Section 155 The Indian Contract Act, 1872
Section 155 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 relates to bailment—specifically, when the bailor can terminate a gratuitous bailment.
📜 Section 155 – Bailment by Several Joint Owners
"If several joint owners of goods bail them, they may do so to the extent of their respective interests in the goods."
🔍 Explanation:
This section clarifies the legal standing of joint owners in the case of bailment. When goods are jointly owned by more than one person, each owner can bail (i.e., deliver for a purpose like safekeeping or transport) only to the extent of their ownership interest.
✅ Key Points:
Bailment must respect ownership shares.
A joint owner cannot create bailment of the entire goods without the consent of others, unless authorized.
The bailee (the person receiving the goods) should be careful to know who owns what portion.
💡 Example:
A, B, and C jointly own a set of machinery. A alone gives the machinery to X for repair (as a bailment). A can only do so to the extent of his share, unless B and C also consent. If X damages the machinery, A may be responsible only for his share, unless he had proper authority from the others.
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