Angur i,Smt .V. Ji wanDass, repor t
edi nAI R1988SC202.I f,byal t
er ationof
modeandpl aceenj oy i
ngeasement ,ther eoccur sincr easei nbur denofeasementonser vi
entowner ,sect ion
23doesnotpr otectsuchsi tuat ion.Inot herwor ds,sect ion23woul dnotcomet ohel pt he
plaint if
fi ft headdi ti
onalbur denont hepr oper t
yoft hepl ai ntiffshasbeeni mposedbyt heact i
onoft he
def endant s.
ACCESSORYORNATURALRI GHTS
Aspersect ion24oft heEasementAct ,r ight st odoact snecessar yt osecur et hef ul
lenj oy mentofan
easementar ecal l
edaccessor yr ights.Theedi f i
esoft hi spr inciplemustbeunder st oodt oal low ev er ything
necessar ytogi veef fectt or ight .Thesear et her i
ght st odoact snecessar yt osecur et hef ullenj oy mentoft he
princi pleeasement .Agol denmeanhasbeenachi ev edbyt hi ssect i
oni nbet weent her ightsoft hedomi nant
ownerandt hatoft heser v i
entowneri nr egar dt oeasement .Thi ssect i
onhasgi vent hev astpower st ot he
domi nantownert odoal lact snecessar yf ort hef ul
lenj oy mentofeasement .Ful lenj oy menti mpl iesbenef icial
enjoy ment .Thi spower ,ofcour se, canbeexer cisedonl yagai nstt heser vientowner
andnotagai nstt hewor ldatl arge.Ani nter estoft heser v i
entowneri sal sor equi redt obepr otect ed.An
obligat ioni scastupont hedomi nantownert or epai rt hedamage,i fany ,causedbyt heactoft heser v i
ent
her i
tage.
DUTI ESANDLI ABI LITIESOFDOMI NANTOWNERANDSERVI ENTOWNER
Aspersect ion25oft heAct ,theexpensesi ncur redi nconst ruct ingwor ks,ormaki ngr epai r
s,ordoi ngany
otheractnecessar yf ort heuseorpr eser vat ionofaneasement ,mustbedef ray edbyt hedomi nantowner .
Aspersect ion26oft heAct , wher eaneasementi senj oy edbymeansofanar tifi
cial wor k,thedomi nantowner
i
sl iabl et omakecompensat ionf oranydamaget ot heser vi
enther i
tagear i
singf rom t hewantofr epai rofsuch
wor k.
Aspersect ion27oft heAct ,t heser vientowneri snotboundt odoany thingf ort hebenef itoft he domi nant
her i
tage,andhei sent i
tled,asagai nstt hedomi nantowner ,t ouset heser vienther itagei nanywayconsi stent
witht heenj oy mentoft heeasement ;buthemustnotdoanyactt endi ngt or est ri
ctt heeasementort or ender
i
tsexer cisel essconv eni ent.
Aspersect ion29oft heAct ,thedomi nantownercannot ,bymer elyal ter ingoraddi ngt ot hedomi nanther itage,
subst ant iallyi ncr easeaneasement .
DISTURBANCETOTHERI GHTOFENJOYMENTOFEASEMENTANDREMEDI ES
THEREON
:
Sec.32.Theowneroroccupi eroft hedomi nanther itagei st oenj oyt heeasementwi thoutdi st urbancebyany
otherper son.Di sturbancemeansobst r
uct ion,i nter ruptionordi srupt ions.Di stur bancei nr elationt oeasement
l
aw meanst hatanysuchactt hatl essent hepr act icalut il
it
yoft heenj oy mentoft heeasement .Inter f
er ence
wi t
ht her ightofeasementmaybegr adedi nt ot hreedegr ees.
1)Int erf erencewhi chdoesnotr esul tint osubst ant i
al damageandwhi chgi v esnocauseofact i
on.
2)Inter fer encewhi chmaycausedamagebutwher ei njunct i
oncannotgi v er eliefbutonl ydamageswoul dbe
sufficient .
3)Int erf erencewher ei njunct i
oni st hepr operr emedy .
REMEDI ESONDI STURBANCEOFEASEMENTARYRI GHTS:
Undersec.33t o36oft heEasementAct ,var iousr emedi espr ov i
dedt odomi nantownert opr ot ecthi sr i
ghtof
easement .
1.Sui tf orcompensat ionSec.33oft heActpr escr i
bet hatt heownerofanyi nt eresti nt hedomi nanther itage,
ort heoccupi erofsuchher i
tage, mayi nst it
ut easui tf orcompensat ionf ort hedi stur banceoft heeasementor
ofanyr i
ghtaccessor yt heret o:pr ov i
dedt hatt hedi st urbancehasact ual l
ycausedsubst antialdamaget ot he
plaintiff.
Meani ngofsubst ant i
al damage
:
1)Undert heexpl anat i
onofSec. 33,meani ngoft hesubst antivedamagei spr escr ibed.I nt heExpl anat i
onIof
Sec. 33i ti scl arifi
edt hatt hedoi ngofanyactl ikel yt oi nj
ur et hepl ai nt i
ffbyaf fect i
ngt heev i
denceoft he
easement ,orbymat er i
allydi mi nishi ngt hev al ueoft hedomi nanther itage, i
ssubst ant ial damage.
2)Wher et heeasementdi sturbedi sar ightt ot hef reepassageofl ightpassi ngt ot heopeni ngsi nahouse, no
damagei ssubst ant ial wi t
hint hemeani ngoft hissect ionunl essi tf all
swi thi nt hef irstExpl anat ion, ori nterferes
mat er i
al lywi tht hephy sicalcomf or toft hepl aintiff,orpr ev entshi mf rom car ryingonhi saccust omedbusi ness
i
nt hedomi nanther i
tageasbenef ici allyashehaddonepr evi
oust oi nst itut i
ngt hesui t,
3)Wher et heeasementdi sturbedi sar ightt ot hef r
eepassageofl i
ghtt ot heopeni ngsi nahouse,damagei s
subst ant ial wi thint hemeani ngoft hi ssect i
oni fitint erferesmat er i
allywi tht hephy sical comf or toft hepl aintif
f,
thoughi ti snoti njurioust ohi sheal th.
Sec. 34Whencauseofact i
onar i
sesf orr emov alofsuppor t.Ther emov aloft hemeansofsuppor ttowhi cha
domi nantowneri sent it
leddoesnotgi ver iset oar ightt or ecov ercompensat ionunl essandunt ilsubst antial
damagei sact ual lysust ained.
2.Sui tf ordecl arationandI njunct iont or est raindi st urbance.TheHon' bleSupr emeCour ti nRam Kany aBai&
Anrv sJagdi sh&Or sCi v i
lAppealNo.4922OF2011,4Jul y,2011Whenaper son( domi nantowner )hasan
easement ar yr ight ,andt heser vientownerdi sturbs,obst r
uct sori nter fer eswi thhi seasement ar yr i
ght ,or
deni eshi seasement ar yr ight,t her emedyoft hedomi nantowneri stoappr oacht heci vilcour tf ort her eliefof
decl arat ionand/ ori njunct i
on.Si mi larly,whenaper sonwhodoesnothav eaneasement ar yr i
ght , t
riest oasser t
orexer ciseanyeasement aryr ightov eranot her'sl and,t heownerofsuchl andcanr esi stsuchasser tionor
obst ructt heexer ciseoft heeasement ar yrightandal soappr oacht heci v ilcour ttodecl ar ethatt hedef endant
hasnoeasement ar yr ightoft henat urecl aimed,ov erhi sl andand/ ort hatt hedef endantshoul dbepr ev ented
from asser tingsuchr ightori nt erfer i
ngwi t
hhi spossessi on
andenj oy ment .
Sec.35–I njunct i
ont or estrai ndi st urbance: Subj ectt ot hepr ov isionst heSpeci ficRel iefAct ,1877,Sect ions
52t o57( bot hi nclusi ve), ani njunct i
onmaybegr ant edt or est r
aint hedi st ur banceofaneasement .
(a)I ft heeasementi sact uallydi st ur bedt hencompensat i
onf orsuchdi stur bancemi ghtber ecov eredunder
thisChapt er .
(b)I fthedi stur bancei sonl yt hr eat enedori ntended.Whent heactt hr eat enedori ntendedmustnecessar il
y,if
perfor med, dist urbst heeasement .
3.Thedomi nantownercanal sof ileasui tformandat oryi njunctiont ogetexecut edhi sr ightofeasement .
EXTENT, INCREASEANDEXTI NCTI ONOFEASEMENT
ExtentofEasement
Sect ion28Wi thr espectt ot heext entofeasement sandt hemodeoft hei renj oy ment ,thef oll
owi ngpr ovisions
shal ltakeef fect:
Easementofnecessi ty
Aneasementofnecessi tyi scoext ensi vewi t
ht henecessi tyasi texistedwhent heeasementwasi mposed.
Othereasement sTheext entofanyot hereasementandt hemodeofi tsenj oy mentmustbef ixedwi t
h
referencet ot hepr obabl ei ntent ionoft hepar t
iesandt hepur posef orwhi cht her ightwasi mposedor
acqui r
ed.
Rightofway
(a)Ar ightofwayofanyoneki nddoesnoti ncl udear i
ghtofwayofanyot herki nd:
Rightt ol i
ghtorai racqui r
edbygr ant
(b)Theext entofar ightt ot hepassageofl ightorai rtoacer tainwi ndow, doororot heropeni ng, imposedbya
testament ar yornont estament aryi nst rument , i
st hequant i
tyofl i
ghtorai rthatent eredt heopeni ngatt het ime
thet estatordi edort henont est ament ar yinst r
umentwasmade:
Prescr i
pt i
ver ightt ol ightorai r
(c)Theext entofapr escr i
pt i
v er ightt othepassageofl i
ghtorai rtoacer tainwi ndow, doororot heropeni ngis
thatquant i
t yofl ightorai rwhi chhasbeenaccust omedt oent ert hatopeni ngdur ingt hewhol eoft he
prescr i
pt i
veper iodi rrespect i
v elyoft hepur posesf orwhi chithasbeenused:
Prescr i
pt i
ver ightt opol luteai rorwat er
(d)Theext entofapr escr i
pt i
v er ightt opol luteai rorwat erist heext entoft hepol lutionatt hecommencement
oft heper iodofuseroncompl et i
onofwhi cht her ightar ose; andOt herpr escr i
pt iver ight s
(e)Theext entofev eryot herpr escr iptiver i
ghtandt hemodeofi tsenj oymentmustbedet ermi nedbyt he
accust omeduseroft her ight .
Int hecaseofChi nt amaniHar gov anv s.Rat anj iBhimbhai ,AI R1920Bom.223. Sec.28ofEasementAct ,the
extentofanyeasement(ot hert hananeasementofnecessi t
y )andt hemodeofi t
senj oy mentmustbef i
xed
withr eferencet ot hepr obabl ei lnt entionoft hepar ti
esandt hepur poseofwhi lcht her i
ghtwasi mposedor
acqui r
ed.I nt heabsenceofev i
denceast osuchi ntentionandpur pose, ar ightofwayofanyoneki nddoesnot
i
ncl udear ightofwayofanyot herki nd.
IncreaseofEasementSect i
on
29: Thedomi nantownercannot ,bymer elyal teringoraddi ngt othedomi nanther it
age,subst antiallyi ncrease
aneasement .Wher eaneasementhasbeengr ant edorbequeat hedsot hati tsext entshal lbepr opor ti
onat eto
theext entoft hedomi nanther itage,i ft hedomi nanther i
tagei si ncr easedbyal luv i
ons,t heeasementi s
propor ti
onat elyi ncr eased,and,i ft he domi nanther it
age i s dimi nished bydi luv ision,t he easementi s
propor ti
onat elydi mi nished.Sav easaf oresai d,noeasementi saf fectedbyanychangei nt heext entoft he
domi nantort heser vienther i
tage.
Quest ionoff actThequest ionwhet heranaddi tiont ot hedomi nanther itagehasi ncr easedsubst ant i
ally
,the
burdenoft heeasementont heser vienther it
agei saquest ionoff act .Subst ant iallyTheSect i
onsay st hatthe
domi nantowner ,canot ,bymer el yal teri
ngoraddi ngt ot hedomi nanther i
tage,subst antiall
yi ncr easean
easement .Theemphasi si sont hewor dsubst antial
ly .Cont r
actTheext entofaneasement aryr ightcanbe
i
ncr easedordecr easedonl ybyt hecont ractt ot hatef fect.ExcessuserTheser vi
entownercanpr ev entthe
excessuserofaneasementbyt hedomi nantownerpr ov i
dedhecandosowi thoutobst ructi
ont oi tsr i
ghtful
use.
(1)Thus, ther ei sadi stinct i
onbet weent her i
ght fuluseandexcessi v eandunr easonabl euseoft heeasement .
Prescr i
pt i
ver ightt odi schar gewat erusedf orwashi ngr oomsonanot her '
sl andwoul dnot i ncluder ightto
dischar geal lkindsofwat ermi ngl edwi thf i
lthf rom t hel atri
neset c.
(2)Per sonst oringwat erf orbenef i
tofhi sl andcannotenl ar gest orebyf loodi ngl andonhi gherlevelbel onging
toanot her .
(3)Aneasementhol dercannoti ncr easet hebur denont heser vi
entt enement ,i fhedoes,hewoul dl oset he
easementr ightashehasr ender edhi msel fi ncapabl eofenj oy ingiti ntheor i
ginal form.
Bur denofpr oofThebur denofpr oofupont heper sonwhocl aimst her ightofeasementi sthatbyt he change
oft henat ur eofbui lding, addi tional bur deni snoti mposedupont heser vi
entt enement .
ExtinctionofEasement: Sect ion
37–Whenf rom acausewhi chpr ecededt hei mposi ti
onofaneasement ,theper sonbywhom i twasi mposed
ceasest ohav eanyr ightint heser v i
enther itage, theeasementi sext i
ngui shed.
Sect i
on38–Aneasementi sext ingui shedwhent hedomi nantownerr eleasesi t,expr esslyori mpl iedl y,tothe
serv i
entowner .
Sect i
on39–Aneasementi sext ingui shedwhent heser v i
entowner ,i nexer ciseofapowerr eser v edi nt hi
s
behal f
, revokest heeasement .
Section40–Aneasementi sext inguishedwher ei thasbeeni mposedf oral i
mi tedper iod,oracqui redon
condi lt
iont hati tshal lbecomev oidont heper for manceornonper formanceofaspeci fiedact ,andt heper i
od
expiresort hecondi tionisfulfil
led.
Section41–Aneasementofnecesi tyisext i
ngui shedwhent henecessi tycomest oanend.
Section42–Aneasementi sext inguishedwheni tbecomesi ncapabl eofbei ngatanyt i
meandunderany
cir
cumst ancesbenef i
cialtothedomi nantowner .
Section43–Wher e,byanyper manentchangei nt hedomi nanther i
tage, thebur denont heser vienther i
tagei s
mat eriall
yi ncreasedandcannotber educedbyt heser vientownerwi t
houti nterferingwi tht hel awf ulenj
oy ment
oftheeasement ,theeasementi sext i
nguishedunl ess,
(a)itwasi ntendedf orthebenef icialenjoy mentoft hedomi nanther i
tage,t owhat ev erext entt heeasement
shoul dbeused; or
(b)t hei njurycausedt otheser vientownerbyt hechangei ssosl i
ghtt hatnor easonabl eper sonwoul d
compl ainofi t;or
(c)theeasementi saneasementofnecessi ty.
Section44–Aneasementi sext inguishedwher et heser v
ienther it
agei sbysuper iorf orceper manent l
yso
alt
eredt hatt hedomi nantownercannol ongerenj oysucheasement :
Section45–Aneasementi sext inguishedwhenei thert hedomi nantort heser vienther i
tagei scompl etely
destroy ed.
Section46–Aneasementi sext inguishedwhent hesameper sonbecomesent itl
edt ot heabsol ut eowner ship
;ofthewhol eoft hedomi nantandser vi
enther i
tages.
Section47–Acont i
nuouseasementi sext i
nguishedwheni ttotal
lyceasest obeenj oy edassuchf oran
unbrokenper iodoft went yyear s.
Section48–Whenaneasementi sext inguished, ther ight s(ifany)accessor yt heret oar eal soext i
nguished.
Reviv alofEasement s.
Thegener alr ulei sst atedthataneasementonceext i
ngui shedcannotber evived, andt hati fitist oexistagai n
i
tmustbecr eat eddenov o.
Sec.51Rev i
val ofeasement s: Aneasementext ingui shedunderSec. 45r ev i
ves
(a)whent hedest roy edher i
tagei s,bef oret went yy ear shav eexpired,rest oredbyt hedeposi tofal l
uvi
ons;( b)
whent hedest roy edher it
agei saser vientbuildingandbef oret wentyy earshav eexpi redsuchbui ldingisrebui l
t
upont hesamesi te;and
(c)whent hedest r oyedher i
tagei sadomi nantbui ldingandbef oret wentyy ear shav eexpi redsuchbui l
dingi s
rebuiltupont hesamesi t
eandi nsuchamannerasnott oi mposeagr eaterbur denont he
servienther i
tage.
Aneasementext i
ngui shedunderSec. 46r ev i
veswhent hegr antorbequestbywhi cht heuni t yofowner ship
waspr oducedi ssetasi debyt hedecr eeofacompet entcour t.Anecessar yeasement
exti
ngui shedundert hesamesect ionr eviveswhent heuni tyofowner shipceasesf rom anyot hercause.
Asuspendedeasementr evi
v esi fthecauseofsuspensi onisr emov edbef oret her i
ghti sext ingui shedunder
Sec.47. emadeor al l
y