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Law Question Bank Answers
Law Question Bank Answers
Differentiate between:
a) Condition and Warranty
3. Time of Liability The liability of the The liability arises only on the
indemnifier arises only on non-performance of an
the happening of a existing promise or non-
contingency. payment of an existing debt.
4. Time of Liability The indemnifier need not The surety acts at the request
act at the request of of principal debtor.
indemnity-holder.
5. Right to sue third Indemnifier cannot sue a Surety can proceed against
party third party for loss his principal debtor in his own
own name as there is no right because he gets all the
privity of contract. Such a right of a creditor after
right would arise only if discharging the debts.
there is an assignment in
his favor.
2. Terms Applicable The person delivering the The person who delivers the
goods under a contract of goods as security is called the
bailment is called as ‘Pawnor’. The person to
‘Bailor’. The person to whom the goods are
whom the goods are delivered as security is called
delivered under a the ‘Pawnee’.
contract of bailment is
called as ‘Bailee’.
5. Right to sell the The bailee has no right to The pawnee has the right to
goods sell the goods even if the sell goods If the pawnor fails
charges of bailment are to redeem the goods.
not paid to him. The
bailee’s rights are limited
to suing the bailor for his
dues or to exercise lien
on the goods bailed.
6. Right to use of Bailee can use the goods Pledgee or pawnee cannot
goods only for a purpose use the goods pledged.
specified in the contract
of bailment and not
otherwise.
Lien is a right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed
by that person is discharged.
Particular Lien
Particular lien implies a right of the bailee to retain specific goods bailed for non-payment of
an amount. A particular lien can be exercised by a craftsman or a person who has spent his
time, labor and money on the good retained. Goods are retained for a particular debt only.
It is exercised by Bailee, pledgee, finder of goods, agent, partner, unpaid seller etc.
In accordance with the purpose of bailment if the bailee by his skill or labor improves the
goods bailed, he is entitled for remuneration for such services. Towards such remuneration,
the bailee can retain the goods bailed if the bailor refuses to pay the remuneration. Such a
right to retain the goods bailed is the right of particular lien. He however does not have the
right to sue.
Where the bailee delivers the goods without receiving his remuneration, he has a right to
sue the bailor. In such a case the particular lien may be waived. The particular lien is also
lost if the bailee does not complete the work within the time agreed.
General Lien
General lien alludes to the right to keep possession of goods belonging to other against a
general balance of an account. A general lien is applicable in respect of all amounts due
from the debtor to the creditor. Goods are retained for all the debts due from the debtor to
the creditor. It is exercised by Bankers, Wharfingers, factors, policy brokers, attorneys etc.
A general lien is the right to retain the property of another for a general balance of account.
In contract the particular lien is the right to retain the particular goods bailed for non-
payment of charges/remuneration.
Bankers, factors, wharfingers, policy brokers and attorneys of law have a general lien in
respect of goods which come into their possession during the course of their profession. For
instance, a banker enjoys the right of a general lien on cash, cheques, bills of exchange and
securities deposited with him for any amounts due to him. For instance, ‘A’ borrows ` 500/-
from the bank without security and subsequently again borrows another ` 1000/- but with
security of say certain jewelry. In this illustration, even where ‘A’ has returned ` 1000/- being
the second loan, the banker can retain the jewelry given as security to the second loan
towards the first loan which is yet to be repaid.
Under the right of general lien the goods cannot be sold but can only be retained for dues.
The right of lien can be waived through a contract. Interestingly, Chartered Accountants
have a general lien against the books of their clients which come into their possession
against professional fees not paid to them by those clients.
b) Unpaid Seller
An unpaid seller is one who is to get the price or consideration for the goods.
S.45 Unpaid Seller –
“One who has not been paid or tendered the whole of the price or one who receives a bill of
exchange or other negotiable instrument as conditional payment and the condition on
which it was received has not been fulfilled by reason of the dishonor of the instrument or
otherwise.”
It must be noted that where a part payment remains due, then also he is an unpaid seller.
However, where the seller has wrongfully refused to accept the price or where the price is
fully paid but some other expenses like say transportation charges are to be paid then the
seller cannot be an unpaid seller.
c) Goods
Goods are defined to mean every kind of movable property other than actionable claims
and money. The term includes stock and shares, growing crops, grass and things attached
to, or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the
contract of sale [Section2(7)]
Every kind of movable property, i.e., things which can be carried form one place to another.
However, all such things which form part of the land itself but are agreed to be served from
the land under the contract of sale, are considered as goods. Thus, grass, growing crops,
trees to be cut and their logwood to be delivered are goods as per the above definition,
similarly things like goodwill, copyright, trade mark, patents, water, gas, electricity are all
good and may be subject matter of a contract of sale.
Types of Goods
Goods
Existing Goods
As per Section 6 of the Act, existing goods are those goods which are owned or possessed
by the seller at the time of contract of sale. The seller is either the owner of good or he is in
possession of goods. For example, A, a manufacturer of fans, sells a fan to B. It is a contract of
sale of existing goods because A owns the fan. Similarly, when a person sells goods possessed
by not owned by him such as sale by an agent, it is a sale of existing goods. For instance, in
the above example, if the manufacturer sends the fans to his agent in Delhi and sells them
through the agent it is a sale of existing goods because the dealer possesses the goods,
although he is not the owner of them, at the time of the contract of sale.
i.) Specific Goods: These are the goods which are identified and agreed upon by the
parties at the time a contract of sale is made [Section 2(14)], for example, a specified
watch, ring or a car.
ii.) Ascertained Goods: Though normally used as synonym for specific goods,
ascertained goods are intended to include goods which have become ascertained
subsequently to the formation of the contract. When the “unascertained goods” are
identified and agreed upon by the parties, the goods are called ‘ascertained’. You
should not e that ascertainment involves unconditional appropriation of the goods as
the subject-matter of a particular contract. Thus, when out of a mass of
unascertained goods, the quantity contracted for is identified and set aside for a
given contract, the goods are said to be ascertained.
iii.) Unascertained Goods: These are the goods which are not identified and agreed upon
at the time when the contract is made. They are identified only by description. For
example, A who owns an ambassador car show room, has 50 cars and agrees to sell
anu one of them to B. The contract is for unascertained goods, because which
particular car shall be sold to B has not been identified at the time of the contract of
sale.
Future Goods
As per [Section 2(6)] of the Act ‘future goods’ means to be manufactured or produced or
acquired by the seller after making the contract of sale. Thus, future goods are goods which
either are not in existence at the time of contract or they may in existence when the
agreement of the sale is entered upon but have not yet been acquired by the seller by that
time. For example, S agrees to but the entire crop of wheat that would yield in B’s farm, at
the rate of rupees 200 rupees per quintal. This is an agreement of sale of future goods. As
future goods are not in the possession of the seller at the time of contract, they can become
the subject-matter of an agreement to sell only, and not the contract of sale.
Contingent Goods
Contingent Goods are the goods the acquisition of which by the seller depends upon a
contingency which may or may not happen [Section 6(2)]. For example, A agrees to sell B a
certain painting only if C, its present owner, sells it to him. Here the contract is for the sale of
contingent goods as the availability of the painting depends on its sale by C.
Caveat emptor is a Latin phrase that is translated as “let the buyer beware.” The phrase
describes the concept in contract law that places the burden of due diligence on the buyer of
a good or service. Caveat emptor is a fundamental principle in commerce and contractual
relationships between a buyer and a seller. According to the caveat emptor principle, a buyer
is responsible for performing the necessary due diligence before the purchase to ensure that
a good is not defective and that it suits his/her needs. If the buyer fails to perform the
necessary actions, he or she will not be entitled to any remedies for damages in case the
purchased product shows significant defects.
John purchases a house from Adam. Before the purchase, John asked the seller about the
defects in the house. Adam told him that there was a leak in the bathroom upstairs, but it
was fixed already. However, Adam also warned him that despite the repairs, a small leak
could occur from time to time. John failed to inspect the bathroom properly but still decided
to buy the house.
After three months, there was a big leak that damaged the floor in the bathroom and the
ceiling in the dining room downstairs. John decided to go to court to recover damages from
Adam. However, the judge stated that John is not entitled to any remedy because the caveat
emptor principle is applied. John did not perform thorough due diligence to ensure that the
defect in the bathroom could not cause any damage in the future.
e.) Kinds of Guarantee
Contract of guarantee means a contract to perform the promises made or discharge the
liabilities of the third person in case of his failure to discharge such liabilities.
For Example: A guarantees payment to B of the price of the five bags of rice to be
delivered by B to C and to be paid in a month. B delivers the bags to C. C pays for them.
This is a contract for specific guarantee because A intended to guarantee only for the
payment of price of the first five bags of rice to be paid one time. [Kay v Groves]
3. What are the different types of disabilities? How do you calculate compensation for each?
Permanent Partial Disablement: Permanent partial disablement is one which reduces the
earning capacity of an employee in every employment which was capable undertaking at the
time of injury. This disablement is for life time of an employee.
Note: If monthly wages of the deceased or injured employee exceeds 8,000/- than his or her
monthly wages for the purpose of calculating the compensation shall be deemed to be
8,000/- only. (As per the Amendment Act of 2009 is in force from 2010).
1. Death,
2. Permanent total disablement,
3. Permanent partial disablement, and
4. Temporary disablement, whether total or partial.
The formula for calculating the amount of compensation in case of death resulting from
an injury will be as follows:
Completed years of age is 40 years so relevant factor for age as per the schedule IV is
184.17.
Amount of compensation = 50% of 8,000 (if monthly wages are exceeding 8,00/-
then the monthly wages are to be taken 8,000/- only) x 184.17.%
The formula for calculating the amount of compensation in case of permanent total
disablement resulting from an injury will be as follows:
The relevant factor shall be ascertained from schedule IV and will depend on the age of
the employee on his immediately preceding birthday.
Example: In the above examples if the injury results in permanent total disablement, the
amount of compensation payable would be as follows:
Ex. (a) Amount of compensation = 60 % of 8,000(if monthly wages are exceeding 8,000/-
then the monthly wages are to be taken 8,000/- only) x 184.17
The formula for calculating the amount of compensation in case of permanent partial
disablement resulting from an injury will be as follows:
Example: An employee drawing monthly wage of Rupees 7000 loses his four fingers of
left-hand 1st Dec. 1997 as result of an injury caused to him. His date of birth is 13 th April
1950. The amount of compensation payable to him will be as follows:
For Example: An employee is temporarily disabled and his monthly wages are 7000/-
Amount of compensation = 7000 x 25/100 = 1750/-. This amount will be paid for every
half monthly till disablement last.
4. As per workmen’s Compensation Act which are the employers not liable to pay compensation?
As per workmen’s compensation act, followings are the times when employers are not liable
to pay compensation to their employees:
(a) An injury not exceeding in disablement for a period exceeding three days.
(b) Injury caused by an accident which is directly attributable to the workman having been
at the time under the influence of drink or drugs.
(c) The willful disobedience of the workman to on order expressly given, for the purpose of
securing the safety of workmen.
(d) The willful removal or disregard by the workman of any safety guard or device which he
knew to have been provided for the purpose of securing the safety of workmen.
5. Write a note on set off and set on of bonus as per Payment of Bonus Act.
Excess allocable surplus remains after paying the maximum bonus of 20% on the wage or
salary of the employee, should be carried forward to the next following year to be utilized
for the purpose of payment of bonus in case of the shortage of the allocable surplus or
losses occur. This is called as Set-On
When there are no profits (available surplus or allocable surplus) or the amount falls short
or deficiency for payment of minimum bonus to employees 8.33%, such deficiency amount
should be adjusted to the current accounting year from the Set-On amount which was
carried forward in case of excess allocable surplus in the previous year. This is called as Set-
Off.
Section 126 of the Indian contract act 1872 defines a contract of guarantee as a contract to
perform the promise or discharge the liability of the defaulting party in case he fails to
fulfill his promise.
Section 148 of Indian Contract Act 1872, 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".
Contract of the agency is a legal relationship, where one person appoints another to
perform on the transactions on his behalf. The person who appoints the other to take care
of his transactions is the principal. Whereas, the person who looks after the transaction of
the principal is the agent. The Contract of the agency is a special contract under the Indian
Contract Act, 1872.
The payment of Bonus Act, 1965 aims to regulate the amount of bonus to be paid to the
persons employed in establishments based on its profit and productivity. The act is
applicable to the whole of India for all establishments which had twenty or more persons
employed on any day during the year.
An Act to define and amend the law relating to the sale of goods.
An unpaid seller is one who is to get the price or consideration for the goods.
Termination of lien:
The right gets terminated under the following circumstances:
(i) When the goods are delivered to a carrier or bailee but without reserving the
right of disposal.
(ii) When the buyer or his agent acquires the possession lawfully.
(iii) When the seller waives the right of lien.
(iv) When the buyer disposed of the goods by sale or in any other manner with the
consent of the seller.
(2) Right of stoppage of goods in transit: The right of stoppage in transit means the right of
stopping the goods while they are in transit, to regain possession and to retain them until
the price is paid.
The essential feature of stoppage in transit is that the goods should be in the possession
of someone intervening between the seller and the buyer.
Example: 'A, in Mumbai sends goods to a buyer B' in Pune through a carrier. The
goods are in transit, when it leaves "A's possession and 'B' or his agent has not taken
possession.
(3) Right to resale: Where the unpaid seller has exercised his right of lien or resumes
possession of the goods by exercising his right of stoppage in transit upon insolvency of
the buyer, he can re-sell the goods under the following circumstances.
(i) Where the goods are of perishable nature.
(ii) Where the seller has given notice of his intention to re-sell the goods and yet the
price remains unpaid.
(iii) Where the seller expressly reserves a right of resale if the buyer commits a
default in making the payment.
(B) Where the property in the goods has not passed to the buyer:
In cases where the property in the goods has not passed to the buyer the unpaid seller
can exercise the right to withholding delivery of goods. This right is similar to and co-
extensive with the rights of lien and stoppage in transit where the property has passed to
the buyer. Other remedies may include the right to claim damages for the loss suffered,
special damages, etc.
(1) Suit for price: Generally, the seller can sue for the price of the goods only when the
property in the goods has passed to the buyer and price is not paid as per the terms of
the contract.
In cases where the property in the goods has not passed to the buyer, suit for price
generally cannot be maintained, unless under the contract, price is payable on a certain
date irrespective of the delivery or passing of ownership of the goods.
(2) Suit for damages: The unpaid seller can bring action for damages when the buyer
wrongfully refuses to accept the goods or repudiates the contract.
(3) Suit for interest: In case of breach of contract on the part of the buyer, the unpaid seller
may claim for interest from the date of tender of the goods or from the date, the price
becomes payable along with a suit for price.
8. Classification of Goods
Goods are defined to mean every kind of movable property other than actionable claims
and money. The term includes stock and shares, growing crops, grass and things attached
to, or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the
contract of sale [Section2(7)]
Every kind of movable property, i.e., things which can be carried form one place to another.
However, all such things which form part of the land itself but are agreed to be served from
the land under the contract of sale, are considered as goods. Thus, grass, growing crops,
trees to be cut and their logwood to be delivered are goods as per the above definition,
similarly things like goodwill, copyright, trade mark, patents, water, gas, electricity are all
good and may be subject matter of a contract of sale.
Types of Goods
Goods
Existing Goods
As per Section 6 of the Act, existing goods are those goods which are owned or possessed
by the seller at the time of contract of sale. The seller is either the owner of good or he is in
possession of goods. For example, A, a manufacturer of fans, sells a fan to B. It is a contract of
sale of existing goods because A owns the fan. Similarly, when a person sells goods possessed
by not owned by him such as sale by an agent, it is a sale of existing goods. For instance, in
the above example, if the manufacturer sends the fans to his agent in Delhi and sells them
through the agent it is a sale of existing goods because the dealer possesses the goods,
although he is not the owner of them, at the time of the contract of sale.
i.) Specific Goods: These are the goods which are identified and agreed upon by the
parties at the time a contract of sale is made [Section 2(14)], for example, a specified
watch, ring or a car.
ii.) Ascertained Goods: Though normally used as synonym for specific goods,
ascertained goods are intended to include goods which have become ascertained
subsequently to the formation of the contract. When the “unascertained goods” are
identified and agreed upon by the parties, the goods are called ‘ascertained’. You
should note that ascertainment involves unconditional appropriation of the goods as
the subject-matter of a particular contract. Thus, when out of a mass of
unascertained goods, the quantity contracted for is identified and set aside for a
given contract, the goods are said to be ascertained.
iii.) Unascertained Goods: These are the goods which are not identified and agreed upon
at the time when the contract is made. They are identified only by description. For
example, A who owns an ambassador car show room, has 50 cars and agrees to sell
anu one of them to B. The contract is for unascertained goods, because which
particular car shall be sold to B has not been identified at the time of the contract of
sale.
Future Goods
As per [Section 2(6)] of the Act ‘future goods’ means to be manufactured or produced or
acquired by the seller after making the contract of sale. Thus, future goods are goods which
either are not in existence at the time of contract or they may in existence when the
agreement of the sale is entered upon but have not yet been acquired by the seller by that
time. For example, S agrees to but the entire crop of wheat that would yield in B’s farm, at
the rate of rupees 200 rupees per quintal. This is an agreement of sale of future goods. As
future goods are not in the possession of the seller at the time of contract, they can become
the subject-matter of an agreement to sell only, and not the contract of sale.
Contingent Goods
Contingent Goods are the goods the acquisition of which by the seller depends upon a
contingency which may or may not happen [Section 6(2)]. For example, A agrees to sell B a
certain painting only if C, its present owner, sells it to him. Here the contract is for the sale of
contingent goods as the availability of the painting depends on its sale by C.
9. What are the conditions in which my employer can deny gratuity to me?
1. Section 4(6) (a) provides that the gratuity of an employee whose services have been
terminated for any act of willful omission or negligence causing any damage or loss to,
or destruction of, property belonging to the employer, shall be forfeited to the extent of
the damage or loss caused. The right of forfeiture is limited to the extent of damage. In
absence of proof of the extent of damage, the right of forfeiture is not available.
2. Section 4(6) (b) deals with a case where the services of an employee have been
terminated:
(a) For riotous and disorderly conduct or any other act of violence on his part, or
(b)For any act which constitutes an offence involving moral turpitude provided that such
offence is committed by him in the course of his employment.
In such cases the gratuity payable to the employee may be wholly or partially forfeited.
Where the service has not been terminated on any of the above grounds, the employer
cannot withhold gratuity due to the employee, Where the land of the employer is not
vacated by the employee, gratuity cannot be withheld. If assignment of gratuity is
prohibited, it cannot be withheld for non-vacation of service quarters by retiring employees.
10. How do you calculate gratuity?
1. Gratuity shall be payable for every completed year of service or if part of the year is in
excess of 6 months, then it will be taken as on year. For each completed year of service
Gratuity is payable at the rate of 15 days of wages.
2. Amount of Gratuity is computed on the basis of the rate of wages last drawn by the
employee.
Gratuity = Monthly Salary/ Wages last drawn * 15 days * no. of years of service
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3. In the case of a piece ratd employee, the rate of daily wages shall be computed on the
basis of average of the total wages earned by him for a period of 3 months immediately
preceding the termination of his employment. In this calculation overtime wages paid is
not considered.
4. In the case of employees working with seasonal establishment, the rate gratuity shall
compute 7 days of wages for each season.
According to the Bonus Payment Act, a minimum bonus of 8.33% of wage or salary earned
by the employee for an accounting year or Rs 100, whichever is higher shall be paid to the
employee. The employer shall also pay a higher bonus to employees if, in a year, the
allocable surplus exceeds the amount of minimum bonus payable to the employees.
Note: A ceiling limit of 20% of the wage or salary earned by the employee during an
accounting year is fixed.
As per the amendment on the Payment of Bonus Bill passed in 2015, if the gross earning of
the employee is below Rs. 21,000, employers are liable to pay bonuses. The bonus will be
calculated as follows:
(i) If salary is equal to or less than Rs. 7,000, then the bonus will be calculated on the
actual amount by using the formula: Bonus= Salary x 8.33 / 100
(ii) If salary is more than Rs. 7,000, then the bonus will be calculated on Rs. 7,000 by
using the formula: Bonus= 7,000 x 8.33 /100
Examples:
1. If A’s Salary (Basic + DA) is Rs. 6,000, then bonus payable will be: 6,000 x 8.33 / 100= Rs.
500 per month (Rs. 6,000 per year)