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Topic: Vested and Contigent Interest: Submitted by Manikantan S Kandathil Roll No: 33 7
Topic: Vested and Contigent Interest: Submitted by Manikantan S Kandathil Roll No: 33 7
SUBMITTED BY
MANIKANTAN S KANDATHIL
ROLL NO : 33
7TH B.Com
SUBMITTED TO
ADV. AJAY UNNI
The Transfer of Property Act deals with two kinds of interest vested interest
and contingent interest. Vested interest is to be distinguished from contingent
interest. When an interest is vested, the transfer is complete but when the interest
is contingent, the transfer depends upon a condition precedent. When the
condition is fulfilled the transfer takes effect and that the interest becomes vested.
Section 19 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 talks about Vested Interest. It is an
interest which is created in favour of a person where there is a condition of the
happening of a specified certain event and time is not specified. The person having
the vested interest does not obtain the possession of that property but expects to
receive it upon happening of a specified certain event.
Section 21 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 states about Contingent Interest.
It is an interest which is created in favour of a person on fulfilling a condition of
happening of a specified uncertain event. The person having the contingent
interest does not get the possession of the property but receives it upon
happening of that event but will not receive the property if the event does not
happen. Contingent interest is entirely dependent on the condition imposed on
the transfer.
Meaning of Vested Interest
Section 19 of Transfer of Property Act 1882 lays down the meaning of vested
interest. Vested interest can take place in two stages. First when the transferee is
in immediate and present possession of the property and second when the
transferee has acquired an interest in the property but is not in the present
possession of property that is the right to enjoyment is postponed to a future date.
Illustration
2. Vested interest is not defeated by death. On the death of the transferee, the
interest is passed to the heir of such transferee.
3. Vested interest is a transferable right as well as a heritable right.[ii]
Under the following circumstances, the vested interest remains vested in the
transferee even though–
3. Income arising from the property is accumulated till the right of enjoyment of
the property.
(ii) Vested in interest – when it is not a right to present possession but a right to
future possession. Example- a land & building is given to Ramesh for his life with a
remainder to B , in that case ’s right invested in possession ,B’s right is vested in
interest .i.e. after ’s death property will come to B without anycondition. A vested
interest is transferrable and heritable.A vested interest is a “right that so
completely and definitely belongs to a person that it cannot be impaired or taken
away without the person's consent. The event or time frame that triggers vesting
is typically defined by contract, such as employee pension benefits vesting after a
certain number of years.
(iii) vested gift-A vested gift refers to an absolute gift. Generally, a vested gift is
free from contingencies. Although a vested gift is unconditional, its use or
enjoyment might not occur until sometime in the future. Hence, a vested gift can
be made for the purpose of present or future usage.
(v)vested future estate-Vested future estate is an estate which exists when there
is a person in being who would have an immediate right to the possession of the
lands upon the ceasing of the intermediate or precedent estate.
CASE LAWS
In Kant Roy v. Santi Devi , father settled the property on his two minor sons. The
settlement provided that the sons would take absolute interest in the property
upon the death of the transferor and after discharging all his encumbrances. The
Supreme Court held that the sons got a vested interest, though enjoyment was
temporarily postponed.
Illustration
A agrees to transfer his house in favour of B on the condition that B should marry
his daughter ‘X’. Hence such a transfer of property in favour of B is dependent on
the condition of B marrying A’s daughter ‘X’. B may or may not get married to
‘X’. If B gets married to X, the interest in A’s house gets transferred to B
immediately on happening of the specified event.
There are three main characteristics of contingent interest which are as follow-
It has been held that a contingent interest is not an existing right and may never
ripen into an existing right, and is not a sufficient ground to an action for
declaration of right.
Usha Subbarao vs B.E. Vishveswariah & Ors [1996 SCC (5) 201, JT 1996 (6) 607]
In order to determine whether the appellant can claim any right in the
properties of the testator, it is, therefore, necessary to examine the nature of the
bequest that was made by the testator in favour of his five sons including the
deceased husband of the appellant. If it is found that the bequest is in the nature
of vested interest, it would vest in the husband of the appellant on the death of
the testator and after the death of her husband the appellant as his legal
representative, would be entitled to claim her husband's interest in the properties.
But in case the bequest is found to be in the nature of a contingent interest which
was to vest in the legatees only after the death of Smt. Nadiga Nanjamma, the
appellant would not be entitled to claim any interest in the properties since her
husband had pre-deceased Smt. Nadiga Nanjamma. As regards Wills the rule is
that "where there is doubt as to the time ofvesting, the presumption is in favour
of the early vesting of the gift and, accordingly it vests at the testator's death or at
the earliest moment after that date which, is possible in the contest."
CONCLUSION
In the case of a transfer of property, a person may acquire a contingent interest as
against a real interest or vested interest in the property. The relevant provisions
are contained under Section 21 of the Transfer of Property Act. According to the
statutory provisions, where on a transfer of property an interest is created in
favour of a person to take effect only on the happening or not happening of a
specified event, he acquires a contingent interest in the property.
A famous rule is that a thief cannot convey good title, so title searches are routine
for purchases of many types of expensive property. In several counties and
municipalities in the US a standard title search is required under the law as a part
of ownership transfer. Ordinarily the subject matter of ownership consists of
material objects like land, chattels etc. the wealth and assets of a person such as
interests in the land, debts due to him, share in a company, patents, copyrights
etc. may also be subject matter of ownership. Thus, intangible rights may also
constitute subject matter of ownership. Salmond also supports this view that
besides material objects, right may also be subject matter of ownership though a
man is said ‘not to own, but to have a right’. From this point of view many rights
cannot be considered as subject matter of ownership, like everyone has a right of
freedom of speech or right of reputation but it is never said that he owns these
rights, nor can he alienate them.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.srdlaws.com/vestedandcontigentinterest
www.scribd.com/vestedandcontigentinterest