India employment compliance Guide: Employment & Payroll, Tax & Regulations

Key Law Terms Overview in India

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Income-tax Act, 1961. (2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1962. 2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
1[(1) “advance tax” means the advance tax payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XVII-C;]
2[(1A)] “agricultural income” means— 3[(a) any rent or revenue derived from land which is situated in India and is used for agricultural purposes;]
(b) any income derived from such land by— (i) agriculture; or
(ii) the performance by a cultivator or receiver of rent-in-kind of any process ordinarily employed by a cultivator or receiver of rent-in-kind to render the produce raised or received by him fit to be taken to market; or
(iii) the sale by a cultivator or receiver of rent-in-kind of the produce raised or received by him, in respect of which no process has been performed other than a process of the nature described in paragraph (ii) of this sub-clause ; (c) any income derived from any building owned and occupied by the receiver of the rent or revenue of any such land, or occupied by the cultivator or the receiver of rent-in-kind, of any land with respect to which, or the produce of which, any process mentioned in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of sub-clause (b) is carried on: 4[Provided that— (i) the building is on or in the immediate vicinity of the land, and is a building which the receiver of the rent or revenue or the cultivator, or the receiver of rent-in-kind, by reason of his connection with the land, requires as a dwelling house, or as a store-house, or other out- building, and
(ii) the land is either assessed to land revenue in India or is subject to a local rate assessed and collected by officers of the Government as such or where the land is not so assessed to land revenue or subject to a local rate, it is not situated—

(A) in any area which is comprised within the jurisdiction of a municipality (whether known as a municipality, municipal corporation, notified area committee, town area committee, town committee or by any other name) or a cantonment board and which has a population of not less than ten thousand 1***; or
2[(B) in any area within the distance, measured aerially,— (I) not being more than two kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (A) and which has a population of more than ten thousand but not exceeding one lakh; or
(II) not being more than six kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (A) and which has a population of more than one lakh but not exceeding ten lakh; or (III) not being more than eight kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (A) and which has a population of more than ten lakh.]
3[Explanation 4[1.]—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that revenue derived from land shall not include and shall be deemed never to have included any income arising from the transfer of any land referred to in item (a) or item (b) of sub-clause (iii) of clause (14) of this section.]
5[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that income derived from any building or land referred to in sub-clause (c) arising from the use of such building or land for any purpose (including letting for residential purpose or for the purpose of any business or profession) other than agriculture falling under sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) shall not be agricultural income.]
6[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause, any income derived from saplings or seedlings grown in a nursery shall be deemed to be agricultural income.]
7[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of clause (ii) of the proviso to sub-clause (c), “population” means the population according to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published before the first day of the previous year;] 8[9[(1B)] “amalgamation”, in relation to companies, means the merger of one or more companies with another company or the merger of two or more companies to form one company (the company or companies which so merge being referred to as the amalgamating company or companies and the company with which they merge or which is formed as a result of the merger, as the amalgamated company) in such a manner that— (i) all the property of the amalgamating company or companies immediately before the amalgamation becomes the property of the amalgamated company by virtue of the amalgamation;
(ii) all the liabilities of the amalgamating company or companies immediately before the amalgamation become the liabilities of the amalgamated company by virtue of the amalgamation;

(iii) shareholders holding not less than 1[three-fourths] in value of the shares in the amalgamating company or companies (other than shares already held therein immediately before the amalgamation by, or by a nominee for, the amalgamated company or its subsidiary) become shareholders of the amalgamated company by virtue of the amalgamation, otherwise than as a result of the acquisition of the property of one company by another company pursuant to the purchase of such property by the other company or as a result of the distribution of such property to the other company after the winding up of the first-mentioned company;]
2[(1C) “Additional Commissioner” means a person appointed to be an Additional Commissioner of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;
(1D) “Additional Director” means a person appointed to be an Additional Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;] (2) “annual value”, in relation to any property, means its annual value as determined under section 23 ;
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(4) “Appellate Tribunal” means the Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 252;
(5) “approved gratuity fund” means a gratuity fund which has been and continues to be approved by the 4[5[Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner] or 6[Principal Commissioner or Commissioner]] in accordance with the rules contained in Part C of the Fourth Schedule ;
(6) “approved superannuation fund” means a superannuation fund or any part of a superannuation fund which has been and continues to be approved by the 4[5[Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner] or6[Principal Commissioner or Commissioner]] in accordance with the rules contained in Part B of the Fourth Schedule;
(7) “assesse” means a person by whom 7[any tax] or any other sum of money is payable under this Act, and includes— (a) every person in respect of whom any proceeding under this Act has been taken for the 8[assessment of his income or assessment of fringe benefits] or of the income of any other person in respect of which he is assessable, or of the loss sustained by him or by such other person, or of the amount of refund due to him or to such other person;
(b) every person who is deemed to be an assessee under any provision of this Act;
(c) every person who is deemed to be an assessee in default under any provision of this Act;
9[(7A) “Assessing Officer” means the 10[11[Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner] or 12[Assistant Director or Deputy Director]] or the Income-tax Officer who is vested with the relevant jurisdiction by virtue of directions or orders issued under sub-section (1) orsub-section (2) of section 120or any other provision of this Act, and the 2[Additional Commissioner or]

1[Additional Director or] 2[Joint Commissioner or Joint Director] who is directed under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of that section to exercise or perform all or any of the powers and functions conferred on, or assigned to, an Assessing Officer under this Act;]
(8) “assessment” includes reassessment;
(9) “assessment year” means the period of twelve months commencing on the 1st day of April
every year;
3[(9A) “Assistant Commissioner” means a person appointed to be an Assistant Commissioner of
Income-tax 4[or a Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax] under sub-section (1) of section 117;]
5[(9B) “Assistant Director” means a person appointed to be an Assistant Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;] (10) “average rate of income-tax” means the rate arrived at by dividing the amount of income-tax calculated on the total income, by such total income;
6[(11) “block of assets” means a group of assets falling within a class of assets comprising— (a) tangible assets, being buildings, machinery, plant or furniture;
(b) intangible assets, being know-how, patents, copyrights, trade-marks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature, in respect of which the same percentage of depreciation is prescribed;]
(12) “Board” means the 7[Central Board of Direct Taxes constituted under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963 (54 of 1963)];
8[(12A) “books or books of account” includes ledgers, day-books, cash books, account-books and other books, whether kept in the written form or as print-outs of data stored in a floppy, disc, tape or any other form of electro-magnetic data storage device;]
(13) “business” includes any trade, commerce or manufacture or any adventure or concern in the nature of trade, commerce or manufacture;
9[(13A) “business trust” means a trust registered as,— (i) an Infrastructure Investment Trust under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992); or (ii) a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), and the units of which are required to be listed on recognised stock exchange in accordance with the aforesaid regulations;](14) 1[“capital asset” means— (a) property of any kind held by an assessee, whether or not connected with his business or profession;
(b) any securities held by a Foreign Institutional Investor which has invested in such securities in accordance with the regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992),
but does not include—
(i) any stock-in-trade [other than the securities referred to in sub-clause (b)]], consumable stores or raw materials held for the purposes of his business or profession;
2[(ii) personal effects, that is to say, movable property (including wearing apparel and furniture) held for personal use by the assessee or any member of his family dependant on him, but excludes— (a) jewellery;
(b) archaeological collections;
(c) drawings;
(d) paintings;
(e) sculptures; or
(f) any work of art.

CHAPTER II BASIS OF CHARGE 4. Charge of income-tax.—(1) Where any Central Act enacts that income-tax shall be charged for any assessment year at any rate or rates, income-tax at that rate or those rates shall be charged for that year in accordance with, and 3[subject to the provisions (including provisions for the levy of additional income-tax) of, this Act] in respect of the total income of the previous year 4***of every person:
Provided that where by virtue of any provision of this Act income-tax is to be charged in respect of the income of a period other than the previous year, income-tax shall be charged accordingly.
(2) In respect of income chargeable under sub-section (1), income-tax shall be deducted at the source or paid in advance, where it is so deductible or payable under any provision of this Act.
5. Scope of total income.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the total income of any previous year of a person who is a resident includes all income from whatever source derived which— (a) is received or is deemed to be received in India in such year by or on behalf of such person; or
(b) accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise to him in India during such year; or
(c) accrues or arises to him outside India during such year:
Provided that, in the case of a person not ordinarily resident in India within the meaning of sub-section (6) of section 6, the income which accrues or arises to him outside India shall not be so included unless it is derived from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the total income of any previous year of a person who is a non-resident includes all income from whatever source derived which— (a) is received or is deemed to be received in India in such year by or on behalf of such person; or
(b) accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise to him in India during such year. Explanation 1.—Income accruing or arising outside India shall not be deemed to be received in India within the meaning of this section by reason only of the fact that it is taken into account in a balance sheet prepared in India.
Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that income which has been included in the total income of a person on the basis that it has accrued or arisen or is deemed to have accrued or arisen to him shall not again be so included on the basis that it is received or deemed to be received by him in India.

[5A. Apportionment of income between spouses governed by Portuguese Civil Code.—(1) Where the husband and wife are governed by the system of community of property (known under the Portuguese Civil Code of 1860 as “COMMUNIAO DOS BENS”) in force in the State of Goa and in the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the income of the husband and of the wife under any head of income shall not be assessed as that of such community of property (whether treated as an association of persons or a body of individuals), but such income of the husband and of the wife under each head of income (other than under the head “Salaries”) shall be apportioned equally between the husband and the wife and the income so apportioned shall be included separately in the total income of the husband and of the wife respectively, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(2) Where the husband or, as the case may be, the wife governed by the aforesaid system of community of property has any income under the head “Salaries”, such income shall be included in the total income of the spouse who has actually earned it.]
6. Residence in India.—For the purposes of this Act,— (1) An individual is said to be resident in India in any previous year, if he—
3[Explanation 4[1].—In the case of an individual,— (a) is in India in that year for a period or periods amounting in all to one hundred and eighty- two days or more; or
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(c) having within the four years preceding that year been in India for a period or periods amounting in all to three hundred and sixty-five days or more, is in India for a period or periods amounting in all to sixty days or more in that year. (a) being a citizen of India, who leaves India in any previous year 5[as a member of the crew of an Indian ship as defined in clause (18) of section 3 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), or] for the purposes of employment outside India, the provisions of sub-clause (c) shall apply in relation to that year as if for the words “sixty days”, occurring therein, the words “one hundred and eighty-two days” had been substituted;
(b) being a citizen of India, or a person of Indian origin within the meaning of Explanation to clause (e) of section 115C, who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any previous year, the provisions of sub-clause (c) shall apply in relation to that year as if for the words “sixty days”, occurring therein, the words “one hundred and 6[eighty-two] days” had been substituted.] 7[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member of the crew of a foreign bound ship leaving India, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of such voyage, be determined in the manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.]
(2) A Hindu undivided family, firm or other association of persons is said to be resident in India in any previous year in every case except where during that year the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly outside India.

[(3) A company is said to be a resident in India in any previous year, if— (i) it is an Indian company; or
(ii) its place of effective management, in that year, is in India. Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause “place of effective management” means a place where key management and commercial decisions that are necessary for the conduct of business of an entity as a whole are, in substance made.]
(4) Every other person is said to be resident in India in any previous year in every case, except where during that year the control and management of his affairs is situated wholly outside India.
(5) If a person is resident in India in a previous year relevant to an assessment year in respect of any source of income, he shall be deemed to be resident in India in the previous year relevant to the assessment year in respect of each of his other sources of income.
2[(6) A person is said to be “not ordinarily resident” in India in any previous year if such person is— (a) an individual who has been a non-resident in India in nine out of the ten previous years preceding that year, or has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, seven hundred and twenty-nine days or less; or
(b) a Hindu undivided family whose manager has been a non-resident in India in nine out of the ten previous years preceding that year, or has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, seven hundred and twenty-nine days or less.] 7. Income deemed to be received.—The following incomes shall be deemed to be received in the previous year:— (i) the annual accretion in the previous year to the balance at the credit of an employee participating in a recognised provident fund, to the extent provided in rule 6 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule;
(ii) the transferred balance in a recognised provident fund, to the extent provided in sub-rule (4) of rule 11 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule;
3[(iii) the contribution made, by the Central Government 4[or any other employer] in the previous year, to the account of an employee under a pension scheme referred to in section 80CCD.]
8. Dividend income.—5[For the purposes of inclusion in the total income of an assessee,— (a) any dividend] declared by a company or distributed or paid by it within the meaning of sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) or sub-clause (c) or sub-clause (d) or sub-clause (e) of clause (22) of section 2 shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which it is so declared, distributed or paid, as the case may be;
6[(b) any interim dividend shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which the amount of such dividend is unconditionally made available by the company to the member who is entitled to it.]9. Income deemed to accrue or arise in India.—(1) The following incomes shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India:— (i) all income accruing or arising, whether directly or indirectly, through or from any business connection in India, or through or from any property in India, or through or from any asset or source of income in India, 1*** or through the transfer of a capital asset situate in India.
Explanation 2[1].—For the purposes of this clause— (a) in the case of a business of which all the operations are not carried out in India, the income of the business deemed under this clause to accrue or arise in India shall be only such part of the income as is reasonably attributable to the operations carried out in India; (b) in the case of a non-resident, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to him through or from operations which are confined to the purchase of goods in India for the purpose of export;
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4[(c) in the case of a non-resident, being a person engaged in the business of running a news agency or of publishing newspapers, magazines or journals, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to him through or from activities which are confined to the collection of news and views in India for transmission out of India;]
5[(d) in the case of a non-resident, being— (1) an individual who is not a citizen of India; or
(2) a firm which does not have any partner who is a citizen of India or who is resident in
India; or
(3) a company which does not have any shareholder who is a citizen of India or who is resident in India, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to such individual, firm or company through or from operations which are confined to the shooting of any cinematograph film in India;]
6[(e) in the case of a foreign company engaged in the business of mining of diamonds, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to it through or from the activities which are confined to the display of uncut and unassorted diamond in any special zone notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf.]
7[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that “business connection” shall include any business activity carried out through a person who, acting on behalf of the non- resident,—

1[(a) has and habitually exercises in India, an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the non-resident or habitually concludes contracts or habitually plays the principal role leading to conclusion of contracts by that non-resident and the contracts are–– (i) in the name of the non-resident; or
(ii) for the transfer of the ownership of, or for the granting of the right to use, property
owned by that non-resident or that non-resident has the right to use; or (iii) for the provision of services by the non-resident; or] (b) has no such authority, but habitually maintains in India a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the non-resident; or (c) habitually secures orders in India, mainly or wholly for the non-resident or for that non-resident and other non-residents controlling, controlled by, or subject to the same common control, as that non-resident:
Provided that such business connection shall not include any business activity carried out through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent having an independent status, if such broker, general commission agent or any other agent having an independent status is acting in the ordinary course of his business:
Provided further that where such broker, general commission agent or any other agent works mainly or wholly on behalf of a non-resident (hereafter in this proviso referred to as the principal non-resident) or on behalf of such non-resident and other non-residents which are controlled by the principal non-resident or have a controlling interest in the principal non-resident or are subject to the same common control as the principal non-resident, he shall not be deemed to be a broker, general commission agent or an agent of an independent status.
2[Explanation 2A.––For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the significant economic presence of a non-resident in India shall constitute “business connection” in India and “significant economic presence” for this purpose, shall mean–– (a) transaction in respect of any goods, services or property carried out by a non-resident in India including provision of download of data or software in India, if the aggregate of payments arising from such transaction or transactions during the previous year exceeds such amount as may be prescribed; or
(b) systematic and continuous soliciting of business activities or engaging in interaction with such number of users as may be prescribed, in India through digital means:
Provided that the transactions or activities shall constitute significant economic presence in India, whether or not,— (i) the agreement for such transactions or activities is entered in India; (ii) the non-resident has a residence or place of business in India; or (iii) the non-resident renders services in India:
Provided further that only so much of income as is attributable to the transactions or activities referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India.]

Explanation 3.—Where a business is carried on in India through a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of Explanation 2, only so much of income as is attributable to the operations carried out in India shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India.]
1[Explanation 4.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the expression “through” shall mean and include and shall be deemed to have always meant and included “by means of”, “in consequence of” or “by reason of”.
Explanation 5.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that an asset or a capital asset being any share or interest in a company or entity registered or incorporated outside India shall be deemed to be and shall always be deemed to have been situated in India, if the share or interest derives, directly or indirectly, its value substantially from the assets located in India:] 2[Provided that nothing contained in this Explanation shall apply to an asset or capital asset, which is held by a non-resident by way of investment, directly or indirectly, in a Foreign Institutional Investor as referred to in clause (a) of the Explanation to section 115AD for an assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2012 but before the 1st day of April, 2015:]
3[Provided further that nothing contained in this Explanation shall apply to an asset or capital asset, which is held by a non-resident by way of investment, directly or indirectly, in Category-I or Category-II foreign portfolio investor under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations, 2014, made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.]
4[Explanation 6.—For the purposes of this clause, it is hereby declared that— (a) the share or interest, referred to in Explanation 5, shall be deemed to derive its value substantially from the assets (whether tangible or intangible) located in India, if, on the specified date, the value of such assets— (i) exceeds the amount of ten crore rupees; and
(ii) represents at least fifty per cent. of the value of all the assets owned by the company or entity, as the case may be; (b) the value of an asset shall be the fair market value as on the specified date, of such asset without reduction of liabilities, if any, in respect of the asset, determined in such manner as may be prescribed;
(c) “accounting period” means each period of twelve months ending with the 31st day of March:
Provided that where a company or an entity, referred to in Explanation 5, regularly adopts a period of twelve months ending on a day other than the 31st day of March for the purpose of— (i) complying with the provisions of the tax laws of the territory, of which it is a resident, for tax purposes; or

(ii) reporting to persons holding the share or interest, then, the period of twelve months ending with the other day shall be the accounting period of the company or, as the case may be, the entity: Provided further that the first accounting period of the company or, as the case may be, the entity shall begin from the date of its registration or incorporation and end with the 31st day of March or such other day, as the case may be, following the date of such registration or incorporation, and the later accounting period shall be the successive periods of twelve months:
Provided also that if the company or the entity ceases to exist before the end of accounting period, as aforesaid, then, the accounting period shall end immediately before the company or, as the case may be, the entity, ceases to exist;
(d) “specified date” means the— (i) date on which the accounting period of the company or, as the case may be, the entity ends preceding the date of transfer of a share or an interest; or
(ii) date of transfer, if the book value of the assets of the company or, as the case may be, the entity on the date of transfer exceeds the book value of the assets as on the date referred to in sub-clause (i), by fifteen per cent. Explanation 7.—For the purposes of this clause,— (a) no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise to a non-resident from transfer, outside India, of any share of, or interest in, a company or an entity, registered or incorporated outside India, referred to in the Explanation 5,— (i) if such company or entity directly owns the assets situated in India and the transferor (whether individually or along with its associated enterprises), at any time in the twelve months preceding the date of transfer, neither holds the right of management or control in relation to such company or entity, nor holds voting power or share capital or interest exceeding five per cent. of the total voting power or total share capital or total interest, as the case may be, of such company or entity; or
(ii) if such company or entity indirectly owns the assets situated in India and the transferor (whether individually or along with its associated enterprises), at any time in the twelve months preceding the date of transfer, neither holds the right of management or control in relation to such company or entity, nor holds any right in, or in relation to, such company or entity which would entitle him to the right of management or control in the company or entity that directly owns the assets situated in India, nor holds such percentage of voting power or share capital or interest in such company or entity which results in holding of (either individually or along with associated enterprises) a voting power or share capital or interest exceeding five per cent. of the total voting power or total share capital or total interest, as the case may be, of the company or entity that directly owns the assets situated in India; (b) in a case where all the assets owned, directly or indirectly, by a company or, as the case may be, an entity referred to in the Explanation 5, are not located in India, the income of the non-resident transferor, from transfer outside India of a share of, or interest in, such company or entity, deemed to accrue or arise in India under this clause, shall be only such part of the income as is reasonably attributable to assets located in India and determined in such manner as may be prescribed;
(c) “associated enterprise” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 92A;] (ii) income which falls under the head “Salaries”, if it is earned in India.
1[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the income of the nature referred to in this clause payable for— (a) service rendered in India; and
1. Subs. by Act 27 of 1999, s. 5, for the Explanation (w.e.f. 1-4-2000). 60
(b) the rest period or leave period which is preceded and succeeded by services rendered in India and forms part of the service contract of employment,
shall be regarded as income earned in India;]
(iii) income chargeable under the head “Salaries” payable by the Government to a citizen of India for service outside India;
(iv) a dividend paid by an Indian company outside India; 1[(v) income by way of interest payable by—
(a) the Government; or
(b) a person who is a resident, except where the interest is payable in respect of any debt incurred, or moneys borrowed and used, for the purposes of a business or profession carried on
by such person outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India; or
(c) a person who is a non-resident, where the interest is payable in respect of any debt incurred, or moneys borrowed and used, for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person in India ;
2[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) it is hereby declared that in the case of a non-resident, being a person engaged in the business of banking, any interest payable by the permanent establishment in India of such non-resident to the head office or any permanent establishment or any other part of such non-resident outside India shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India and shall be chargeable to tax in addition to any income attributable to the permanent establishment in India and the permanent establishment in India shall be deemed to be a person separate and independent of the non-resident person of which it is a permanent establishment and the provisions of the Act relating to computation of total income, determination of tax and collection and recovery shall apply accordingly;
(b) “permanent establishment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (iiia) of section 92F;]
(vi) income by way of royalty payable by—
(a) the Government; or
(b) a person who is a resident, except where the royalty is payable in respect of any right, property or information used or services utilised for the purposes of a business or profession
carried on by such person outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India; or
(c) a person who is a non-resident, where the royalty is payable in respect of any right, property or information used or services utilised for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person in India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source in India:
Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to so much of the income by way of royalty as consists of lump sum consideration for the transfer outside India of, or the imparting of information outside India in respect of, any data, documentation, drawing or specification relating to any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property, if such income is payable in pursuance of an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976, and the agreement is approved by the Central Government:
1. Ins. by Act 66 of 1976, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-6-1976). 2. Ins. by Act 20 of 2015, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-4-2016).
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1[Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to so much of the income by way of royalty as consists of lump sum payment made by a person, who is a resident, for the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of computer software supplied by a non-resident manufacturer along with a computer or computer-based equipment under any scheme approved under the Policy on Computer Software Export, Software Development and Training, 1986 of the Government of India.]
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of the 2[first proviso], an agreement made on or after the 1st day of April, 1976, shall be deemed to have been made before that date if the agreement is made in accordance with proposals approved by the Central Government before that date; so, however, that, where the recipient of the income by way of royalty is a foreign company, the agreement shall not be deemed to have been made before that date unless, before the expiry of the time allowed under sub- section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 139 (whether fixed originally or on extension) for furnishing the return of income for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1977, or the assessment year in respect of which such income first becomes chargeable to tax under this Act, whichever assessment year is later, the company exercises an option by furnishing a declaration in writing to the 3[Assessing Officer] (such option being final for that assessment year and for every subsequent assessment year) that the agreement may be regarded as an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976.
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, “royalty” means consideration (including any lump sum consideration but excluding any consideration which would be the income of the recipient chargeable under the head “Capital gains”) for— (i) the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of a patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
(ii) the imparting of any information concerning the working of, or the use of, a patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
(iii) the use of any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
(iv) the imparting of any information concerning technical, industrial, commercial or scientific knowledge, experience or skill;
4[(iva) the use or right to use any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment but not including the amounts referred to in section 44BB;]
(v) the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of any copyright, literary, artistic or scientific work including films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting, but not including consideration for the sale, distribution or exhibition of cinematographic films; or
(vi) the rendering of any services in connection with the activities referred to in sub-clauses
(i) to (iv), (iva) and (v).
5[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause, “computer software” means any computer programme recorded on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device and includes any such programme or any customized electronic data.]
6[Explanation 4.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the transfer of all or any rights in respect of any right, property or information includes and has always included transfer of all

or any right for use or right to use a computer software (including granting of a licence) irrespective of the medium through which such right is transferred.
Explanation 5.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the royalty includes and has always included consideration in respect of any right, property or information, whether or not— (a) the possession or control of such right, property or information is with the payer; (b) such right, property or information is used directly by the payer;
(c) the location of such right, property or information is in India.] Explanation 6.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the expression “process” includes and shall be deemed to have always included transmission by satellite (including up-linking, amplification, conversion for down-linking of any signal), cable, optic fibre or by any other similar technology, whether or not such process is secret;] (vii) income by way of fees for technical services payable by— (a) the Government; or
(b) a person who is a resident, except where the fees are payable in respect of services utilised in a business or profession carried on by such person outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India; or
(c) a person who is a non-resident, where the fees are payable in respect of services utilised in a business or profession carried on by such person in India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source in India:
1[Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to any incomebyway of fees for technical services payable in pursuance of an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976, and approved by the Central Government.]
2[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of the foregoing proviso, an agreement made on or after the 1st day of April, 1976, shall be deemed to have been made before that date if the agreement is made in accordance with proposals approved by the Central Government before that date.]
Explanation 3[2].—For the purposes of this clause, “fees for technical services” means any consideration (including any lump sum consideration) for the rendering of any managerial, technical or consultancy services (including the provision of services of technical or other personnel) but does not include consideration for any construction, assembly, mining or like project undertaken by the recipient or consideration which would be income of the recipient chargeable under the head “Salaries”.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any pension payable outside India to a person residing permanently outside India shall not be deemed to accrue or arise in India, if the pension is payable to a person referred to in article 314 of the Constitution or to a person who, having been appointed before the 15th day of August, 1947, to be a Judge of the Federal Court or of a High Court within the meaning of the Government of India Act, 1935, continues to serve on or after the commencement of the Constitution as a Judge in India.
Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this section, income of a non-resident shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India under clause (v) or clause (vi) or clause (vii) of sub-section (1) and shall be included in the total income of the non-resident, whether or not,—
(i) the non-resident has a residence or place of business or business connection in India; or (ii) the non-resident has rendered services in India.
1. The proviso ins. by Act 29 of 1977, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-1977).
2. Explanation ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1977).
3. Explanation renumbered as Explanation 2 thereof by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1977).
63
1[9A. Certain activities not to constitute business connection in India.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 9 and subject to the provisions of this section, in the case of an eligible investment fund, the fund management activity carried out through an eligible fund manager acting on behalf of such fund shall not constitute business connection in India of the said fund.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained insection 6, an eligible investment fund shall not be said to be resident in India for the purpose of that section merely because the eligible fund manager, undertaking fund management activities on its behalf, is situated in India.
(3) The eligible investment fund referred to in sub-section (1), means a fund established or incorporated or registered outside India, which collects funds from its members for investing it for their benefit and fulfils the following conditions, namely:—
(a) the fund is not a person resident in India;
(b) the fund is a resident of a country or a specified territory with which an agreement referred to in sub-section (1) of section 90 or sub-section (1) ofsection 90A has been entered into 2[or is established or incorporated or registered in a country or a specified territory notified by the Central Government in this behalf];
(c) the aggregate participation or investment in the fund, directly or indirectly, by persons resident in India does not exceed five per cent. of the corpus of the fund;
(d) the fund and its activities are subject to applicable investor protection regulations in the country or specified territory where it is established or incorporated or is a resident;
(e) the fund has a minimum of twenty-five members who are, directly or indirectly, not connected persons;
(f) any member of the fund along with connected persons shall not have any participation interest, directly or indirectly, in the fund exceeding ten per cent.;
(g) the aggregate participation interest, directly or indirectly, of ten or less members along with their connected persons in the fund, shall be less than fifty per cent.;
(h) the fund shall not invest more than twenty per cent. of its corpus in any entity;
(i) the fund shall not make any investment in its associate entity;
(j) the monthly average of the corpus of the fund shall not be less than one hundred crore rupees:
Provided that if the fund has been established or incorporated in the previous year, the corpus of fund shall not be less than one hundred crore rupees at the end of such previous year:
3[Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to a fund which has been
wound up in the previous year;]
(k) the fund shall not carry on or control and manage, directly or indirectly, any business in India 4***;
(l) the fund is neither engaged in any activity which constitutes a business connection in India nor has any person acting on its behalf whose activities constitute a business connection in India other than the activities undertaken by the eligible fund manager on its behalf;
(m) the remuneration paid by the fund to an eligible fund manager in respect of fund management activity undertaken by him on its behalf is not less than the arm’s length price of the said activity:
1. Ins. by Act 20 of 2015, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-4-2016).
2. Ins. by Act 28 of 2016, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-4-2017).
3. The proviso inserted by Act 7 of 2017, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-4-2016).
4. The words “or from India” omitted by Act 28 of 2016, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-4-2017).
64

Provided that the conditions specified in clauses (e), (f) and (g) shall not apply in case of an investment fund set up by the Government or the Central Bank of a foreign State or a sovereign fund, or such other fund as the Central Government may subject to conditions, if any, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
(4) The eligible fund manager, in respect of an eligible investment fund, means any person who is engaged in the activity of fund management and fulfils the following conditions, namely:—
(a) the person is not an employee of the eligible investment fund or a connected person of the fund;
(b) the person is registered as a fund manager or an investment advisor in accordance with the specified regulations;
(c) the person is acting in the ordinary course of his business as a fund manager;
(d) the person along with his connected persons shall not be entitled, directly or indirectly, to more than twenty per cent. of the profits accruing or arising to the eligible investment fund from the transactions carried out by the fund through the fund manager.
(5) Every eligible investment fund shall, in respect of its activities in a financial year, furnish within ninety days from the end of the financial year, a statement in the prescribed form, to the prescribed income-tax authority containing information relating to the fulfilment of the conditions specified in this section and also provide such other relevant information or documents as may be prescribed.
(6) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to exclude any income from the total income of the eligible investment fund, which would have been so included irrespective of whether the activity of the eligible fund manager constituted the business connection in India of such fund or not.
(7) Nothing contained in this section shall have any effect on the scope of total income or determination of total income in the case of the eligible fund manager.
(8) The provisions of this section shall be applied in accordance with such guidelines and in such manner as the Board may prescribe in this behalf.
(9) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “associate” means an entity in which a director or a trustee or a partner or a member or a fund manager of the investment fund or a director or a trustee or a partner or a member of the fund manager of such fund, holds, either individually or collectively, share or interest, being more than fifteen per cent. of its share capital or interest, as the case may be;
(b) “connected person” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (4) of section 102;
(c) “corpus” means the total amount of funds raised for the purpose of investment by the eligible investment fund as on a particular date;
(d) “entity” means any entity in which an eligible investment fund makes an investment;
(e) “specified regulations” means the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 1993 or the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013, or such other regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), which may be notified by the Central Government under this clause.]
CHAPTER III
INCOMES WHICH DO NOT FORM PART OF TOTAL INCOME
10. Incomes not included in total income.—In computing the total income of a previous year of any person, any income falling within any of the following clauses shall not be included—
(1) agricultural income;
65

(2) 1[subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 64,] any sum received by an individual as a member of a Hindu undivided family, where such sum has been paid out of the income of the family, or, in the case of any impartible estate, where such sum has been paid out of the income of the estate belonging to the family;
2[(2A) in the case of a person being a partner of a firm which is separately assessed as such, his share in the total income of the firm.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the share of a partner in the total income of a firm separately assessed as such shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, be an amount which bears to the total income of the firm the same proportion as the amount of his share in the profits of the firm in accordance with the partnership deed bears to such profits;]
3* * * * * 4[(4) (i) in the case of a non-resident, any income by way of interest on such securities or bonds as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, including income by way of premium on the redemption of such bonds:
5[Provided that the Central Government shall not specify, for the purposes of this sub-clause, such securities or bonds on or after the 1st day of June, 2002;]
6[(ii) in the case of an individual, any income by way of interest on moneys standing to his credit in a Non-Resident (External) Account in any bank in India in accordance with 7[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and the rules made thereunder:
Provided that such individual is a person resident outside India as defined in 8[clause (w)] ofsection 2of the said Act or is a person who has been permitted by the Reserve Bank of India to maintain the aforesaid Account;]]
9* * * * *
10[(4B) in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin, who is a non-resident, any income from interest on such 11[savings certificates issued before the 1st day of June, 2002] by the Central Government as that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:
Provided that the individual has subscribed to such certificates in convertible foreign exchange remitted from a country outside India in accordance with the provisions of 7[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and any rules made thereunder. Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) a person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents or any of his grandparents, was born in undivided India;


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THE INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872
ACT NO. 9 OF 18721
[25th April, 1872.]
Preamble—WHEREAS it is expedient to define and amend certain parts of the law relating to
contracts;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title.—This Act may be called the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
Extent, Commencement.—It extends to the whole of India 2[ 3***]; and it shall come into force on
the first day of September, 1872.
Saving—
4*** Nothing herein contained shall affect the provisions of any Statute, Act or Regulation
not hereby expressly repealed, nor any usage or custom of trade, nor any incident of any contract, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
2. Interpretation-clause.—In this Act the following words and expressions are used in the following
senses, unless a contrary intention appears from the context:—
(a) When one person signifies to another his willingness to do or to abstain from doing anything,
with a view to obtaining the assent of that other to such act or abstinence, he is said to make a proposal;

d to be accepted. A proposal, when accepted, becomes a promise;
(c) The person making the proposal is called the “promisor”, and the person accepting the
proposal is called the “promisee”;
(d) When, at the desire of the promisor, the promisee or any other person has done or abstained
from doing, or does or abstains from doing, or promises to do or to abstain from doing, something,
such act or abstinence or promise is called a consideration for the promise;
(e) Every promise and every set of promises, forming the consideration for each other, is an
agreement;
(f) Promises which form the consideration or part of the consideration for each other are called
reciprocal promises;
(g) An agreement not enforceable by law is said to be void;
(h) An agreement enforceable by law is a contract;
(i) An agreement which is enforceable by law at the option of one or more of the parties thereto,
but not at the option of the other or others, is a voidable contract;
(j) A contract which ceases to be enforceable by law becomes void when it ceases to be
enforceable.
CHAPTER I
OF THE COMMUNICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND REVOCATION OF PROPOSALS
3.Communication, acceptance and revocation of proposals.—The communication of proposals,
the acceptance of proposals, and the revocation of proposals and acceptances, respectively, are deemed to
be made by any act or omission of the party proposing, accepting or revoking by which he intends to
communicate such proposal, acceptance or revocation, or which has the effect of communicating it.
4. Communication when complete.—The communication of a proposal is complete when it comes
to the knowledge of the person to whom it is made.
The communication of an acceptance is complete,—
as against the proposer, when it is put in a course of transmission to him, so as to be out of the
power of the acceptor;
as against the acceptor, when it comes to the knowledge of the proposer.
The communication of a revocation is complete,—
as against the person who makes it, when it is put into a course of transmission to the person to
whom it is made, so as to be out of the power of the person who makes it;
as against the person to whom it is made, when it comes to his knowledge.

5. Revocation of proposals and acceptances.—A proposal may be revoked at any time before the
communication of its acceptance is complete as against the proposer, but not afterwards.
An acceptance may be revoked at any time before the communication of the acceptance is complete
as against the acceptor, but not afterwards.
Illustration
A proposes, by a letter sent by post, to sell his house to B.
B accepts the proposal by a letter sent by post.
A may revoke his proposal at any time before or at the moment when B posts his letter of acceptance, but not afterwards.
B may revoke his acceptance at any time before or at the moment when the letter communicating it reaches A, but not
afterwards.
STATE AMENDMENT
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 5 of Act (9 of 1872).—In section 5 of Indian contract Act, 1872, hereinafter
in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act, at the end of the first paragraph, the following explanation
shall inserted, namely:–
“Explanation—Where an invitation to a proposal contains a condition that any proposal made in
response to such invitation shall be kept open for a specified time and a proposal is thereupon made
accepting such condition, such proposal may not be revoked within such time.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act, 57 of 1976, s. 2]
6. Revocation how made.—A proposal is revoked—
(1) by the communication of notice of revocation by the proposer to the other party;
(2) by the lapse of the time prescribed in such proposal for its acceptance, or, if no time is so
prescribed, by the lapse of a reasonable time, without communication of the acceptance;
(3) by the failure of the acceptor to fulfil a condition precedent to acceptance; or
(4) by the death or insanity of the proposer, if the fact of his death or insanity comes to the
knowledge of the acceptor before acceptance.
7. Acceptance must be absolute.—In order to convert a proposal into a promise, the acceptance
must—
(1) be absolute and unqualified;
(2) be expressed in some usual and reasonable manner, unless the proposal prescribes the manner
in which it is to be accepted. If the proposal prescribes a manner in which it is to be accepted, and the
acceptance is not made in such manner, the proposer may, within a reasonable time after the
acceptance is communicated to him, insist that his proposal shall be accepted in the prescribed
manner, and not otherwise; but if he fails to do so, he accepts the acceptance.
8. Acceptance by performing conditions, or receiving consideration.—Performance of the
conditions of a proposal, or the acceptance of any consideration for a reciprocal promise which may be
offered with a proposal, is an acceptance of the proposal.
9. Promises, express and implied.—In so far as the proposal or acceptance of any promise is made
in words, the promise is said to be express. In so far as such proposal or acceptance is made otherwise
than in words, the promise is said to be implied.
13
CHAPTER II
OF CONTRACTS, VOIDABLE CONTRACTS AND VOID AGREEMENTS
10. What agreements are contracts.—All agreements are contracts if they are made by the free
consent of parties competent to contract, for a lawful consideration and with a lawful object, and are not
hereby expressly declared to be void.
Nothing herein contained shall affect any law in force in 1[India] and not hereby expressly repealed
by which any contract is required to be made in writing2 or in the presence of witnesses, or any law
relating to the registration of documents.
11. Who are competent to contract.—Every person is competent to contract who is of the age of
majority according to the law to which he is subject3
, and who is of sound mind, and is not disqualified
from contracting by any law to which he is subject.
12. What is a sound mind for the purposes of contracting.—A person is said to be of sound mind
for the purpose of making a contract, if, at the time when he makes it, he is capable of understanding it
and of forming a rational judgment as to its effect upon his interests.
A person who is usually of unsound mind, but occasionally of sound mind, may make a contract
when he is of sound mind.
A person who is usually of sound mind, but occasionally of unsound mind, may not make a contract
when he is of unsound mind.
Illustrations
(a) A patient in a lunatic asylum, who is at intervals of sound mind, may contract during those intervals.
(b) A sane man, who is delirious from fever or who is so drunk that he cannot understand the terms of a contract, or form a
rational judgment as to its effect on his interests, cannot contract whilst such delirium or drunkenness lasts.
13. “Consent” defined.—Two or more persons are said to consent when they agree upon the same
thing in the same sense.
14. “Free consent” defined.—Consent is said to be free when it is not caused by—
(1) coercion, as defined in section 15, or
(2) undue influence, as defined in section 16, or
(3) fraud, as defined in section 17, or
(4) misrepresentation, as defined in section 18, or
(5) mistake, subject to the provisions of sections 20, 21 and 22.
Consent is said to be so caused when it would not have been given but for the existence of such
coercion, undue influence, fraud, misrepresentation or mistake.
15. “Coercion” defined.—
“Coercion” is the committing, or threatening to commit, any act forbidden
by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)or the unlawful detaining, or threatening to detain, any property, to
the prejudice of any person whatever, with the intention of causing any person to enter into an agreement.
1. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and Sch., for “Part A States and Part C States” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1950, for
“the Provinces”.
2. See e.g., s. 25, infra; the Copyright Act, 1957 (14 of 1957), s. 19; the Carriers Act, 1865 (3 of 1865) ss. 6 and 7;
the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), ss. 12, 30, 46 and 109.
3. See the Indian Majority Act, 1875 (9 of 1875).
14
Explanation.—It is immaterial whether the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is or is not in force in the
place where the coercion is employed.
Illustration
A, on board an English ship on the high seas, causes B to enter into an agreement by an act amounting to criminal
intimidation under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
A afterwards sues B for breach of contract at Calcutta.
A has employed coercion, although his act is not an offence by the law of England, and although section 506 of the Indian
Penal Code (45 of 1860) was not in force at the time when or place where the act was done.
1[16.“Undue influence” defined.—(1) A contract is said to be induced by “undue influence” where
the relations subsisting between the parties are such that one of the parties is in a position to dominate the
will of the other and uses that position to obtain an unfair advantage over the other.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing principle, a person is deemed
to be in a position to dominate the will of another—
(a) where he holds a real or apparent authority over the other, or where he stands in a fiduciary
relation to the other; or
(b) where he makes a contract with a person whose mental capacity is temporarily or permanently
affected by reason of age, illness, or mental or bodily distress.
(3) Where a person who is in a position to dominate the will of another, enters into a contract with
him, and the transaction appears, on the face of it or on the evidence adduced, to be unconscionable, the
burden of proving that such contract was not induced by undue influence shall lie upon the person in a
position to dominate the will of the other.
Nothing in this sub-section shall affect the provisions of section 111 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872
(1 of 1872).
Illustrations
(a) A having advanced money to his son, B, during his minority, upon B’s coming of age obtains, by misuse of parental influence, a bond
from B for a greater amount than the sum due in respect of the advance. A employs undue influence.
(b) A, a man enfeebled by disease or age, is induced, by B’s influence over him as his medical attendant, to agree to pay B an unreasonable
sum for his professional services. B employs undue influence.
(c) A, being in debt to B, the money-lender of his village, contracts a fresh loan on terms which appear to be unconscionable. It lies on B to
prove that the contract was not induced by undue influence.
(d) A applies to a banker for a loan at a time when there is stringency in the money market. The banker declines to make the loan except at
an unusually high rate of interest. A accepts the loan on these terms. This is a transaction in the ordinary course of business, and the contract is
not induced by undue influence.]
17. “Fraud” defined.—
“Fraud” means and includes any of the following acts committed by a party
to a contract, or with his connivance, or by his agent2
, with intent to deceive another party thereto of his
agent, or to induce him to enter into the contract:—
(1) the suggestion, as a fact, of that which is not true, by one who does not believe it to be true;
(2) the active concealment of a fact by one having knowledge or belief of the fact;
(3) a promise made without any intention of performing it;
(4) any other act fitted to deceive;
(5) any such act or omission as the law specially declares to be fraudulent.
Explanation.—Mere silence as to facts likely to affect the willingness of a person to enter into a
contract is not fraud, unless the circumstances of the case are such that, regard being had to them, it is the
duty of the person keeping silence to speak3
, or unless his silence is, in itself, equivalent to speech.
1. Subs. by Act 6 of 1899, s. 2, for the original s. 16.
2. Cf. s. 238, infra.
3. See s. 143, infra.
15
Illustrations
(a) A sells, by auction, to B, a horse which A knows to be unsound. A says nothing to B about the horse’s unsoundness.
This is not fraud in A.
(b) B is A’s daughter and has just come of age. Here, the relation between the parties would make it A’s duty to tell B if the
horse is unsound.
(c) B says to A—
“If you do not deny it, I shall assume that the horse is sound.” A says nothing. Here, A’s silence is
equivalent to speech.
(d) A and B, being traders, enter upon a contract. A has private information of a change in prices which would affect B’s
willingness to proceed with the contract. A is not bound to inform B.
18. “Misrepresentation” defined.—
“Misrepresentation” means and includes—
(1) the positive assertion, in a manner not warranted by the information of the person making it,
of that which is not true, though he believes it to be true;
(2) any breach of duty which, without an intent to deceive, gains an advantage to the person
committing it, or any one claiming under him; by misleading another to his prejudice, or to the
prejudice of any one claiming under him;
(3) causing, however innocently, a party to an agreement, to make a mistake as to the substance
of the thing which is the subject of the agreement.
19. Voidability of agreements without free consent.—When consent to an agreement is caused by
coercion,1*** fraud or misrepresentation, the agreement is a contract voidable at the option of the party
whose consent was so caused.
A party to a contract whose consent was caused by fraud or misrepresentation, may, if he thinks fit,
insist that the contract shall be performed, and that he shall be put in the position in which he would have
been if the representations made had been true.
Exception.—If such consent was caused by misrepresentation or by silence, fraudulent within the
meaning of section 17, the contract, nevertheless, is not voidable, if the party whose consent was so
caused had the means of discovering the truth with ordinary diligence.
Explanation.—A fraud or misrepresentation which did not cause the consent to a contract of the party
on whom such fraud was practised, or to whom such misrepresentation was made, does not render a
contract voidable.
Illustrations
(a) A, intending to deceive B, falsely represents that five hundred maunds of indigo are made annually at A’s factory, and
thereby induces B to buy the factory. The contract is voidable at the option of B.
(b) A, by a misrepresentation, leads B erroneously to believe that, five hundred maunds of indigo are made annually at A’s
factory. B examines the accounts of the factory, which show that only four hundred maunds of indigo have been made. After this
B buys the factory. The contract is not voidable on account of A’s misrepresentation.
(c) A fraudulently informs B that A’s estate is free from in cumbrance. B thereupon buys the estate. The estate is subject to a
mortgage. B may either avoid the contract, or may insist on its being carried out and the mortgage debt redeemed.
(d) B, having discovered a vein of ore on the estate of A, adopts means to conceal, and does conceal, the existence of the ore
from A. Through A’s ignorance B is enabled to buy the estate at an under-value. The contract is voidable at the option of A.
(e) A is entitled to succeed to an estate at the death of B; B dies: C, having received intelligence of B’s death, prevents the
intelligence reaching A, and thus induces A to sell him his interest in the estate. The sale is voidable at the option of A.
2[19A. Power to set aside contract induced by undue influence.—When consent to an agreement is
caused by undue influence, the agreement is a contract voidable at the option of the party whose consent
was so caused.
1. The words “undue influence” rep. by Act 6 of 1899, s. 3.
2. Ins. by Act 6 of 1899, s. 3.
16
Any such contract may be set aside either absolutely or, if the party who was entitled to avoid it has
received any benefit thereunder, upon such terms and conditions as to the Court may seem just.
Illustrations
(a) A’s son has forged B’s name to a promissory note. B under threat of prosecuting A’s son, obtains a bond from A for the
amount of the forged note. If B sues on this bond, the Court may set the bond aside.
(b) A, a money-lender, advances Rs. 100 to B, an agriculturist, and, by undue influence, induces B to execute a bond for
Rs. 200 with interest at 6 per cent. per month. The Court may set the bond aside, ordering B to repay the Rs. 100 with such
interest as may seem just.]
20.Agreement void where both parties are under mistake as to matter of fact.—Where both the
parties to an agreement are under a mistake as to a matter of fact essential to the agreement, the agreement
is void.
Explanation.—An erroneous opinion as to the value of the thing which forms the subject-matter of
the agreement, is not to be deemed a mistake as to a matter of fact.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to sell to B a specific cargo of goods supposed to be on its way from England to Bombay. It turns out that,
before the day of the bargain, the ship conveying the cargo had been cast away and the goods lost. Neither party was aware of the
these facts. The agreement is void.
(b) A agrees to buy from B a certain horse. It turns out that the horse was dead at the time of the bargain, though neither
party was aware of the fact. The agreement is void.
(c) A, being entitled to an estate for the life of B, agrees to sell it to C. B was dead at the time of the agreement, but both
parties were ignorant of the fact. The agreement is void.
21. Effect of mistakes as to law.—A contract is not voidable because it was caused by a mistake as
to any law in force in 1[India]; but a mistake as to a law not in force in 1[India] has the same effect as a
mistake of fact.
2* * * * *
Illustration
A and B make a contract grounded on the erroneous belief that a particular debt is barred by the Indian Law of Limitation:
the contract is not voidable.
3* * * * *
22. Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact.—A contract is not voidable
merely because it was caused by one of the parties to it being under a mistake as to a matter of fact.
23. What considerations and objects are lawful, and what not.—The consideration or object of an
agreement is lawful, unless—
it is forbidden by law4; or
is of such a nature that if permitted, it would defeat the provisions of any law; or
is fraudulent ; or
involves or implies injury to the person or property of another; or
the Court regards it as immoral, or opposed to public policy.
1. The original words ‘British India” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1948 and the A.O. 1950 to read as above.
2. Paragraph 2, ins. by the A.O. 1937, and as amended by the A. O. 1948 was Rep. by the A. O. 1950.
3. The second Illustration to s. 21 rep. by Act 24 of 1917, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
4. See ss. 26, 27, 28 and 30, infra.
17
In each of these cases, the consideration or object of an agreement is said to be unlawful. Every
agreement of which the object or consideration is unlawful is void.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to sell his house to B for 10,000 rupees. Here B’s promise to pay the sum of 10,000 rupees is the consideration
for A’s promise to sell the house, and A’s promise to sell the house is the consideration for B’s promise to pay the 10,000 rupees.
These are lawful considerations.
(b) A promises to pay B 1,000 rupees at the end of six months, if C, who owes that sum to B, fails to pay it. B promises to
grant time to C accordingly. Here, the promise of each party is the consideration for the promise of the other party, and they are
lawful considerations.
(c) A promises, for a certain sum paid to him by B, to make good to B the value of his ship if it is wrecked on a certain
voyage. Here, A’s promise is the consideration for B’s payment and B’s payment is the consideration for A’s promise and these
are lawful considerations.
(d) A promises to maintain B’s child, and B promises to pay A 1,000 rupees yearly for the purpose. Here, the promise of
each party is the consideration for the promise of the other party. They are lawful considerations.
(e) A, B and C enter into an agreement for the division among them of gains acquired or to be acquired, by them by fraud.
The agreement is void, as its object is unlawful.
(f) A promises to obtain for B an employment in the public service and B promises to pay 1,000 rupees to A. The agreement
is void, as the consideration for it is unlawful.
(g) A, being agent for a landed proprietor, agrees for money, without the knowledge of his principal, to obtain for B a lease
of land belonging to his principal. The agreement between A and B is void, as it implies a fraud by concealment, by A, on his
principal.
(h) A promises B to drop a prosecution which he has instituted against B for robbery, and B promises to restore the value of
the things taken. The agreement is void, as its object is unlawful.
(i) A’s estate is sold for arrears of revenue under the provisions of an Act of the Legislature, by which the defaulter is
prohibited from purchasing the estate. B, upon an understanding with A, becomes the purchaser, and agrees to convey the estate
to A upon receiving from him the price which B has paid. The agreement is void, as it renders the transaction, in effect, a
purchase by the defaulter, and would so defeat the object of the law.
(j) A, who is B’s mukhtar, promises to exercise his influence, as such, with B in favour of C, and C promises to pay 1,000
rupees to A. The agreement is void, because it is immoral.
(k) A agrees to let her daughter to hire to B for concubinage. The agreement is void, because it is immoral, though the letting
may not be punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
Void agreements
24.Agreements void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part.—If any part of a single
consideration for one or more objects, or any one or any part of any one of several considerations for a
single object, is unlawful, the agreement is void.
Illustration
A promises to superintend, on behalf of B, a legal manufacture of indigo, and an illegal traffic in other articles. B promises
to pay to A a salary of 10,000 rupees a year. The agreement is void, the object of A’s promise, and the consideration for B’s
promise, being in part unlawful.
25. Agreement without consideration, void, unless it is in writing and registered,or is a promise
to compensate for something done or is a promise to pay a debt barred by limitation law.—An
agreement made without consideration is void, unless—
(1) it is expressed in writing and registered under the law for the time being in force for the
registration of 1[documents], and is made on account of natural love and affection between parties
standing in a near relation to each other ; or unless
(2) it is a promise to compensate, wholly or in part, a person who has already voluntarily done
something for the promisor, or something which the promisor was legally compellable to do; or
unless;
1. Subs. by Act 12 of 1891, s. 2 and the Second Schedule, Pt. I, for “assurances”.
18
(3) it is a promise, made in writing and signed by the person to be charged therewith, or by his
agent generally or specially authorized in that behalf, to pay wholly or in part a debt of which the
creditor might have enforced payment but for the law for the limitation of suits.
In any of these cases, such an agreement is a contract.
Explanation 1.—Nothing in this section shall affect the validity, as between the donor and donee, of
any gift actually made.
Explanation 2.—An agreement to which the consent of the promisor is freely given is not void
merely because the consideration is inadequate; but the inadequacy of the consideration may be taken into
account by the Court in determining the question whether the consent of the promisor was freely given.
Illustrations
(a) A promises, for no consideration, to give to B Rs. 1,000. This is a void agreement.
(b) A, for natural love and affection, promises to give his son, B, Rs. 1,000. A puts his promise to B into writing and registers it. This is a
contract.
(c) A finds B’s purse and gives it to him. B promises to give A Rs. 50. This is a contract.
(d) A supports B’s infant son. B promises to pay A’s expenses in so doing. This is a contract.
(e) A owes B Rs. 1,000, but the debt is barred by the Limitation Act. A signs a written promise to pay B Rs. 500 on account of the debt.
This is a contract.
(f) A agrees to sell a horse worth Rs. 1,000 for Rs. 10. A’s consent to the agreement was freely given. The agreement is a contract
notwithstanding the inadequacy of the consideration.
(g) A agrees to sell a horse worth Rs. 1,000 for Rs. 10. A denies that his consent to the agreement was freely given.
The inadequacy of the consideration is a fact which the Court should take into account in considering whether or not A’s consent was freely
given.
26. Agreement in restraint of marriage, void.—Every agreement in restraint of the marriage of any
person, other than a minor, is void.
27. Agreement in restraint of trade, void.—Every agreement by which any one is restrained from
exercising a lawful profession, trade or business of any kind, is to that extent void.
Exception 1.—Saving of agreement not to carry on business of which good-will is sold.—One
who sells the good-will of a business may agree with the buyer to refrain from carrying on a similar
business, within specified local limits, so long as the buyer, or any person deriving title to the good-will
from him, carries on a like business therein, provided that such limits appear to the Court reasonable,
regard being had to the nature of the business.
1* * * * *.
28.Agreements in restraint of legal proceedings, void.—
2[Every agreement,—
(a) by which any party thereto is restricted absolutely from enforcing his rights under or in
respect of any contract, by the usual legal proceedings in the ordinary tribunals, or which limits the
time within which he may thus enforce his rights; or
(b) which extinguishes the rights of any party thereto, or discharges any party thereto, from any
liability, under or in respect of any contract on the expiry of a specified period so as to restrict any
party from enforcing his rights,
is void to the extent.]
Exception 1.—Saving of contract to refer to arbitration dispute that may arise.—This section
shall not render illegal a contract, by which two or more persons agree that any dispute which may arise
between them in respect of any subject or class of subjects shall be referred to arbitration, and that only
the amount awarded in such arbitration shall be recoverable in respect of the dispute so referred.
3*****
Exception 2.—Saving of contract to refer questions that have already arisen.—Nor shall this
section render illegal any contract in writing, by which two or more persons agree to refer to arbitration
any question between them which has already arisen, or affect any provision of any law in force for the
time being as to references to arbitration

1[Exception 3.—Saving of a guarantee agreement of a bank or a financial institution.—This
section shall not render illegal a contract in writing by which any bank or financial institution stipulate a
term in a guarantee or any agreement making a provision for guarantee for extinguishment of the rights or
discharge of any party thereto from any liability under or in respect of such guarantee or agreement on the
expiry of a specified period which is not less than one year from the date of occurring or non-occurring of
a specified event for extinguishment or discharge of such party from the said liability.
Explanation.—(i) In Exception 3, the expression “bank” means—
(a) a “banking company” as defined in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949(10 of 1949);
(b) “a corresponding new bank” as defined in clause (da) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949(10 of 1949);
(c) “State Bank of India” constituted under section 3 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955
(23 of 1955);
(d) “a subsidiary bank” as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary
Banks) Act, 1959(38 of 1959);
(e) “a Regional Rural Bank” established under section 3 of the Regional Rural Banks
Act, 1976(21 of 1976);
(f) “a Co-operative Bank” as defined in clause (cci) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949(10 of 1949);
(g) “a multi-State co-operative bank” as defined in clause (cciiia) of section 5 of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949(10 of 1949); and
(ii) In Exception 3, the expression “a financial institution” means any public financial institution
within the meaning of section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956).]
29. Agreements void for uncertainty.—Agreements, the meaning of which is not certain, or capable
of being made certain, are void.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to sell to B “a hundred tons of oil”. There is nothing whatever to show what kind of oil was intended. The
agreement is void for uncertainty.
(b) A agrees to sell to B one hundred tons of oil of a specified description, known as an article of commerce. There is no
uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(c) A, who is a dealer in cocoanut-oil only, agrees to sell to B “one hundred tons of oil”. The nature of A’s trade affords an
indication of the meaning of the words, and A has entered into a contract for the sale of one hundred tons of cocoanut-oil.
(d) A agrees to sell to B “all the grain in my granary at Ramnagar”. There is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(e) A agrees to sell B “one thousand maunds of rice at a price to be fixed by C”. As the price is capable of being made
certain, there is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(f) A agrees to sell to B “my white horse for rupees five hundred or rupees one thousand”
. There is nothing to show which of
the two prices was to be given. The agreement is void.
30. Agreements by way of wager void.—Agreements by way of wager are void; and no suit shall be
brought for recovering anything alleged to be won on any wager, or entrusted to any person to abide the
result of any game or other uncertain event on which any wager is made.
1. Ins. by Act 4 of 2013, s. 17 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 18-1-2013).
20
Exception in favour of certain prizes for horse-racing.—This section shall not be deemed to
render unlawful a subscription or contribution, or agreement to subscribe or contribute, made or entered
into for or toward any plate, prize or sum of money, of the value or amount of five hundred rupees or
upwards, to be awarded to the winner or winners of any horse-race.
Section 294A of the Indian Penal Code not affected.—Nothing in this section shall be deemed to
legalize any transaction connected with horse-racing, to which the provisions of section 294A of the
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) apply.
CHAPTER III
OF CONTINGENT CONTRACTS
31. “Contingent contract” defined.—A “contingent contract is a contract to do or not to do
something, if some event, collateral to such contract, does or does not happen.
Illustration
A contracts to pay B Rs. 10,000 if B’s house is burnt. This is a contingent contract.
32. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening.—Contingent contracts to do or
not to do anything if an uncertain future event happens cannot be enforced by law unless and until that
event has happened.
If the event becomes impossible, such contracts become void.
Illustrations
(a) A makes a contract with B to buy B’s horse if A survives C. This contract cannot be enforced by law unless and until C
dies in A’s lifetime.
(b) A makes a contract with B to sell a horse to B at a specified price, if C, to whom the horse has been offered, refuses to
buy him. The contract cannot be enforced by law unless and until C refuses to buy the horse.
(c) A contracts to pay B a sum of money when B marries C. C dies without being married to B. The contract becomes void.
33. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening.—Contingent contracts to do
or not to do anything if an uncertain future event does not happen can be enforced when the happening of
that event becomes impossible, and not before.
Illustration
A agrees to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship does not return. The ship is sunk. The contract can be enforced when the
ship sinks.
34.When event on which contract is contingent to be deemed impossible, if it is the future
conduct of a living person.—If the future event on which a contract is contingent is the way in which a
person will act at an unspecified time, the event shall be considered to become impossible when such
person does anything which renders it impossible that he should so act within any definite time, or
otherwise than under further contingencies.
Illustration
A agrees to pay B a sum of money if B marries C. C marries D. The marriage of B to C must now be considered impossible,
although it is possible that D may die and that C may afterwards marry B.
35.When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within
fixed time.—Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if a specified uncertain event happens
within a fixed time become void if, at the expiration of the time fixed, such event has not happened, or if,
before the time fixed, such event becomes impossible.
21
When contracts may be enforced, which are contingent on specified event not happening within
fixed time.—Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything, if a specified uncertain event does not
happen within a fixed time may be enforced by law when the time fixed has expired and such event has
not happened or, before the time fixed has expired, if it becomes certain that such event will not happen.
Illustrations
(a) A promises to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship returns within a year. The contract may be enforced if the ship
returns within the year, and becomes void if the ship is burnt within the year.
(b) A promises to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship does not return within a year. The contract may be enforced if the
ship does not return within the year, or is burnt within the year.
36. Agreement contingent on impossible events void.—Contingent agreements to do or not to do
anything, if an impossible event happens, are void, whether the impossibility of the event is known or not
to the parties to the agreement at the time when it is made.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to pay B 1,000 rupees if two straight lines should enclose a space. The agreement is void.
(b) A agrees to pay B 1,000 rupees if B will marry A’s daughter C. C was dead at the time of the agreement. The agreement
is void.
CHAPTER IV
OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS
Contracts which must be performed
37. Obligation of parties to contracts.—The parties to a contract must either perform, or offer to
perform, their respective promises, unless such performance is dispensed with or excused under the
provisions of this Act, or of any other law.
Promises bind the representatives of the promisors in case of the death of such promisors before
performance, unless a contrary intention appears from the contract.
Illustrations
(a) A promises to deliver goods to B on a certain day on payment of Rs. 1,000. A dies before that day. A’s representatives
are bound to deliver the goods to B, and B is bound to pay the Rs. 1,000 to A’s representatives.
(b) A promises to paint a picture for B by a certain day, at a certain price. A dies before the day. The contract cannot be
enforced either by A’s representatives or by B.
38. Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance.—Where a promisor has made an offer of
performance to the promisee, and the offer has not been accepted, the promisor is not responsible for
non-performance, nor does he thereby lose his rights under the contract.
Every such offer must fulfil the following conditions:—
(1) it must be unconditional;
(2) it must be made at a proper time and place, and under such circumstances that the person to
whom it is made may have a reasonable opportunity of ascertaining that the person by whom it is made is
able and willing there and then to do the whole of what he is bound by his promise to do;
(3) if the offer is an offer to deliver anything to the promisee, the promisee must have a
reasonable opportunity of seeing that the thing offered is the thing which the promisor is bound by his
promise to deliver.
An offer to one of several joint promisees has the same legal consequences as an offer to all of them.
22
Illustration
A contracts to deliver to B at his warehouse, on the 1st March, 1873, 100 bales of cotton of a particular quality. In order to
make an offer of a performance with the effect stated in this section, A must bring the cotton to B’s warehouse, on the appointed
day, under such circumstances that B may have areasonable opportunity of satisfying himself that the thing offered is cotton of
the quality contracted for, and that there are 100 bales.
39. Effect of refusal of party to perform promise wholly.—When a party to a contract has refused
to perform, or disabled himself from performing, his promise in its entirety, the promisee may put an end
to the contract, unless he has signified, by words or conduct, his acquiescence in its continuance.
Illustrations
(a) A, a singer, enters into a contract with B, the manager of a theatre, to sing at his theatre two nights in every week during
the next two months, and B engages to pay her 100 rupees for each night’s performance. On the sixth night A wilfully absents
herself from the theatre. B is at liberty to put an end to the contract.
(b) A, a singer, enters into a contract with B, the manager of a theatre, to sing at his theatre two night’s in every week during
the next two months, and B engages to pay her at the rate of 100 rupees for each night. On the sixth night, A wilfully absents
herself. With the assent of B, A sings on the seventh night. B has signified his acquiescence in the continuance of the contract,
and cannot now put an end to it, but is entitled to compensation for the damage sustained by him through A’s failure to sing on
the sixth night.
By whom contracts must be performed
40.Person by whom promise is to be performed.—If it appears from the nature of the case that it
was the intention of the parties to any contract that any promise contained in it should be performed by
the promisor himself, such promise must be performed by the promisor. In other cases, the promisor or
his representatives may employ a competent person to perform it.
Illustrations
(a) A promises to pay B a sum of money. A may perform this promise, either by personally paying the money to B or by
causing it to be paid to B by another ; and, if A dies before the time appointed for payment, his representatives must perform the
promise, or employ some proper person to do so.
(b) A promises to paint a picture for B. A must perform this promise personally.
41. Effect of accepting performance from third person.—When a promisee accepts performance
of the promise from a third person, he cannot afterwards enforce it against the promisor.
42. Devolution of joint liabilities.—When two or more persons have made a joint promise, then,
unless a contrary intention appears by the contract, all such persons, during their joint lives, and, after the
death of any of them, his representative jointly with the survivor or survivors, and, after the death of the
last survivor, the representatives of all jointly, must fulfil the promise.
43.Any one of joint promisors may be compelled to perform.—When two or more persons make a
joint promise, the promisee may, in the absence of express agreement to the contrary, compel any 1[one or
more] of such joint promisors to perform the whole of the promise.
Each promisor may compel contribution.—Each of two or more joint promisors may compel every
other joint promisor to contribute equally with himself to the performance of the promise, unless a
contrary intention appears from the contract.
Sharing of loss by default in contribution.—If any one of two or more joint promisors makes
default in such contribution, the remaining joint promisors must bear the loss arising from such default in equal shares.

Explanation.—Nothing in this section shall prevent a surety from recovering from his principal,
payments made by the surety on behalf of the principal, or entitle the principal to recover anything from
the surety on account of payments made by the principal.
Illustrations
(a) A, B and C jointly promise to pay D 3,000 rupees. D may compel either A or B or C to pay him 3,000 rupees.
(b) A, B and C jointly promise to pay D the sum of 3,000 rupees. C is compelled to pay the whole. A is insolvent, but his
assets are sufficient to pay one-half of his debts. C is entitled to receive 500 rupees from A’s estate, and 1,250 rupees from B.
(c) A, B and C are under a joint promise to pay D 3,000 rupees. C is unable to pay anything, and A is compelled to pay the
whole. A is entitled to receive 1,500 rupees from B.
(d) A, B and C are under a joint promise to pay D 3,000 rupees, A and B being only sureties for C. C fails to pay. A and B
are compelled to pay the whole sum. They are entitled to recover it from C.
44.Effect of release of one joint promisor.—Where two or more persons have made a joint promise,
a release of one of such joint promisors by the promisee does not discharge the other joint promisor or
joint promisors; neither does it free the joint promisors so released from responsibility to the other joint
promisor or joint promisors.1
45. Devolution of joint rights.—When a person has made a promise to two or more persons jointly,
then, unless a contrary intention appears from the contract, the right to claim performance rests, as
between him and them, with them during their joint lives, and, after the death of any of them, with the
representative of such deceased person jointly with the survivor or survivors, and, after the death of the
last survivor, with the representatives of all jointly.2
Illustration
A, in consideration of 5,000 rupees, lent to him by B and C, promises B and C jointly to repay them that sum with interest
on a day specified. B dies. The right to claim performance rests with B’s representative jointly with C during C’s life, and after
the death of C with the representatives of B and C jointly.
Time and place for performance
46. Time for performance of promise, when no application is to be made and no time is
specified.—Where, by the contract, a promisor is to perform his promise without application by the
promisee, and no time for performance is specified, the engagement must be performed within a
reasonable time.
Explanation.—The question “what is a reasonable time” is, in each particular case, a question of fact.
47.Time and place for performance of promise, where time is specified and no application to be
made.—When a promise is to be performed on a certain day, and the promisor has undertaken to perform
it without application by the promisee, the promisor may perform it at any time during the usual hours of
business on such day and at the place at which the promise ought to be performed.
Illustration
A promises to deliver goods at B’s warehouse on the first January. On that day A brings the goods to B’s warehouse, but
after the usual hour for closing it, and they are not received. A has not performed his promise.
48. Application for performance on certain day to be at proper time and place.—When a
promise is to be performed on a certain day, and the promisor has not undertaken to perform it without
application by the promisee, it is the duty of the promisee to apply for performance at a proper place and
within the usual hours of business.
1. See s. 138, infra.
2. For an Exception to s. 45 in case of Government securities, see the Public Debt Act, 1944 (18 of 1944), s. 8.
24
Explanation.—The question “what is a proper time and place” is, in each particular case, a question
of fact.
49. Place for performance of promise, where no application to be made and no place fixed for
performance.—When a promise is to be performed without application by the promisee, and no place is
fixed for the performance of it, it is the duty of the promisor to apply to the promisee to appoint a
reasonable place for the performance of the promise, and to perform it at such place.
Illustration
A undertakes to deliver a thousand maunds of jute to B on a fixed day. A must apply to B to appoint a reasonable place for
the purpose of receiving it, and must deliver it to him at such place.
50. Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promisee.—The performance
of any promise may be made in any manner, or at any time which the promisee prescribes or sanctions.
Illustrations
(a) B owes A 2,000 rupees. A desires B to pay the amount to A’s account with C, a banker. B, who also banks with C,
orders the amount to be transferred from his account to A’s credit, and this is done by C. Afterwards, and before A knows of the
transfer, C fails. There has been a good payment by B.
(b) A and B are mutually indebted. A and B settle an account by setting off one item against another, and B pays A the
balance found to be due from him upon such settlement. This amounts to a payment by A and B, respectively, of the sums which
they owed to each other.
(c) A owes B 2,000 rupees. B accepts some of A’s goods in reduction of the debt. The delivery of goods operates as a part
payment.
(d) A desires B, who owes him Rs. 100, to send him a note for Rs. 100 by post. The debt is discharged as soon as B puts into
the post a letter containing the note duly addressed to A.
Performance of reciprocal promises
51.Promisor not bound to perform, unless reciprocal promisee ready and willing to
perform.—When a contract consists of reciprocal promises to be simultaneously performed, no promisor
need perform his promise unless the promisee is ready and willing to perform his reciprocal promise.
Illustrations
(a) A and B contract that A shall deliver goods to B to be paid for by B on delivery.
A need not deliver the goods, unless B is ready and willing to pay for the goods on delivery.
B need not pay for the goods, unless A is ready and willing to deliver them on payment.
(b) A and B contract that A shall deliver goods to B at a price to be paid by instalments, the first instalment to be paid on
delivery.
A need not deliver, unless B is ready and willing to pay the first instalment on delivery.
B need not pay the first instalment, unless A is ready and willing to deliver the goods on payment of the first instalment.
52.Order of performance of reciprocal promises.—Where the order in which reciprocal promises
are to be performed is expressly fixed by the contract, they shall be performed in that order; and where the
order is not expressly fixed by the contract, they shall be performed in that order which the nature of the
transaction requires.
Illustrations
(a) A and B contract that A shall build a house for B at a fixed price. A’s promise to build the house must be performed
before B’s promise to pay for it.
(b) A and B contract that A shall make over his stock-in-trade to B at a fixed price, and B promises to give security for the
payment of the money. A’s promise need not be performed until the security is given, for the nature of the transaction requires
that A should have security before he delivers up his stock.
25
53. Liability of party preventing event on which the contract is to take effect.—When a contract
contains reciprocal promises, and one party to the contract prevents the other from performing his
promise, the contract becomes voidable at the option of the party so prevented; and he is entitled to
compensation 1from the other party for any loss which he may sustain in consequence of the non-
performance of the contract.
Illustration
A and B contract that B shall execute certain work for A for a thousand rupees. B is ready and willing to execute the work
accordingly, but A prevents him from doing so. The contract is voidable at the option of B; and, if he elects to rescind it, he is
entitled to recover from A compensation for any loss which he has incurred by its non-performance.
54. Effect of default as to that promise which should be first performed, in contract consisting
of reciprocal promises.—When a contract consists of reciprocal promises, such that one of them cannot
be performed, or that its performance cannot be claimed till the other has been performed, and the
promisor of the promise last mentioned fails to perform it, such promisor cannot claim the performance of
the reciprocal promise, and must make compensation to the other party to the contract for any loss which
such other party may sustain by the non-performance of the contract.
Illustrations
(a) A hires B’s ship to take in and convey, from Calcutta to the Mauritius, a cargo to be provided by A, B receiving a certain
freight for its conveyance. A does not provide any cargo for the ship. A cannot claim the performance of B’s promise, and must
make compensation to B for the loss which B sustains by the non-performance of the contract.
(b) A contracts with B to execute certain builder’s work for a fixed price, B supplying the scaffolding and timber necessary
for the work. B refuses to furnish any scaffolding or timber, and the work cannot be executed. A need not execute the work, and
B is bound to make compensation to A for any loss caused to him by the non-performance of the contract.
(c) A contracts with B to deliver to him, at a specified price, certain merchandise on board a ship which cannot arrive for a
month, and B engages to pay for the merchandise within a week from the date of the contract. B does not pay within the week.
A’s promise to deliver need not be performed, and B must make compensation.
(d) A promises B to sell him one hundred bales of merchandise, to be delivered next day, and B promises A to pay for them
within a month. A does not deliver according to his promise. B’s promise to pay need not be performed, and A must make
compensation.
55. Effect of failure to perform at fixed time, in contract in which time is essential.—When a
party to a contract promises to do a certain thing at or before a specified time, or certain things at or
before specified times, and fails to do any such thing at or before the specified time, the contract, or so
much of it as has not been performed, becomes voidable at the option of the promisee, if the intention of
the parties was that time should be of the essence of the contract.
Effect of such failure when time is not essential.—If it was not the intention of the parties that time
should be of the essence of the contract, the contract does not become voidable by the failure to do such
thing at or before the specified time; but the promisee is entitled to compensation from the promisor for
any loss occasioned to him by such failure.
Effect of acceptance of performance at time other than that agreed upon.—If, in case of a
contract voidable on account of the promisor’s failure to perform his promise at the time agreed, the
promisee accepts performance of such promise at any time other than that agreed, the promisee cannot
claim compensation for any loss occasioned by the non-performance of the promise at the time agreed,
unless, at the time of such acceptance, he gives notice to the promisor of his intention to do so.2
STATE AMENDMENT
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 55.—In section 55 of the Principal Act, in the third paragraph, for the words
“unless at the time of such acceptance he gives notice to the promiser of his intention to do so”, the words
“where at the time of such acceptance he has waived his right to do so” shall be substituted.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh 57 of 1976, s. 26]
1. See s. 73, infra.
2. C.f. ss. 62 and 63, infra.
26
56. Agreement to do impossible act.—An agreement to do an act impossible in itself is void.
Contract to do an act afterwards becoming impossible or unlawful.—A contract to do an act
which, after the contract is made, becomes impossible, or, by reason of some event which the promisor
could not prevent, unlawful, becomes void when the act becomes impossible or unlawful.1
Compensation for loss through non-performance of act known to be impossible or unlawful.—
Where one person has promised to do something which he knew, or, with reasonable diligence, might
have known, and which the promisee did not know, to be impossible or unlawful, such promisor must
make compensation to such promisee for any loss which such promisee sustains through the non-
performance of the promise.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees with B to discover treasure by magic. The agreement is void.
(b) A and B contract to marry each other. Before the time fixed for the marriage, A goes mad. The contract becomes void.
(c) A contracts to marry B, being already married to C, and being forbidden by the law to which he is subject to practise
polygamy, A must make compensation to B for the loss caused to her by the non-performance of his promise.
(d) A contracts to take in cargo for B at a foreign port. A’s Government afterwards declares war against the country in which
the port is situated. The contract becomes void when war is declared.
(e) A contracts to act at a theatre for six months in consideration of a sum paid in advance by B. On several occasions A is
too ill to act. The contract to act on those occasions becomes void.
57.Reciprocal promise to do things legal, and also other things illegal.—Where persons
reciprocally promise, firstly, to do certain things which are legal, and, secondly, under specified
circumstances, to do certain other things which are illegal, the first set of promises is a contract, but the
second is a void agreement.
Illustration
A and B agree that A shall sell B a house for 10,000 rupees, but that, if B uses it as a gambling house, he shall pay A 50,000
rupees for it.
The first set of reciprocal promises, namely, to sell the house and to pay 10,000 rupees for it, is a contract.
The second set is for an unlawful object, namely, that B may use the house as a gambling house, and is a void agreement.
58. Alternative promise, one branch being illegal.—In the case of an alternative promise, one
branch of which is legal and the other illegal, the legal branch alone can be enforced.
Illustration
A and B agree that A shall pay B 1,000 rupees, for which B shall afterwards deliver to A either rice or smuggled opium.
This is a valid contract to deliver rice, and a void agreement as to the opium.
Appropriation of payments
59.Application of payment where debt to be discharged is indicated.—Where a debtor, owing
several distinct debts to one person, makes a payment to him, either with express intimation, or under
circumstances implying, that the payment is to be applied to the discharge of some particular debt, the
payment, if accepted, must be applied accordingly.
1. See s. 65, infra.
27
Illustrations
(a) A owes B, among other debts, 1,000 rupees upon a promissory note which falls due on the first June. He owes B no other debt of that
amount. On the first June, A pays to B 1,000 rupees. The payment is to be applied to the discharge of the promissory note.
(b) A owes to B, among other debts, the sum of 567 rupees. B writes to A and demands payment of this sum. A sends to B 567 rupees. This
payment is to be applied to the discharge of the debt of which B had demanded payment.
60. Application of payment where debt to be discharged is not indicated.—Where the debtor has
omitted to intimate and there are no other circumstances indicating to which debt the payment is to be
applied, the creditor may apply it at his discretion to any lawful debt actually due and payable to him from
the debtor, whether its recovery is or is not barred by the law in force for the time being as to the
limitation of suits.
61. Application of payment where neither party appropriates.—Where neither party makes any
appropriation, the payment shall be applied in discharge of the debts in order of time, whether they are or
are not barred by the law in force for the time being as to the limitation of suits. If the debts are of equal
standing, the payment shall be applied in discharge of each proportionably.
Contracts which need not be performed
62. Effect of novation, rescission, and alteration of contract.—If the parties to a contract agree to
substitute a new contract for it, or to rescind or alter it, the original contract, need not be performed.
Illustrations
(a) A owes money to B under a contract. It is agreed between A, B and C that B shall thenceforth accept C as his debtor, instead of A. The
old debt of A to B is at an end, and a new debt from C to B has been contracted.
(b) A owes B 10,000 rupees. A enters into an arrangement with B and gives B a mortgage of his (A’s) estate for 5,000 rupees in place of the
debt of 10,000 rupees. This is a new contract and extinguishes the old.
(c) A owes B 1,000 rupees under a contract. B owes C 1,000 rupees B orders A to credit C with 1,000 rupees in his books, but C does not
assent to the arrangement. B still owes C 1,000 rupees, and no new contract has been entered into.
63. Promisee may dispense with or remit performance of promisee.—Every promisee may
dispense with or remit, wholly or in part, the performance of the promisee made to him, or may extend the
time for such performance1,or may accept instead of it any satisfaction which he thinks fit.
Illustrations
(a) A promises to paint a picture for B. B afterwards forbids him to do so. A is no longer bound to perform the promise.
(b) A owes B 5,000 rupees. A pays to B, and B accepts, in satisfaction of the whole debt, 2,000 rupees paid at the time and place at which
the 5,000 rupees were payable. The whole debt is discharged.
(c) A owes B 5,000 rupees. C pays to B 1,000 rupees, and B accepts them, in satisfaction of his claim on A. This payment is a discharge of
the whole claim2
.
(d) A owes B, under. a contract, a sum of money, the amount of which has not been ascertained. A, without ascertaining the amount, gives
to B, and B, in satisfaction thereof, accepts, the sum of 2,000 rupees. This is a discharge of the whole debt, whatever may be its amount.
(e) A owes B 2,000 rupees, and is also indebted to other creditors. A makes an arrangement with his creditors, including B, to pay them a
3[composition] of eight annas in the rupee upon their respective demands. Payment to B of 1,000 rupees is a discharge of B’s demand.
64. Consequences of rescission of voidable contract.—When a person at whose option a contract is
voidable rescinds it, the other party thereto need not perform any promise therein contained in which he is
promisor. The party rescinding a voidable contract shall, if he have received any benefit thereunder from
another party to such contract, restore such benefit, so far as may be, to the person from whom it was received.

65. Obligation of person who has received advantage under void agreement, or contract that
becomes void.—When an agreement is discovered to be void, or when a contract becomes void, any
person who has received any advantage under such agreement or contract is bound to restore it, or to
make compensation for it to the person from whom he received it.
Illustrations
(a) A pays B 1,000 rupees in consideration of B’s promising to marry C, A’s daughter. C is dead at the time of the promise.
The agreement is void, but B must repay A the 1,000 rupees.
(b) A contracts with B to deliver to him 250 maunds of rice before the first of May. A delivers 130 maunds only before that
day, and none after. B retains the 130 maunds after the first of May. He is bound to pay A for them.
(c) A, a singer, contracts with B, the manager of a theatre, to sing at his theatre for two nights in every week during the next
two months, and B engages to pay her a hundred rupees for each night’s performance. On the sixth night, A wilfully absents
herself from the theatre, and B, in consequence, rescinds the contract. B must pay A for the five nights on which she had sung.
(d) A contracts to sing for B at a concert for 1,000 rupees, which are paid in advance. A is too ill to sing. A is not bound to
make compensation to B for the loss of the profits which B would have made if A had been able to sing, but must refund to B the
1,000 rupees paid in advance.
66. Mode of communicating or revoking rescission of voidable contract.—The rescission of a
voidable contract may be communicated or revoked in the same manner, and subject to the same rules, as
apply to the communication or revocation of a proposal1
.
67. Effect of neglect of promisee to afford promisor reasonable facilities for performance.—If
any promisee neglects or refuses to afford the promisor reasonable facilities for the performance of his
promise, the promisor is excused by such neglect or refusal as to any non-performance caused thereby.
Illustration
A contracts with B to repair B’s house.
B neglects or refuses to point out to A the places in which his house requires repair.
A is excused for the non-performance of the contract if it is caused by such neglector refusal.
CHAPTER V
OF CERTAIN RELATIONS RESEMBLING THOSE CREATED BY CONTRACT
68. Claim for necessaries supplied to person incapable of contracting, or on his account.—If a
person, incapable of entering into a contract, or any one whom he is legally bound to support, is supplied
by another person with necessaries suited to his condition in life, the person who has furnished such
supplies is entitled to be reimbursed from the property of such incapable person.2
Illustrations
(a) A supplies B, a lunatic, with necessaries suitable to his condition in life. A is entitled to be reimbursed from B’s
property.
(b) A supplies the wife and children of B, a lunatic, with necessaries suitable to their condition in life. A is entitled to be
reimbursed from B’s property.
69.Reimbursement of person paying money due by another, in payment of which he is
interested.—A person who is interested in the payment of money which another is bound by law to pay,
and who therefore pays it, is entitled to be reimbursed by the other.
1. See ss. 3 and 5, supra.
2. The property of a Government ward in Madhya Pradesh is not liable under this section, see the C.P. Court of Wards Act, 1899
(24 of 1899), s. 31(1).
29
Illustration
B holds land in Bengal, on a lease granted by A, the zamindar. The revenue payable by A to the Government being in arrear,
his land is advertised for sale by the Government. Under the revenue law, the consequence of such sale will be the annulment of
B’s lease. B, to prevent the sale and the consequent annulment of his own lease, pays to the Government the sum due from A. A
is bound to make good to B the amount so paid.
70.Obligation of person enjoying benefit of non-gratuitous act.—Where a person lawfully does
anything for another person, or delivers anything to him, not intending to do so gratuitously, and such
other person enjoys the benefit thereof, the latter is bound to make compensation to the former in respect
of, or to restore, the thing so done or delivered1
.
Illustrations
(a) A, a tradesman, leaves goods at B’s house by mistake. B treats the goods as his own. He is bound to pay A for them.
(b) A saves B’s property from fire. A is not entitled to compensation from B, if the circumstances show that he intended to
act gratuitously.
71.Responsibility of finder of goods.—A person who finds goods belonging to another, and takes
them into his custody, is subject to the same responsibility as a bailee2
.
72. Liability of person to whom money is paid, or thing delivered, by mistake or under
coercion.—A person to whom money has been paid, or anything delivered, by mistake or under coercion,
must repay or return it.
Illustrations
(a)A and B jointly owe 100 rupees to C, A alone pays the amount to C, and B, not knowing this fact, pays 100 rupees over
again to C. C is bound to repay the amount to B.
(b)A railway company refuses to deliver up certain goods to the consignee, except upon the payment of an illegal charge for
carriage. The consignee pays the sum charged in order to obtain the goods. He is entitled to recover so much of the charge as was
illegally excessive.
CHAPTER VI
OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF BREACH OF CONTRACT
73.Compensation for loss or damage caused by breach of contract.—When a contract has been
broken, the party who suffers by such breach is entitled to receive, from the party who has broken the
contract, compensation for any loss or damage caused to him thereby, which naturally arose in the usual
course of things from such breach, or which the parties knew, when they made the contract, to be likely to
result from the breach of it.
Such compensation is not to be given for any remote and indirect loss or damage sustained by reason
of the breach.
Compensation for failure to discharge obligation resembling those created by contract.—When
an obligation resembling those created by contract has been incurred and has not been discharged, any
person injured by the failure to discharge it is entitled to receive the same compensation from the party in
default, as if such person had contracted to discharge it and had broken his contract.
Explanation.—In estimating the loss or damage arising from a breach of contract, the means which
existed of remedying the inconvenience caused by the non-performance of the contract must be taken into
account.
74. Compensation for breach of contract where penalty stipulated for.—
1[When a contract has
been broken, if a sum is named in the contract as the amount to be paid in case of such breach, or if the
contract contains any other stipulation by way of penalty, the party complaining of the breach is entitled,
whether or not actual damage or loss is proved to have been caused thereby, to receive from the party who
has broken the contract reasonable compensation not exceeding the amount so named or, as the case may
be, the penalty stipulated for.
Explanation.—A stipulation for increased interest from the date of default may be a stipulation by
way of penalty.]
Exception.—When any person enters into any bail-bond, recognizance or other instrument of the
same nature, or, under the provisions of any law, or under the orders of the 2[Central Government] or of
any 3[State Government], gives any bond for the performance of any public duty or act in which the
public are interested, he shall be liable, upon breach of the condition of any such instrument, to pay the
whole sum mentioned therein.
Explanation.—A person who enters into a contract with Government does not necessarily thereby
undertake any public duty, or promise to do an act in which the public are interested.

75.Party rightfully rescinding contract, entitled to compensation.—A person who rightfully
rescinds a contract is entitled to compensation for any damage which he has sustained through the
non-fulfilment of the contract.

CHAPTER VIII
OF INDEMNITY AND GUARANTEE
124.“Contract of indemnity” defined.—A contract by which one party promises to save the other
from loss caused to him by the conduct of the promisor himself, or by the conduct of any other person, is
called a “contract of indemnity”
.
Illustration
A contracts to indemnify B against the consequences of any proceedings which C may take against B in respect of a certain
sum of 200 rupees. This is a contract of indemnity.
125.Rights of indemnity-holder when sued.—The promisee in a contract of indemnity, acting
within the scope of his authority, is entitled to recover from the promisor—
(1) all damages which he may be compelled to pay in any suit in respect of any matter to which
the promise to indemnify applies;
(2) all costs which he may be compelled to pay in any such suit if, in bringing or defending it, he
did not contravene the orders of the promisor, and acted as it would have been prudent for him to act
in the absence of any contract of indemnity, or if the promisor authorized him to bring or defend the
suit;
(3) all sums which he may have paid under the terms of any compromise of any such suit, if the
compromise was not contrary to the orders of the promisor, and was one which it would have been
prudent for the promisee to make in the absence of any contract of indemnity, or if the promisor
authorized him to compromise the suit.
126. “Contract of guarantee”
,
“surety”
,
“principal debtor” and “creditor”
.—A “contract of
guarantee” is a contract to perform the promise, or discharge the liability, of a third person in case of his
default. The person who gives the guarantee is called the “surety”; the person in respect of whose default
the guarantee is given is called the “principal debtor”, and the person to whom the guarantee is given is
called the “creditor”. A guarantee may be either oral or written.
127. Consideration for guarantee.—Anything done, or any promise made, for the benefit of the
principal debtor, may be a sufficient consideration to the surety for giving the guarantee.

128. Surety’s liability.—The liability of the surety is co- extensive with that of the principal debtor,
unless it is otherwise provided by the contract.
Illustration
A guarantees to B the payment of a bill of exchange by C, the acceptor. The bill is dishonoured by C. A is liable, not only
for the amount of the bill, but also for any interest and charges which may have become due on it.
129. “Continuing guarantee”
.—A guarantee which extends to a series of transactions, is called a
“continuing guarantee”
.
Illustrations
(a) A, in consideration that B will employ C in collecting the rent of B’s zamindari, promises B to be responsible, to the
amount of 5,000 rupees, for the due collection and payment by C of those rents. This is a continuing guarantee.
(b) A guarantees payment to B, a tea-dealer, to the amount of £100, for any tea he may from time to time supply to C. B
supplies C with tea to above the value of £100, and C pays B for it. Afterwards, B supplies C with tea to the value of £200. C
fails to pay. The guarantee given by A was a continuing guarantee, and he is accordingly liable to B to the extent of £100.
(c) A guarantees payment to B of the price of five sacks of flour to be delivered by B to C and to be paid for in a month. B
delivers five sacks to C. C pays for them. Afterwards B delivers four sacks to C, which C does riot pay for. The guarantee given
by A was not a continuing guarantee, and accordingly he is not liable for the price of the four sacks.
130.Revocation of continuing guarantee.—A continuing guarantee may at any time be revoked by
the surety, as to future transactions, by notice to the creditor.
Illustrations
(a) A, in consideration of B’s discounting, at A’s request, bills of exchange for C, guarantees to B, for twelve months, the
due payment of all such bills to the extent of 5,000 rupees. B discounts bills for C to the extent of 2,000 rupees. Afterwards, at the
end of three months, A revokes the guarantee. This revocation discharges A from all liability to B for any subsequent discount.
But A is liable to B for the 2,000 rupees, on default of C.
(b) A guarantees to B, to the extent of 10,000 rupees, that C shall pay all the bills that B shall draw upon him. B draws upon
C. C accepts the bill. A gives notice of revocation. C dishonours the bill at maturity. A is liable upon his guarantee.
131.Revocation of continuing guarantee by surety’s death.—The death of the surety operates, in
the absence of any contract to the contrary, as a revocation of a continuing guarantee, so far as regards
future transactions.
132. Liability of two persons, primarily liable, not affected by arrangement between them that
one shall be surety on other’s default.—Where two persons contract with a third person to undertake a
certain liability, and also contract with each other that one of them shall be liable only on the default of
the other, the third person not being a party to such contract, the liability of each of such two persons to
the third person under the first contract is not affected by the existence of the second contract, although
such third person may have been aware of its existence.
Illustration
A and B make a joint and several promissory note to C. A makes it, in fact, as surety for B, and C knows this at the time
when the note is made. The fact that A, to the knowledge of C, made the note as surety for B, is no answer to a suit by C against
A upon the note.
133.Discharge of surety by variance in terms of contract.—Any variance, made without the
surety’s consent, in the terms of the contract between the principal 1[debtor] and the creditor, discharges
the surety as to transactions subsequent to the variance.
Illustrations
(a) A becomes surety to C for B’s conduct as a manager in C’s bank. Afterwards, B and C contract, without A’s consent,
that B’s salary shall be raised, and that he shall become liable for one-fourth of the losses on overdrafts. B allows a customer to
1. Ins. by Act 24 of 1917, s. 2 and the first Schedule.
36
overdraw, and the bank loses a sum of money. A is discharged from his suretyship by the variance made without his consent, and
is not liable to make good this loss.
(b) A guarantees C against the misconduct of B in an office to which B is appointed by C, and of which the duties are
defined by an Act of the Legislature. By a subsequent Act, the nature of the office is materially altered. Afterwards, B
misconducts himself. A is discharged by the change from future liability under his guarantee, though the misconduct of B is in
respect of a duty not affected by the later Act.
(c) C agrees to appoint B as his clerk to sell goods at a yearly salary, upon A’s becoming surety to C for B’s duly accounting
for moneys received by him as such clerk. Afterwards, without A’s knowledge or consent, C and B agree that B should be paid
by a commission on the goods sold by him and not by a fixed salary. A is not liable for subsequent misconduct of B.
(d) A gives to C a continuing guarantee to the extent of 3,000 rupees for any oil supplied by C to B on credit. Afterwards B
becomes embarrassed, and, without the knowledge of A, B and C contract that C shall continue to supply B with oil for ready
money, and that the payments shall be applied to the then, existing debts between B and C. A is not liable on his guarantee for
any goods supplied after: this new arrangement.
(e) C contracts to lend B 5,000 rupees on the 1st March. A guarantees repayment. C pays the 5,000 rupees to B on the 1st
January. A is discharged from his liability, as the contract has been varied, inasmuch as C might sue B for the money before the
1st of March.
134.Discharge of surety by release or discharge of principal debtor.—The surety is discharged by
any contract between the creditor and the principal debtor, by which the principal debtor is released, or by
any act or omission of the creditor, the legal consequence of which is the discharge of the principal
debtor.
Illustrations
(a) A gives a guarantee to C for goods to be supplied by C to B. C supplies goods to B, and afterwards B becomes
embarrassed and contracts with his creditors (including C) to assign to them his property in consideration of their releasing him
from their demands. Here B is released from his debt by the contract with C, and A is discharged from his suretyship.
(b) A contracts with B to grow a crop of indigo on A’s land and to deliver it to B at a fixed rate, and C guarantees A’s
performance of this contract. B diverts a stream of water which is necessary for the irrigation of A’s land and thereby prevents
him from raising the indigo. C is no longer liable on his guarantee.
(c) A contracts with B for a fixed price to build a house for B within a stipulated time, B supplying the necessary timber. C
guarantees A’s performance of the contract. B omits to supply the timber. C is discharged from his suretyship.
135. Discharge of surety when creditor compounds with, gives time to, or agrees not to sue,
principal debtor.—A contract between the creditor and the principal debtor, by which the creditor makes
a composition with, or promises to give time to, or not to sue, the principal debtor, discharges the surety,
unless the surety assents to such contract.
136. Surety not discharged when agreement made with third person to give time to principal
debtor.—Where a contract to give time to the principal debtor is made by the creditor with a third
person, and not with the principal debtor, the surety is not discharged.
Illustration
C, the holder of an overdue bill of exchange drawn by A as surety for B, and accepted by B, contracts with M to give time to
B. A is not discharged.
137. Creditor’s forbearance to sue does not discharge surety.—Mere forbearance on the part of
the creditor to sue the principal debtor or to enforce any other remedy against him does not, in the absence
of any provision in the guarantee to the contrary, discharge the surety.
Illustration
B owes to C a debt guaranteed by A. The debt becomes payable. C does not sue B for a year after the debt has become
payable. A is not discharged from his suretyship.
37
138.Release of one co-surety does not discharge others.—Where there are co-sureties, a release by
the creditor of one of them does not discharge the others; neither does it free the surety so released from
his responsibility to the other sureties1
.
139. Discharge of surety by creditor’s act or omission impairing surety’s eventual remedy.—If
the creditor does any act which is inconsistent with the rights of the surety, or omits to do any act which
his duty to the surety requires him to do, and the eventual remedy of the surety himself against the
principal debtor is thereby impaired, the surety is discharged.
Illustrations
(a) B contracts to build a ship for C for a given sum, to be paid by instalments as the work reaches certain stages. A becomes
surety to C for B’s due performance of the contract. C, without the knowledge of A, prepays to B the last two instalments. A is
discharged by this prepayment.
(b) C lends money to B on the security of a joint and several promissory note made in C’s favour by B, and by A as surety
for B, together with a bill of sale of B’s furniture, which gives power to C to sell the furniture, and apply the proceeds in
discharge of the note. Subsequently, C sells the furniture, but, owing to his misconduct and wilful negligence, only a small price
is realized. A is discharged from liability on the note.
(c) A puts M as apprentice to B, and gives a guarantee to B for M’s fidelity. B promises on his part that he will, at least once
a month, see M make up the cash. B omits to see this done as promised, and M embezzles. A is not liable to B on his guarantee.
140.Rights of surety on payment or performance.—Where a guaranteed debt has become due, or
default of the principal debtor to perform a guaranteed duty has taken place, the surety upon payment or
performance of all that he is liable for, is invested with all the rights which the creditor had against the
principal debtor.
141.Surety’s right to benefit of creditor’s securities.—A surety is entitled to the benefit of every
security which the creditor has against the principal debtor at the time when the contract of suretyship is
entered into, whether the surety knows of the existence of such security or not; and if the creditor loses,
or, without the consent of the surety, parts with such security, the surety is discharged to the extent of the
value of the security.
Illustrations
(a)C, advances to B, his tenant, 2,000 rupees on the guarantee of A. C has also a further security for the 2,000 rupees by a
mortgage of B’s furniture. C cancels the mortgage. B becomes insolvent and C sues A on his guarantee. A is discharged from
liability to the amount of the value of the furniture.
(b)C, a creditor, whose advance to B is secured by a decree, receives also a guarantee for that advance from A. C afterwards
takes B’s goods in execution under the decree, and then, without the knowledge of A, withdraws the execution. A is discharged.
(c)A, as surety for B, makes a bond jointly with B to C, to secure a loan from C to B. Afterwards, C obtains from B a further
security for the same debt. Subsequently, C gives up the further security. A is not discharged.
142. Guarantee obtained by misrepresentation invalid.—Any guarantee which has been obtained
by means of misrepresentation made by the creditor, or with his knowledge and assent, concerning a
material part of the transaction, is invalid.
143. Guarantee obtained by concealment invalid.—Any guarantee which the creditor has obtained
by means of keeping silence as to material circumstances, is invalid.
Illustrations
(a)A engages B as clerk to collect money for him. B fails to account for some of his receipts, and A in consequence calls
upon him to furnish security for his duly accounting. C gives his guarantee for B’s duly accounting. A does not acquaint C with
B’s previous conduct. B afterwards makes default. The guarantee is invalid.
1. See s. 44, supra.
38
(b)A guarantees to C payment for iron to be supplied by him to B to the amount of 2,000 tons. B and C have privately
agreed that B should pay five rupees per ton beyond the market price, such excess to be applied in liquidation of an old debt. This
agreement is concealed from A. A is not liable as a surety.
144. Guarantee on contract that creditor shall not act on it until co-surety joins.—Where a
person gives a guarantee upon a contract that the creditor shall not act upon it until another person has
joined in it as co-surety, the guarantee is not valid if that other person does not join.
145.Implied promise to indemnify surety.—In every contract of guarantee there is an implied
promise by the principal debtor to indemnify the surety, and the surety is entitled to recover from the
principal debtor whatever sum he has rightfully paid under the guarantee, but, no sums which he has paid
wrongfully.
Illustrations
(a)B is indebted to C, and A is surety for the debt. C demands payment from A, and on his refusal sues him for the amount.
A defends the suit, having reasonable grounds for doing so, but is compelled to pay the amount of the debt with costs. He can
recover from B the amount paid by him for costs, as well as the principal debt.
(b)C lends B a sum of money, and A, at the request of B, accepts a bill of exchange drawn by B upon A to secure the
amount. C, the holder of the bill, demands payment of it from A, and, on A’s refusal to pay, sues him upon the bill. A, not having
reasonable grounds for so doing, defends the suit, and has to pay the amount of the bill and costs. He can recover from B the
amount of the bill, but not the sum paid for costs, as there was no real ground for defending the action.
(c)A guarantees to C, to the extent of 2,000 rupees, payment for rice to be supplied by C to B. C supplies to B rice to a less
amount than 2,000 rupees, but obtains from A payment of the sum of 2,000 rupees in respect of the rice supplied. A cannot
recover from B more than the price of the rice actually supplied.
146. Co-sureties liable to contribute equally.—Where two or more persons are co-sureties for the
same debt or duty, either jointly or severally, and whether under the same or different contracts, and
whether with or without the knowledge of each other, the co-sureties, in the absence of any contract to the
contrary, are liable, as between themselves, to pay each an equal share of the whole debt, or of that part of
it which remains unpaid by the principal debtor1
.
Illustrations
(a)A, B and C are sureties to D for the sum of 3,000 rupees lent to E. E makes default in payment. A, B and C are liable, as
between themselves, to pay 1,000 rupees each.
(b)A, B and C are sureties to D for the sum of 1,000 rupees lent to E, and there is a contract between A, B and C that A is to
be responsible to the extent of one-quarter, B to the extent of one- quarter, and C to the extent of one-half. E makes default in
payment. As between the sureties, A is liable to pay 250 rupees, B 250 rupees, and C 500 rupees.
147.Liability of co-sureties bound in different sums.—Co-sureties who are bound in different sums
are liable to pay equally as far as the limits of their respective obligations permit.
Illustrations
(a)A, B and C, as sureties for D, enter into three several bonds, each in a different penalty, namely, A in the penalty of each
10,000 rupees, B in that of 20,000 rupees, C in that of 40,000 rupees, conditioned for D’s duly accounting to E. D makes default
to the extent of 30,000 rupees. A, B and C are each liable to pay 10,000 rupees.
(b)A, B and C, as sureties for D, enter into three several bonds, each in a different penalty, namely, A in the penalty of
10,000 rupees, B in that of 20,000 rupees, C in that of 40,000 rupees, conditioned for D’s duly accounting to E. D makes default
to the extent of 40,000 rupees. A is liable to pay 10,000 rupees, and B and C 15,000 rupees each.
(c)A, B and C, as sureties for D, enter into three several bonds, each in a different penalty, namely, A in the penalty of
10,000 rupees, B in that of 20,000 rupees, C in that of 40,000 rupees, conditioned for D’s duly accounting to E. D makes default
to the extent of 70,000 rupees. A, B and C have to pay each the full penalty of his bond.
1. See s. 43, supra.
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CHAPTER IX
OF BAILMENT
148.“Bailment”“bailor” and “bailee” defined.—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”
.
Explanation.—If a person already in possession of the goods of another contracts to hold them as a
bailee, he thereby becomes the bailee, and the owner becomes the bailor of such goods, although they
may not have been delivered by way of bailment.
149. Delivery to bailee how made.—The delivery to the 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
authorized to hold them on his behalf.
150.Bailor’s duty to disclose faults in goods bailed.—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 risks; and if he does not make such disclosure, he is
responsible for damage arising to the bailee directly from such faults.
If the goods are bailed for hire, the bailor is responsible for such damage, whether he was or was not
aware of the existence of such faults in the goods bailed.
Illustrations
(a)A lends a horse, which he knows to be vicious, to B. He does not disclose the fact that the horse is vicious. The horse
runs away. B is thrown and injured. A is responsible to B for damage sustained.
(b)A hires a carriage of B. The carriage is unsafe, though B is not aware of it, and A is injured. B is responsible to A for the
injury.
1151. Care to be taken by bailee.—In all cases of bailment the bailee is bound to take as much care
of 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 bailed2
.
152.Bailee when not liable for loss, etc., of thing bailed.—The bailee, in the absence of any special
contract, is not responsible for the loss, destruction or deterioration of the thing bailed, if he has taken the
amount of care of it described in section 151.
153. Termination of bailment by bailee’s act inconsistent with conditions.—A contract of
bailment is avoidable at the option of the bailor, if the bailee does any act with regard to the goods bailed,
inconsistent with the conditions of the bailment.
Illustration
A lets to B, for hire, a horse for his own riding. B drives the horse in his carriage. This is, at the ‘option of A, a termination
of the bailment.
154. Liability of bailee making unauthorized use of goods bailed.—If the bailee makes any use of
the goods bailed which is not according to the conditions of the bailment, he is liable to make
compensation to the bailor for any damage arising to the goods from or during such use of them.
1. The responsibility of the Trustees of the Port of Madras constituted under the Madras Port Trust Act, 1905 (Madras Act
2 of 1905), in regard to goods has been declared to be that of a bailee under these sections, without the qualifying words “in the
absence of any special contract” in s. 152, see s. 40(1) of that Act.
2.As to railway contracts see the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (9 of 1890), s. 72. As to the liability of common carriers, see the
Carriers Act, 1865 (3 of 1865), s. 8.
40
Illustrations
(a)A lends a horse to B for his own riding only. B allows C, a member of his family, to ride the horse. C rides with care, but
the horse accidentally falls and is injured. B is liable to make compensation to A for the injury done to the horse.
(b)A hires a horse in Calcutta from B expressly to march to Benares. A rides with due care, but marches to Cuttack instead.
The horse accidentally falls and is injured. A is liable to make compensation to B for the injury to the horse.
155. Effect of mixture, with bailor’s consent, of his goods with bailee’s.—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.
156.Effect of mixture without bailor’s consent, when the goods can be separated.—If the bailee,
without the consent of the bailor, mixes the goods of the bailor with his own goods, and the goods can be
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 damage arising from the mixture.
Illustration
A bails 100 bales of cotton marked with a particular mark to B. B, without A’s consent, mixes the 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 the expense incurred
in the separation of the bales, and any other incidental damage.
157. Effect of mixture, without bailor’s consent, when the goods cannot be separated.—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.
Illustration
A bails a barrel of Cape flour worth Rs. 45 to B. B, without A’s consent, mixes the flour with country flour of his own,
worth only Rs. 25 a barrel. B must compensate A for the loss of his flour.
158. Repayment, by bailor, of necessary expenses.—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 bailor shall repay to the bailee the necessary expenses incurred
by him for the purpose of the bailment.
159.Restoration of goods lent gratuitously.—The lender of a thing for use may at any time require
its return, if the loan was gratuitous, even though 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 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.
160.Return of goods bailed, on expiration of time or accomplishment of purpose.—It is the duty
of the bailee to return, or deliver according to the bailor’s directions, the goods bailed, without demand, as
soon as the time for which they were bailed has expired, or the purpose for which they were bailed has
been accomplished.
1161. Bailee’s responsibility when goods are not duly returned.—If, by the default of the bailee,
the goods are not returned, delivered or tendered at the proper time, he is responsible to the bailor for any
loss, destruction or deterioration of the goods from that time.2
1. S. 161 has been declared to apply to the responsibility of the Trustees of the Port of Madras as to goods in their possession
seethe Madras Port Trust Act, 1905 (Madras Act 2 of 1905).
2. As to Railway contracts, see the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (9 of 1890), s. 72.
41
162. Termination of gratuitous bailment by death.—A gratuitous bailment is terminated by the
death either of the bailor or of the bailee.
163. Bailor entitled to increase or profit from goods bailed.—In the absence of any contract to the
contrary, the bailee is bound to deliver to the bailor, or according to his directions, any increase or profit
which may have accrued from the goods bailed.
Illustration
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.
164. Bailor’s responsibility to bailee.—The bailor is responsible to the bailee for any loss which the
bailee may sustain by reason that the bailor was not entitled to make the bailment, or to receive back the
goods, or to give directions respecting them.
165.Bailment by several joint owners.—If several joint owners of goods bail them, the bailee may
deliver them back to, or according to the directions of, one joint owner without the consent of all in the
absence of any agreement to the contrary.
166.Bailee not responsible on re-delivery to bailor without title.—If the bailor has no title to the
goods, and the bailee, in good faith, delivers them back to, or according to the directions of, the bailor, the
bailee is not responsible to the owner in respect of such delivery1
.
167.Right of third person claiming goods bailed.—If a person, other than the bailor, claims goods
bailed he may apply to the Court to stop the delivery of the goods to the bailor, and to decide the title to
the goods.
168.Right of finder of goods, may sue for specific reward offered.—The finder of goods has no
right to sue the owner for compensation for trouble and expense voluntarily incurred by him to preserve
the goods and to find out the owner; but he may retain the goods against the owner until he receives such
compensation; and, where the owner has offered a specific reward for the return of goods lost, the finder
may sue for such reward, and may retain the goods until he receives it.
169.When finder of thing commonly on sale may sell it.—When a thing which is commonly the
subject of sale is lost, if the owner cannot with reasonable diligence be found, or if he refuses, upon
demand, to pay the lawful charges of the finder, the finder may sell it—
(1) when the thing is in danger of perishing or of losing the greater part of its value, or,
(2) when the lawful charges of the finder, in respect of the thing found, amount to two-thirds of
its value.
170. Bailee’s particular lien.—Where the bailee has, in accordance with the purpose of the
bailment, rendered any service involving the exercise 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 receives due
remuneration for the services he has rendered in respect of them.
Illustrations
(a) 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 services he has rendered.
(b) 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 until he is paid.
1. See the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), s. 117.
42
171.General lien of bankers, factors, wharfingers, attorneys and policy-brokers.—Bankers,
factors, wharfingers, attorneys of a High Court and policy-brokers may, in the absence of a contract to the
contrary, retain as a security for a general balance of account, any goods bailed to them; but no other
persons have a right to retain, as a security for such balance, goods bailed to them, unless there is an
express contract to that effect 172.“Pledge”“pawnor”,and “pawnee” defined.—The bailment of goods as security for payment of
a debt or performance of a promise is called “pledge”. The bailor is in this case called the “pawnor”. The
bailee is called the “pawnee”
.
173.Pawnee’s right of retainer.—Thepawnee may retain the goods pledged, not only for payment of
the debt or the performance of the promise, but for the interest of the debt, and all necessary expenses
incurred by him in respect of the possession or for the preservation of the goods pledged.
174.Pawnee not to retain for debt or promise other than that for which goods pledged.
Presumption in case of subsequent advances.—The pawnee shall not, in the absence of a contract to
that effect, retain the goods pledged for any debt or promise other than the debt or promise for which they
are pledged; but such contract, in the absence of anything to the contrary, shall be presumed in regard to
subsequent advances made by the pawnee.
175. Pawnee’s right as to extraordinary expenses incurred.—Thepawnee is entitled to receive
from the pawnor extraordinary expenses incurred by him for the preservation of the goods pledged.
176. Pawnee’s right where pawnor makes default.—If the pawnor makes default in payment of the
debt, or performance, at the stipulated time of the promise, in respect of which the goods were pledged,
the pawnee may bring a suit against the pawnor upon the debt or promise, and retain the goods pledged as
a collateral security; or he may sell the thing pledged, on giving the pawnor reasonable notice of the sale.
If the proceeds of such sale are less than the amount due in respect of the debt or promise, the pawnor
is still liable to pay the balance. If the proceeds of the sale are greater than the amount so due, the pawnee
shall pay over the surplus to the pawnor.
177. Defaulting pawner’s right to redeem.—If a time is stipulated for the payment of the debt, or
performance of the promise, for which the pledge is made, and the pawnor makes default in payment of
the debt or performance of the promise at the stipulated time, he may redeem the goods pledged at any
subsequent time before the actual sale of them2; but he must, in that case, pay, in addition, any expenses
which have arisen from his default.
3[178. Pledge by mercantile agent.—Where a mercantile agent is, with the consent of the owner, in
possession of goods or the document of title to goods, any pledge made by him, when acting in the
ordinary course of business of a mercantile agent, shall be as valid as if he were expressly authorised by
the owner of the goods to make the same; provided that the pawnee acts in good faith and has not at the
time of the pledge notice that the pawnor has not authority to pledge.
Explanation.—In this section, the expressions “mercantile agent” and “documents of title” shall have
the meanings assigned to them in the Indian Sale of Goods Act, 1930 (3 of 1930).
178A. Pledge by person in possession under voidable contract.—When the pawnor has obtained
possession of the goods pledged by him under a contract voidable under section 19 or section 19A, but the contract has not been rescinded at the time of the pledge, the pawnee acquires a good title to the
goods, provided he acts in good faith and without notice of the pawnor’s defect of title.]
179. Pledge where pawnor has only a limited interest.—Where a person pledges goods in which
he has only a limited interest, the pledge is valid to the extent of that interest.
Suits by bailees or bailors against wrong-doers
180.Suit by bailor or bailee against wrong-doer.—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.
181. Apportionment of relief or compensation obtained by such suits.—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.
CHAPTER X
AGENCY
Appointment and authority of agents
182.“Agent” and “principal” defined.—An “agent” is a person employed to do any act for another,
or to represent another in dealings with third persons. The person for whom such act is done, or who is so
represented, is called the “principal”
.
183. Who may employ agent.—Any person who is of the age of majority according to the law to
which he is subject, and who is of sound mind, may employ an agent.
184. Who may be an agent.—As between the principal and third persons, any person may become
an agent, but no person who is not of the age of majority and of sound mind can become an agent, so as to
be responsible to his principal according to the provisions in that behalf herein contained.
185. Consideration not necessary.—No consideration is necessary to create an agency.
186. Agent’s authority may be expressed or implied.—The authority of an agent may be expressed
or implied1
.
187. Definitions of express and implied authority.—An authority is said to be express when it is
given by words spoken or written. An authority is said to be implied when it is to be inferred from the
circumstances of the case; and things spoken or written, or the ordinary course of dealing, may be
accounted circumstances of the case.

188. Extent of agent’s authority.—An agent, having an authority to do an act, has authority to do
every lawful thing which is necessary in order to do such act.
An agent having an authority to carry on a business, has authority to do every lawful thing necessary
for the purpose, or usually done in the course, of conducting such business. 189.Agent’s authority in an emergency.—An agent has authority, in an emergency, to do all such
acts for the purpose of protecting his principal from loss as would be done by a person of ordinary
prudence, in his own case, under similar circumstances.
Illustrations
(a) An agent for sale may have goods repaired if it be necessary.
(b) A consigns provisions to B at Calcutta, with directions to send them immediately to C, at Cuttack. B may sell the
provisions at Calcutta, if they will not bear the journey to Cuttack without spoiling.
Sub-Agents
190. When agent cannot delegate.—An agent cannot lawfully employ another to perform acts
which he has expressly or impliedly undertaken to perform personally, unless by the ordinary custom of
trade a sub-agent may, or, from the nature of the agency, a sub-agent must, be employed.
191. “Sub-agent” defined.—A “sub-agent” is a person employed by, and acting under the control of,
the original agent in the business of the agency.
192. Representation of principal by sub-agent properly appointed.—Where a sub-agent is
properly appointed, the principal is, so far as regards third persons, represented by the sub-agent, and is
bound by and responsible for his acts, as if he were an agent originally appointed by the principal.
Agent’s responsibility for sub-agent.—The agent is responsible to the principal for the acts of the
sub-agent.
Sub-agent’s responsibility.—The sub-agent is responsible for his acts to the agent, but not tothe
principal, except in cases of fraud or wilful wrong.
193. Agent’s responsibility for sub-agent appointed without authority.—Where an agent, without
having authority to do so, has appointed a person to act as a sub-agent, the agent stands towards such
person in the relation of a principal to an agent, and is responsible for his acts both to the principal and to
third persons; the principal is not represented, by or responsible for the acts of the person so employed,
nor is that person responsible to the principal.
194.Relation between principal and person duly appointed by agent to act in business of
agency.—Where an agent, holding an express or implied authority to name another person to act for the
principal in the business of the agency, has named another person accordingly, such person is not a
sub-agent, but an agent of the principal for such part of the business of the agency as is entrusted to him.
Illustrations
(a)A directs B, his solicitor, to sell his estate by auction, and to employ an auctioneer for the purpose. B names C, an
auctioneer, to conduct the sale. C is not a sub-agent, but is A’s agent for the conduct of the sale.
(b)A authorizes B, a merchant in Calcutta, to recover the moneys due to A from C & Co. B instructs D, a solicitor, to take
legal proceedings against C & Co. for the recovery of the money. D is not a sub-agent, but is solicitor for A.
195. Agent’s duty in naming such person.—In selecting such agent for his principal, an agent is
bound to exercise the same amount of discretion as a man of ordinary prudence would exercise in his own
case; and, if he does this, he is not responsible to the principal for the acts or negligence of the agent so
selected.
45
Illustrations
(a)A instructs B, a merchant, to buy a ship for him. B employs a ship-surveyor of good reputation to choose a ship for A.
The surveyor makes the choice negligently and the ship turns out to be unseaworthy and is lost. B is not, but the surveyor is,
responsible to A.
(b)A consigns goods to B, a merchant, for sale. B, in due course, employs an auctioneer in good credit to sell the goods of A,
and allows the auctioneer to receive the proceeds of the sale. The auctioneer afterwards becomes insolvent without having
accounted for the proceeds. B is not responsible to A for the proceeds.
Ratification
196. Right of person as to acts done for him without his authority. Effect of ratification.—
Where acts are done by one person on behalf of another, but without his knowledge or authority, he may
elect to ratify or to disown such acts. If he ratify them, the same effects will follow as if they had been
performed by his authority.
197.Ratification may be expressed or implied.—Ratification may be expressed or may be implied
in the conduct of the person on whose behalf the acts are done.
Illustrations
(a)A, without authority, buys goods for B. Afterwards B sells them to C on his own account; B’s conduct implies a
ratification of the purchase made for him by A.
(b)A, without B’s authority, lends B’s money to C. Afterwards B accepts interest on the money from C. B’s conduct implies
a ratification of the loan.
198.Knowledge requisite for valid ratification.—No valid ratification can be made by a person
whose knowledge of the facts of the case is materially defective.
199.Effect of ratifying unauthorized act forming part of a transaction.—A person ratifying any
unauthorized act done on his behalf ratifies the whole of the transaction of which such act formed a part.
200.Ratification of unauthorized act cannot injure third person.—An act done by one person on
behalf of another, without such other person’s authority, which, if done with authority, would have the
effect of subjecting a third person to damages, or of terminating any right or interest of a third person,
cannot, by ratification, be made to have such effect.
Illustrations
(a)A, not being authorized thereto by B, demands, on behalf of B, the delivery of a chattel, the property of B, from C, who is
in possession of it. This demand cannot be ratified by B, so as to make C liable for damages for his refusal to deliver.
(b)A holds a lease from B, terminable on three months’ notice. C, an unauthorized person, gives notice of termination to A.
The notice cannot be ratified by B, so as to be binding on A.
Revocation of Authority
201. Termination of agency.—An agency is terminated by the principal revoking his authority; or
by the agent renouncing the business of the agency; or by the business of the agency being completed; or
by either the principal or agent dying or becoming of unsound mind; or by the principal being adjudicated
an insolvent under the provisions of any Act for the time being in force for the relief of insolvent debtors.
202.Termination of agency, where agent has an interest in subject-matter.—Where the agent has
himself an interest in the property which forms the subject-matter of the agency, the agency cannot, in the
absence of an express contract, be terminated to the prejudice of such interest.
Illustrations
(a) A gives authority to B to sell A’s land, and to pay himself, out of the proceeds, the debts due to him from A. A cannot
revoke this authority, nor can it be terminated by his insanity or death.
46
(b) A consigns 1,000 bales of cotton to B, who has made advances to him on such cotton, and desires B to sell the cotton,
and to repay himself out of the price, the amount of his own advances. A cannot revoke this authority, nor is it terminated by his
insanity or death.
203.When principal may revoke agent’s authority.—The principal may, save as is otherwise
provided by the last preceding section, revoke the authority given to his agent at any time before the
authority has been exercised so as to bind the principal.
204.Revocation where authority has been partly exercised.—The principal cannot revoke the
authority given to his agent after the authority has been partly exercised, so far as regards such acts and
obligations as arise from acts already done in the agency.
Illustrations
(a)A authorizes B to buy 1,000 bales of cotton on account of A, and to pay for it out of A’s moneys remaining in B’s hands.
B buys 1,000 bales of cotton in his own name, so as to make himself personally liable for the price. A cannot revoke B’s
authority so far as regards payment for the cotton.
(b) A authorizes B to buy 1,000 bales of cotton on account of A, and to pay for it out of A’s moneys remaining in B’s hands.
B buys 1,000 bales of cotton in A’s name, and so as not to render himself personally liable for the price. A can revoke B’s
authority to pay for the cotton.
205.Compensation for revocation by principal, or renunciation by agent.—Where there is an
express or implied contract that the agency should be continued for any period of time, the principal must
make compensation to the agent, or the agent to the principal, as the case may be, for any previous
revocation or renunciation of the agency without sufficient cause.
206. Notice of revocation or renunciation.—Reasonable notice must be given of such revocation or
renunciation, otherwise the damage thereby resulting to the principal or the agent, as the case may be,
must be made good to the one by the other.
207.Revocation and renunciation may be expressed or implied.—Revocation and renunciation
may be expressed or may be implied in the conduct of the principal or agent respectively.
Illustration
A empowers B to let A’s house. Afterwards A lets it himself. This is an implied revocation of
B’s authority.
208.When termination of agent’s authority takes effect as to agent, and as to third persons.—
The termination of the authority of an agent does not, so far as regards the agent, take effect before it
becomes known to him, or, so far as regards third persons, before it becomes known to them.
Illustrations
(a) A directs B to sell goods for him, and agrees to give B five per cent. commission on the price fetched by the goods. A
afterwards, by letter, revoke B’s authority. B, after the letter is sent, but before he receives it, sells the goods for 100 rupees. The
sale is binding on A, and B is entitled to five rupees as his commission.
(b) A, at Madras, by letter, directs B to sell for him some cotton lying in a warehouse in Bombay, and afterwards, by letter,
revokes his authority to sell, and directs B to send the cotton to Madras. B, after receiving the second letter, enters into a contract
with C, who knows of the first letter, but not of the second, for the sale to him of the cotton. C pays B the money, with which B
absconds. C’s payment is good as against A.
(c) A directs B, his agent, to pay certain money to C. A dies, and D takes out probate to his will. B, after A’s death, but
before hearing of it, pays the money to C. The payment is good as against D, the executor.
209.Agent’s duty on termination of agency by principal’s death or insanity.—When an agency is
terminated by the principal dying or becoming of unsound mind, the agent is bound to take, on behalf of
the representatives of his late principal, all reasonable steps for the protection and preservation of the
interests entrusted to him.
47
210. Termination of sub-agent’s authority.—The termination of the authority of an agent causes
the termination (subject to the rules herein contained regarding the termination of an agent’s authority) of
the authority of all sub-agents appointed by him.
Agent’s duty to principal
211.Agent’s duty in conducting principal’s business.—An agent is bound to conduct the business
of his principal according to the directions given by the principal, or, in the absence of any such
directions, according to the custom which prevails in doing business of the same kind at the place where
the agent conducts such business. When the agent acts otherwise, if any loss be sustained, he must make it
good to his principal, and if any profit accrues, he must account for it.
Illustrations
(a) A, an agent engaged in carrying on for B a business, in which it is the custom to invest from time to time, at interest, the
moneys which may be in hand, omits to make such investment. A must make good to B the interest usually obtained by such
investments.
(b) B, a broker, in whose business it is not the custom to sell on credit, sells goods of A on credit to C, whose credit at the
time was very high. C, before payment, becomes insolvent. B must make good the loss to A.
212. Skill and diligence required from agent.—An agent is bound to conduct the business of the
agency with as much skill as is generally possessed by persons engaged in similar business, unless the
principal has notice of his want of skill. The agent is always bound to act with reasonable diligence, and
to use such skill as he possesses; and to make compensation to his principal in respect of the direct
consequences of his own neglect, want of skill, or misconduct, but not in respect of loss or damage which
are indirectly or remotely caused by such neglect, want of skill, or misconduct.
Illustrations
(a)A, a merchant in Calcutta, has an agent, B, in London, to whom a sum of money is paid on A’s account, with orders to
remit. B retains the money for a considerable time. A, in consequence of not receiving the money, becomes insolvent. B is liable
for the money and interest from the day on which it ought to have been paid, according to the usual rate, and for any further
direct loss-as, e.g., by variation of rate of exchange-but not further.
(b)A, an agent for the sale of goods, having authority to sell on credit, sells to B on credit, without making the proper and
usual enquiries as to the solvency of B. B, at the time of such sale, is insolvent. A must make compensation to his principal in
respect of any loss thereby sustained.
(c)A, an insurance-broker employed by B to effect an insurance on a ship, omits to see that the usual clauses are inserted in
the policy. The ship is after wards lost. In consequence of the omission of the clauses nothing can be recovered from the
underwriters. A is bound to make good the loss to B.
(d)A, a merchant in England, directs B, his agent at Bombay, who accepts the agency, to send him 100 bales of cotton by a
certain ship. B, having it in his power to send the cotton, omits to do so. The ship arrives safely in England. Soon after her arrival
the price of cotton rises. B is bound to make good to A the profit which he might have made by the 100 bales of cotton at the time
the ship arrived, but not any profit he might have made by the subsequent rise.
213.Agent’s accounts.—An agent is bound to render proper accounts to his principal on demand.
214.Agent’s duty to communicate with principal.—It is the duty of an agent, in cases of difficulty,
to use all reasonable diligence in communicating with his principal, and in seeking to obtain his
instructions.
215.Right of principal when agent deals, on his own account, in business of agency without
principal’s consent.—If an agent deals on his own account in the business of the agency, without first
obtaining the consent of his principal and acquainting him with all material circumstances which have
come to his own knowledge on the subject, the principal may repudiate the transaction, if the case shows,
either that any material fact has been dishonestly concealed from him by the agent, or that the dealings of
the agent have been disadvantageous to him.
48
Illustrations
(a)A directs B to sell A’s estate. B buys the estate for himself in the name of C. A, on discovering that B has bought the
estate for himself, may repudiate the sale, if he can show that B has dishonestly concealed any material fact, or that the sale has
been disadvantageous to him.
(b)A directs B to sell A’s estate B, on looking over the estate before selling it, finds a mine on the estate which is unknown
to A. B informs A that he wishes to buy the estate for himself, but conceals the discovery of the mine. A allows B to buy, in
ignorance of the existence of the mine. A, on discovering that B knew of the mine at the time he bought the estate, may either
repudiate or adopt the sale at his option.
216. Principal’s right to benefit gained by agent dealing on his own account in business of
agency.—If an agent, without the knowledge of his principal, deals in the business of the agency on his
own account instead of on account of his principal, the principal is entitled to claim from the agent any
benefit which may have resulted to him from the transaction.
Illustration
A directs B, his agent, to buy a certain house for him. B tells A it cannot be bought, and buys the house for himself. A may,
on discovering that B has bought the house, compel him to sell it to A at the price he gave for it.
217.Agent’s right of retainer out of sums received on principal’s account.—An agent may retain,
out of any sums received on account of the principal in the business of the agency, all moneys due to
himself in respect of advances made or expenses properly incurred by him in conducting such business,
and also such remuneration as may be payable to him for acting as agent.
218. Agent’s duty to pay sums received for principal.—Subject to such deductions, the agent is
bound to pay to his principal all sums received on his account.
219.When agent’s remuneration becomes due.—In the absence of any special contract, payment
for the performance of any act is not due to the agent until the completion of such act; but an agent may
detain moneys received by him on account of goods sold, although the whole of the goods consigned to
him for sale may not have been sold, or although the sale may not be actually complete.
220.Agent not entitled to remuneration for business misconducted.—An agent who is guilty of
misconduct in the business of the agency, is not entitled to any remuneration in respect of that part of the
business which he has misconducted.
Illustrations
(a) A employs B to recover, 1,00,000 rupees from C, and to lay it out on good security. B recovers the 1,00,000 rupees; and
lays out 90,000 rupees on good security, but lays out 10,000 rupees on security which he ought to have known to be bad,
whereby A loses 2,000 rupees. B is entitled to remuneration for recovering the 1,00,000 rupees and for investing the 90,000
rupees. He is not entitled to any remuneration for investing the 10,000 rupees, and he must make good the 2,000 rupees to B.
(b)A employs B to recover 1,000 rupees from C. Through B’s misconduct the money is not recovered. B is entitled to no
remuneration for his services, and must make good the loss.
221. Agent’s lien on principal’s property.—In the absence of any contract to the contrary, an agent
is entitled to retain goods, papers and other property, whether movable or immovable of the principal
received by him, until the amount due to himself for commission, disbursements and services in respect
of the same has been paid or accounted for to him.
Principal’s duty to agent
222.Agent to be indemnified against consequences of lawful acts.—The employer of an agent is
bound to indemnify him against the consequences of all lawful acts done by such agent in exercise of the
authority conferred upon him.
49
Illustrations
(a)B, at Singapur, under instructions from A of Calcutta, contracts with C to deliver certain goods to him. A does not send
the goods to B, and C sues B for breach of contract. B informs A of the suit, and A authorizes him to defend the suit. B defends
the suit, and is compelled to pay damages and costs, and incurs expenses. A is liable to B for such damages, costs and expenses.
(b)B, a broker at Calcutta, by the orders of A, a merchant there, contracts with C for the purchase of 10 casks of oil for A.
Afterwards A refuses to receive the oil, and C sues B. B informs A, who repudiates the contract altogether. B defends, but
unsuccessfully, and has to pay damages and costs and incurs expenses. A is liable to B for such damages, costs and expenses.
223.Agent to be indemnified against consequences of acts done in good faith.—Where one person
employs another to do an act, and the agent does the act in good faith, the employer is liable to indemnify
the agent against the consequences of that act, though it cause an injury to the rights of third persons.
Illustrations
(a)A, a decree-holder and entitled to execution of B’s goods, requires the officer of the Court to seize certain goods,
representing them to be the goods of B. The officer seizes the goods, and is sued by C, the true owner of the goods. A is liable to
indemnify the officer for the sum which he is compelled to pay to C, in consequence of obeying A’s directions.
(b)B, at the request of A, sells goods in the possession of A, but which A had no right to dispose of, B does not know this,
and hands over the proceeds of the sale to A. Afterwards C, the true owner of the goods, sues B and recovers the value of the
goods and costs. A is liable to indemnify B for what he has been compelled to pay to C, and for B’s own expenses.
224.Non-liability of employer of agent to do a criminal act.—Where one person employs another
to do an act which is criminal, the employer is not liable to the agent, either upon an express or an implied
promise, to indemnify him against the consequences of that Act1
.
Illustrations
(a) A employs B to beat C, and agrees to indemnify him against all consequences of the act. B thereupon beats C, and has to
pay damages to C for so doing. A is not liable to indemnify B for those damages.
(b)B, the proprietor of a newspaper, publishes, at A’s request, a libel upon C in the paper, and A agrees to indemnify B
against the consequences of the publication, and all costs and damages of any action in respect thereof. B is sued by C and has to
pay damages, and also incurs expenses. A is not liable to B upon the indemnity.
225.Compensation to agent for injury caused by principal’s neglect.—The principal must make
compensation to his agent in respect of injury2caused to such agent by the principal’s neglect or want of
skill.
Illustration
A employs B as a bricklayer in building a house, and puts up the scaffolding himself. The scaffolding is unskilfully put up,
and B is in consequence hurt. A must make compensation to B.
Effect of agency on contracts with third persons
226. Enforcement and consequences of agent’s contracts.—Contracts entered into through an
agent, and obligations arising from acts done by an agent, may be enforced in the same manner, and will
have the same legal consequences, as if the contracts had been entered into and the acts done by the
principal in person.
Illustrations
(a)A buys goods from B, knowing that he is an agent for their sale, but not knowing who is the principal. B’s principal is the
person entitled to claim from A the price of the goods, and A cannot, in a suit by the principal, set-off against that claim a debt
due to himself from B.
1. See s. 24, supra.
2. Cf. the Indian Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 (13 of 1855).
50
(b)A, being B’s agent, with authority to receive money on his behalf, receives from C a sum of money due to B. C is
discharged of his obligation to pay the sum in question to B.
227. Principal how far bound, when agent exceeds authority.—When an agent does more than he
is authorized to do, and when the part of what he does, which is within his authority, can be separated
from the part which is beyond his authority, so much only of what he does as is within his authority is
binding as between him and his principal.
Illustration
A, being owner of a ship and cargo, authorizes B to procure an insurance for 4,000 rupees on the ship. B procures a policy
for 4,000 rupees on the ship, and another for the like sum on the cargo. A is bound to pay the premium for the policy on the ship,
but not the premium for the policy on the cargo.
228.Principal not bound when excess of agent’s authority is not separable.—Where an agent
does more than he is authorized to do, and what he does beyond the scope of his authority cannot be
separated from what is within it, the principal is not bound to recognize the transaction.
Illustration
A authorizes B to buy 500 sheep for him. B buys 500 sheep and 200 lambs for one sum of 6,000 rupees. A may repudiate
the whole transaction.
229.Consequences of notice given to agent.—Any notice given to or information obtained by the
agent, provided it be given or obtained in the course of the business transacted by him for the principal,
shall, as between the principal and third parties, have the same legal consequences as if it had been given
to or obtained by the principal.
Illustrations
(a)A is employed by B to buy from C certain goods, of which C is the apparent owner, and buys them accordingly. In the
course of the treaty for the sale, A learns that the goods really belonged to D, but B is ignorant of that fact. B is not entitled to
set-off a debt owing to him from C against the price of the goods.
(b)A is employed by B to buy from C goods of which C is the apparent owner. A was, before he was so employed, a servant
of C, and then learnt that the goods really belonged to D, but B is ignorant of that fact. In spite of the knowledge of his agent, B
may set-off against the price of the goods a debt owing to him from C.
230.Agent cannot personally enforce, nor be bound by, contracts on behalf of principal.—In the
absence of any contract to that effect, an agent cannot personally enforce contracts entered into by him on
behalf of his principal, nor is he personally bound by them.
Presumption of contract to contrary—Such a contract shall be presumed to exist in the following
cases:—
(1) where the contract is made by an agent for the sale or purchase of goods for a merchant
resident abroad;
(2) where the agent does not disclose the name of his principal;
(3) where the principal, though disclosed, cannot be sued.
231.Rights of parties to a contract made by agent not disclosed.—If an agent makes a contract
with a person who neither knows, nor has reason to suspect, that he is an agent, his principal may require
the performance of the contract; but the other contracting party has, as against the principal, the same
rights as he would have had as against the agent if the agent had been principal.
If the principal discloses himself before the contract is completed, the other contracting party may
refuse to fulfil the contract, if he can show that, if he had known who was the principal in the contract, or
if he had known that the agent was not a principal, he would not have entered into the contract.
51
232. Performance of contract with agent supposed to be principal.—Where one man makes a
contract with another, neither knowing nor having reasonable ground to suspect that the other is an agent,
the principal, if he requires the performance of the contract, can only obtain such performance subject to
the rights and obligations subsisting between the agent and the other party to the contract.
Illustration
A, who owes 500 rupees to B, sells 1,000 rupees worth of rice to B. A is acting as agent for C in the transaction, but B has
no knowledge nor reasonable ground of suspicion that such is the case. C cannot compel B to take the rice without allowing him
to set-off A’s debt.
233.Right of person dealing with agent personally liable.—In cases where the agent is personally
liable, a person dealing with him may hold either him or his principal, or both of them, liable.
Illustration
A enters into a contract with B to sell him 100 bales of cotton, and afterwards discovers that B was acting as agent for C. A
may sue either B or C, or both, for the price of the cotton.
234. Consequence of inducing agent or principal to act on belief that principal or agent will be
held exclusively liable.—When a person who has made a contract with an agent induces the agent to act
upon the belief that the principal only will be held liable, or induces the principal to act upon the belief
that the agent only will be held liable, he cannot afterwards hold liable the agent or principal respectively.
235. Liability of pretended agent.—A person untruly representing himself to be the authorized
agent of another, and thereby inducing a third person to deal with him as such agent, is liable, if his
alleged employer does not ratify his acts, to make compensation to the other in respect of any loss or
damage which he has incurred by so dealing.
236.Person falsely contracting as agent not entitled to performance.—A person with whom a
contract has been entered into in the character of agent, is not entitled to require the performance of it, if
he was in reality acting, not as agent, but on his own account.
237.Liability of principal inducing belief that agent’s unauthorized acts were authorized.—
When an agent has, without authority, done acts or incurred obligations to third persons on behalf of his
principal, the principal is bound by such acts or obligations, if he has by his words or conduct induced
such third persons to believe that such acts and obligations were within the scope of the agent’s authority.
Illustrations
(a) A consigns goods to B for sale, and gives him instructions not to sell under a fixed price. C, being ignorant of B’s
instructions, enters into a contract with B to buy the goods at a price lower than the reserved price. A is bound by the contract.
(b) A entrusts B with negotiable instruments endorsed in blank. B sells them to C in violation of private orders from A. The
sale is good.
238. Effect, on agreement, of misrepresentation of fraud, by agent.—Misrepresentation made, or
frauds committed, by agents acting in the course of their business for their principals, have the same
effect on agreements made by such agents as if such misrepresentations or frauds had been made or
committed by the principals; but misrepresentations made, or frauds committed, by agents, in matters
which do not fall within their authority, do not affect their principals.
Illustrations
(a) A, being B’s agent for the sale of goods, induces C to buy them by a misrepresentation, which he was not authorized by
B to make. The contract is voidable, as between B and C, at the option of C.
(b) A, the captain of B’s ship, signs bills of lading without having received on board the goods mentioned therein. The bills
of lading are void as between B and the pretended cosignor.
52
CHAPTER XI.—[OF PARTNERSHIP.]Rep. by the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932), s. 73
and the Second Schedule.
239. [‘Partnership’ defined.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
240. [Lender not a partner by advancing money for share of profits.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second
Schedule, ibid.
241. [Property left in business by retiring partner, or decreased partner’s preventative.] Rep. by s. 73
and the Second Schedule, ibid.
242. [Servant or agent remunerated by share of profits, not a partner.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second
Schedule, ibid.
243. [Widow or child of deceased partner receiving annuity out of profits, not a partner.] Rep. by s.
73 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
244. [Person receiving portion of profits for sale of good-will, no a partner.] Rep. by s. 73 and the
Second Schedule, ibid.
245. [Responsibility of person leading another to believe him a partner.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second
Schedule, ibid.
246. [Liability of person permitting him self to be represented as a partner.] Rep. by s. 73 and the
Second Schedule, ibid.
247. [Minor partner not personally liable, but his share is.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule,
ibid.
248. [Liability of minor partner on attaining majority.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid
249. [Partner’s liability for debts of partnership.] Rep. bys. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
250. [Partner’s liability to third person for neglect or fraud of co-partner.] Rep. by s. 73 and the
Second Schedule, ibid.
251. [Partner’s power to bind co-partners.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
252. [Annulment of contract defining partner’s rights and obligations.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second
Schedule, ibid.
253. [Rules determining partner’s mutual relations, where no contract to contrary.] Rep. by s. 73 and
the Second Schedule, ibid.
254. [When Court may dissolve partnership.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
255. [Dissolution of partnership by prohibition of business.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule,
ibid.
256. [Rights and obligations of partners in partnership continued after expiry of term for which it was
entered into.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
257. [General duties of partners.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule, ibid
258. [Account, to firm, of benefit derived from transaction affecting partnership.]Rep. by s. 73 and the
Second Schedule, ibid.
259. [Obligations, to firm, of partner carrying on business.] Rep. by s. 73 and the Second Schedule,
ibid.
53
260. [Revocation of continuing guarantee by charge by change in firm.] Rep. by the Indian
Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932), s. 73 and the Second Schedule.
261. [Non-liability of deceased partner’s estate for subsequent obligations.] Rep. by s. 73 and the
Second Schedule, ibid.
262. [Payment of partnership debts, and of separate debts.] Rep. by s. 73and the Second Schedule,
ibid.
263. [Continuance, of partners rights and obligations after dissolution.] Rep. by s. 73and the Second
Schedule, ibid.
264. [Notice of dissolution.] Rep. by s. 73and the Second Schedule, ibid.
265. [Right of partners to apply for winding-up after termination of partnership.] Rep. by s. 73 and
the Second Schedule, ibid.
266. [Limited-liability partnerships, incorporate partnerships, and joint-stock companies.] Rep. by s.
73and the Second Schedule, ibid.
SCHEDULE.—[Enactments repealed.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (10 of 1914),
s. 3 and the Second Schedule.

Resource: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2187/2/A187209.pdf

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CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent, commencement and application.—(1) This Act may be called the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.
(2) It extends to the whole of India 2***.
(3) It shall come into force on such date or dates3 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and 4[for different States or for different parts thereof].
(4) It shall apply, in the first instance, to all factories (including factories belonging to the Government) other than seasonal factories:
5[Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to a factory or establishment belonging to or under the control of the Government whose employees are otherwise in receipt of benefits substantially similar or superior to the benefits provided under this Act.]
(5) The appropriate Government may, in consultation with the Corporation and 6[where the appropriate Government is a State Government, with the approval of the Central Government], after giving 7[one month’s] notice of its intention of so doing by notification in the Official Gazette, extend the provisions of this Act or any of them, to any other establishment or class of establishments, industrial, commercial, agricultural or otherwise:
8[Provided that where the provisions of this Act have been brought into force in any part of a State, the said provisions shall stand extended to any such establishment or class of establishments within that part if the provisions have already been extended to similar establishment or class of establishments in another part of that State].
5[(6) A factory or an establishment to which this Act applies shall continue to be governed by this Act notwithstanding that the number of persons employed therein at any time falls below the limit specified by or under this Act or the manufacturing process therein ceases to be carried on with the aid of power.]
1. This Act has been extended to Jaunsar Bawar Parganas in the Dehra Dun District and the areas of South of Kaimpur range in the Mirzapur District of the State of Uttar Pradesh by Schedule IV of Act 20 of 1954; to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and Schedule and to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s.3 and the Schedule.
2. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
3. For dates see Annexure.
4. 5.
6.
7. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 2, for “six month’s ” (w.e.f.
8. Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 2 (w.e.f. 16-5-1990).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 2, for “for different States” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 2 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 2, for “with the approval of the Central Government” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
1-6-2010). 5
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(1) “appropriate Government” means, in respect of establishments under the control of the Central Government or 1[a railway administration] or a major port or a mine or oilfield, the Central Government, and in all other cases, the State Government;
2* * * * *
(3) “confinement” means labour resulting in the issue of a living child or labour after twenty-six weeks of pregnancy resulting in the issue of a child whether alive or dead;
(4) “contribution” means the sum of money payable to the Corporation by the principal employer in respect of an employee and includes any amount payable by or on behalf of the employee in accordance with the provisions of this Act;
3* * * * *
(6) “Corporation” means the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation set up under this Act; 4[(6A) “dependant” means any of the following relatives of a deceased insured person, namely:—
6[(ia) a widowed, mother;]
(ii) if wholly dependent on the earnings of the insured person at the time of his death, a legitimate or adopted son or daughter who has attained the age of 7[twenty-five years] and is infirm;
(iii) if wholly or in part dependent on the earnings of the insured person at the time of his death,—
(a) a parent other than a widowed mother,
(b) a minor illegitimate son, an unmarried illegitimate daughter or a daughter legitimate or adopted or illegitimate if married and a minor or if widowed and a minor,
(c) a minor brother or an unmarried sister or a widowed sister if a minor,
(d) a widowed daughter-in-law,
(e) a minor child of a pre-deceased son,
(f) a minor child of a pre-deceased daughter where no parent of the child is alive, or
(g) a paternal grand-parent if no parent of the insured person is alive;]
(7) “duly appointed” means appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act or with the
rules or regulations made thereunder;
8[(8) “employment injury” means a personal injury to an employee caused by accident or an occupational disease arising out of and in the course of his employment, being an insurable
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “a federal railway”.
2. Omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 3
3. O
4.
5. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 3, for sub-clause (i) ((w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
6. Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 3 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
7. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 3, for “eighteen years” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
8. Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2, for clause (8) (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
5[(i) a widow, a legitimate or adopted son who has not attained the age of twenty-five
years, an unmarried legitimate or adopted daughter,]
(w.e.f. 16-5-1990).
mitted by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
6

employment, whether the accident occurs or the occupational disease is contracted within or outside the territorial limits of India;]
(9) “employee” means any person employed for wages in or in connection with the work of a factory or establishment to which this Act applies and—
(i) who is directly employed by the principal employer on any work of, or incidental or preliminary to or connected with the work of, the factory or establishment, whether such work is done by the employee in the factory or establishment or elsewhere; or
(ii) who is employed by or through an immediate employer on the premises of the factory or establishment or under the supervision of the principal employer or his agent on work which is ordinarily part of the work of the factory or establishment or which is preliminary to the work carried on in or incidental to the purpose of the factory or establishment; or
(iii) whose services are temporarily lent or let on hire to the principal employer by the person with whom the person whose services are so lent or let on hire has entered into a contract of service;
1[and includes any person employed for wages on any work connected with the administration of the factory or establishment or any part, department or branch thereof or with the purchase of raw materials for, or the distribution or sale of the products of, the factory or establishment 2[or any person engaged as an apprentice, not being an apprentice engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (52 of 1961), or 3[and includes such person engaged as apprentice whose training period is extended to any length of time] but does not include]—
(a) any member of 4[the Indian] naval, military or air forces; or
5[(b) any person so employed whose wages (excluding remuneration for overtime work)
exceed 6[such wages as may be prescribed by the Central Government] a month:
Provided that an employee whose wages (excluding remuneration for overtime work) exceed 6[such wages as may be prescribed by the Central Government] at any time after (and not before) the beginning of the contribution period, shall continue to be an employee until the end of that period;]
(10) “exempted employee” means an employee who is not liable under this Act to pay the employee’s contribution;
7[(11) “family” means all or any of the following relatives of an insured person, namely:— (i) a spouse;
(ii) a minor legitimate or adopted child dependent upon the insured person;
(iii) a child who is wholly dependent on the earnings of the insured person and who is—
(a) receiving education, till he or she attains the age of twenty-one years,
(b) an unmarried daughter;
(iv) a child who is infirm by reason of any physical or mental abnormality or injury and is
wholly dependent on the earnings of the insured person, so long as the infirmity continues;
1.
2.
3. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 3, for “or under the standing orders of the establishment;” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010). 4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 3, for sub-clause (v) (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
8[(v) dependant parents, whose income from all sources does not exceed such income as may be prescribed by the Central Government;
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2, for “but does not include” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 3, for “but does not include” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “His Majesty’s”.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2, for sub-clause (b) (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 3, for “one thousand and six hundred rupees a month” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for clauses (11) and (12) (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
7

(vi) in case the insured person is unmarried and his or her parents are not alive, a minor brother or sister wholly dependant upon the earnings of the insured person;]
1[(12) “factory” means any premises including the precincts thereof whereon ten or more persons
are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on or is ordinarily so carried on, but does not include a mine
subject to the operation of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952) or a railway running shed;
]
(13) “immediate employer”, in relation to employees employed by or through him, means a person who has undertaken the execution, on the premises of a factory or an establishment to which this Act applies or under the supervision of the principal employer or his agent, of the whole, or any part of any work which is ordinarily part of the work of the factory or establishment of the principal employer or is preliminary to the work carried on in, or incidental to the purpose of, any such factory or establishment, and includes a person by whom the services of an employee who has entered into a contract of service with him are temporarily lent or let on hire to the principal employer; 2[and includes a contractor];
3[(13A) “insurable employment” means an employment in a factory or establishment to which this Act applies;]
(14) “insured person” means a person who is or was an employee in respect of whom contributions are or were payable under this Act and who is by reason thereof, entitled to any of the benefits provided by this Act;
3[(14A) “managing agent” means any person appointed or acting as the representative of another person for the purpose of carrying on such other person’s trade or business, but does not include an individual manager subordinate to an employer;
4[(14AA) “manufacturing process” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948);]
(14B) “mis-carriage” means expulsion of the contents of a pregnant uterus at any period prior to or during the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy but does not include any miscarriage, the causing of which is punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);]
(15) “occupier” of the factory shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Factories Act, 5[1948 (63 of 1948)];
3[(15A) “permanent partial disablement” means such disablement of a permanent nature, as reduces the earning capacity of an employee in every employment which he was capable of undertaking at the time of the accident resulting in the disablement:
Provided that every injury specified in Part II of the Second Schedule shall be deemed to result in permanent partial disablement;
(15B) “permanent total disablement” means such disablement of a permanent nature as incapacitates an employee for all work which he was capable of performing at the time of the accident resulting in such disablement:
Provided that permanent total disablement shall be deemed to result from every injury specified in Part I of the Second Schedule or from any combination of injuries specified in Part II thereof where the aggregate percentage of the loss of earning capacity, as specified in the said Part II against those injuries, amounts to one hundred per cent. or more;]
4[(15C) “power” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Factories Act, 1948 (53 of 1948);] (16) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act:
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 3, for clause (12) (w.e.f. 1-6-2010). 2.
3.
4.
5.
Added by Act 29 of 1989 s. 3 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968)
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 3 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 3, for “1934” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
8

(17) “principal employer” means—
(i) in a factory, the owner or occupier of the factory and includes the managing agent of such owner or occupier, the legal representative of a deceased owner or occupier, and where a person has been named as the manager of the factory under 1[the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948)], the person so named;
(ii) in any establishment under the control of any department of any Government in India, the authority appointed by such Government in this behalf or where no authority is so appointed, the head of the department;
(iii) in any other establishment, any person responsible for the supervision and control of the establishment;
(18) “regulation” means a regulation made by the Corporation;
(19) “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Act;
2[(19A) “seasonal factory” means a factory which is exclusively engaged in one or more of the following manufacturing processes, namely, cotton ginning, cotton or jute pressing, decortication of groundnuts, the manufacture of coffee, indigo, lac, rubber, sugar (including gur) or tea or any manufacturing process which is incidental to or connected with any of the aforesaid processes and includes a factory which is engaged for a period not exceeding seven months in a year—
(a) in any process of blending, packing or repacking of tea or coffee; or
(b) in such other manufacturing process as the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, specify;]
(20) “sickness” means a condition which requires medical treatment and attendance and necessitates abstention from work on medical grounds;
(21) “temporary disablement” means a condition resulting from an employment injury which requires medical treatment and renders an employee, as a result of such injury, temporarily incapable of 3[doing the work which he was doing prior to or at the time of the injury];
(22) “wages” means all remuneration paid or payable, in cash to an employee, if the terms of the contract of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled and includes 4[any payment to an employee in respect of any period of authorised leave, lock-out, strike which is not illegal or lay-off and] other additional remuneration, if any, 5[paid at intervals not exceeding two months], but does not include—
(a) any contribution paid by the employer to any pension fund or provident fund, or under this Act;
(b) any travelling allowance or the value of any travelling concession;
(c) any sum paid to the person employed to defray special expenses entailed on him by the
nature of his employment; or
(d) any gratuity payable on discharge;
6[(23) “wage period” in relation to an employee means the period in respect of which wages are ordinarily payable to him whether in terms of the contract of employment, express or implied or otherwise;]
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 3, for “clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Factories Act, 1934” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 3 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2, for “work” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 3, for “paid at regular intervals after the last day of the wage period” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 2, for clause (23) (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
9

1[(24) all other words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.]
2[2A. Registration of factories and establishments.—Every factory or establishment to which this Act applies shall be registered within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf.]
CHAPTER II
CORPORATION, STANDING COMMITTEE AND MEDICAL BENEFIT COUNCIL
3. Establishment of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.—(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be established for the administration of the scheme of Employees’ State Insurance in accordance with the provisions of this Act a Corporation to be known as the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.
(2) The Corporation shall be a body corporate by the name of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
4. Constitution of Corporation.—The Corporation shall consist of the following members, namely:—
3[(a) a Chairman to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government;
(b) a Vice-Chairman to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government;]
(c) not more than five persons to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government 5***;
(d) one person each representing each of the 6[ 7[States] in which this Act is in force] to be 4[appointed] by the State Government concerned;
(e) one person to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government to represent the 8[Union territories];
(f) 9[ten] persons representing employers to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employers as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government;
(g) 9[ten] persons representing employees to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employees as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government;
(h) two persons representing the medical profession to be 4[appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of medical practitioners as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government; 10***
11[(i) three members of Parliament of whom two shall be members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and one shall be a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) elected respectively by the members of the House of the People and the members of the Council of States; and
(j) the Director General of the Corporation, ex officio.]
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 4, for “Part A States” 7.
8.
9.
10. 11.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 2, for clause (24) (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for clauses (a) and (b) (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nominated” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
The words “of whom at least three shall be officials of the Central Government” omitted by Act 44 of 1966, s. 4
(w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
(w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by the A.O. (No. 3) 1956, for “Part A States and B States”.
Subs., ibid. for “Part C States”.
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 5, for “five” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
The word “and” omitted by Act 44 of 1966, s. 4 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for clause (i) (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
10

5. Term of office of members of the Corporation.—(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the term of office of members of the Corporation, other than 1[the members referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of section 4 and the ex officio member,] shall be four years commencing from the date on which their 2[appointment] or election is notified:
Provided that a member of the Corporation shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the said period of four years, continue to hold office until the 2[appointment] or election of his successor is notified.
(2) The members of the Corporation referred to in clauses 3[(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)] of section 4 shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government 4[appointing] them.
6. Eligibility for re-appointment or re-election.—An outgoing member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee, or the Medical Benefit Council shall be eligible for 5[re-appointment] or re-election as the case may be.
6[7. Authentication of orders, decisions, etc.—All orders and decisions of the Corporation shall be authenticated by the signature of the Director General of the Corporation and all other instruments issued by the Corporation shall be authenticated by the signature of the Director General or such other officer of the Corporation as may be authorised by him.]
8. Constitution of Standing Committee.—A Standing Committee of the Corporation shall be constituted from among its members, consisting of—
(a) a Chairman, 7[appointed] by the Central Government;
(b) three members of the Corporation, 8[ 7[appointed] by the Central Government];
9[(bb) three members of the Corporation representing such three State Governments thereon as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify from time to time;]
(c) 10[eight] members elected by the Corporation as follows:—
11* * * * *
(ii) 12[three] members from among the members of the Corporation representing employers;
(iii) 12[three] members from among the members of the Corporation representing employees;
(iv) one member from among the members of the Corporation representing the medical profession; and
(v) one member from among the members of the Corporation elected by 13[Parliament]; 14[(d) the Director General of the Corporation, ex officio.]
9. Term of office of members of Standing Committee.—(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the term of office of a member of the Standing Committee, other than a member referred to in clause (a) or 15[clause (b) or clause (bb)] of section 8, shall be two years from the date on which his election is notified:
1.
2.
3.
4. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nominating” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989). 5.
6.
7. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nominated” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
8. Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 7, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
9. 10. 11. O 12. 13. 14. 15.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 5, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nomination” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 5, for “(c), (d) and (e)” (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “renomination” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 6, for section 7 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Ins. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 5 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 7, for “six” (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
mitted by Act 53 of 1951, s. 5 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951)
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 7, for “two” (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Central Legislature”.
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 7 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 6, for “clause (b)” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
11

Provided that a member of the Standing Committee shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the said period of two years, continue to hold office until the election of his successor is notified:
Provided further that a member of the Standing Committee shall cease to hold office when he ceases to be a member of the Corporation.
(2) A member of the Standing Committee referred to in clause (a) or 1[clause (b) or clause (bb)] of section 8 shall hold office during the pleasure of the Central Government.
10. Medical Benefit Council.—(1) The Central Government shall constitute a Medical Benefit Council consisting of—
2[(a) the Director General, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, ex officio as Chairman;
(b) a Director-General, Health Services, ex officio, as Co-Chairman;]
(c) the Medical Commissioner of the Corporation, ex officio;
(d) one member each representing each of the 3[ 4[States (other than Union territories)] in which this Act is in force] to be 5[appointed] by the State Government concerned;
(e) three members representing employers to be 5[appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employers as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government;
(f) three members representing employees to be 5[appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employees as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government; and
(g) three members, of whom not less than one shall be a woman, representing the medical profession, to be 5[appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of medical practitioners as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government.
(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the term of office of a member of the Medical Benefit Council, other than a member referred to in any of the clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (1), shall be four years from the date on which his 6[appointment] is notified:
7[Provided that a member of the Medical Benefit Council shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the said period of four years continue to hold office until the 6[appointment] of his successor is notified.]
(3) A member of the Medical Benefit Council referred to in clauses (b) and (d) of sub-section (1) shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government 8[appointing] him.
11. Resignation of membership.—A member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council may resign his office by notice in writing to the Central Government and his seat shall fall vacant on the acceptance of the resignation by that Government.
12. Cessation of membership.—9[(1)] A member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council shall cease to be a member of that body if he fails to attend three consecutive meetings thereof:
Provided that the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, as the case may be, may, subject to rules made by the Central Government in this behalf, restore him to membership.
10[(2) Where in the opinion of the Central Government any person 5[appointed] or elected to represent employers, employees or the medical profession on the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the
1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 6, for “clause (b)” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 4, for sub-clauses (a) and (b) (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
3. Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 7, for “Part A States” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
4. Subs. by the A.O. (No. 3) 1956, for “Part A States or Part B States”.
5. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nominated” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
6. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “nomination” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
7. Added by Act 44 of 1966, s. 8 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
8. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nominating” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
9. 10.
Section 12 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 53 of 1951, s. 8 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Ins. by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
12

Medical Benefit Council, as the case may be, has ceased to represent such employers, employees or the medical profession, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that with effect from such date as may be specified therein such person shall cease to be a member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, as the case may be.]
13. Disqualification.—A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as or for being a member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council—
(a) if he is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent Court; or
(b) if he is an undischarged insolvent; or
(c) if he has directly or indirectly by himself or by his partner any interest in a subsisting contract with, or any work being done for, the Corporation except as a medical practitioner or as a shareholder (not being a Director) of a company; or
(d) if before or after the commencement of this Act, he has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude.
14. Filling of vacancies.—(1) Vacancies in the office of 2[appointed] or elected members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall be filled by 3[appointment] or election, as the case may be.
(2) A member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council 2[appointed] or elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only so long as the member in whose place he is 2[appointed] or elected would have been entitled to hold office if the vacancy had not occurred.
15. Fees and allowances.—Members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall receive such fees and allowances as may from time to time be prescribed by the Central Government.
1[(3) A person referred to in clause (i) of section 4 shall cease to be a member on becoming a Minister
or Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of the People or Deputy Chairman of the Council of States or
when he ceases to be a member of Parliament.]
16. Appointment of a Director General and a Financial Commissioner.—4[(1) The Central Government may, in consultation with the Corporation, appoint a Director General and a Financial Commissioner.]
(2) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
(3) 5[The Director General and The Financial Commissioner] shall be whole-time officers of the Corporation and shall not undertake any work unconnected with their office without the sanction of the Central Government 6[and of the Corporation].
(4) 5[The Director General or the Financial Commissioner] shall hold office for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be specified in the order appointing him. An outgoing 5[the Director General
or Financial Commissioner] shall be eligible for reappointment if he is otherwise qualified.
(5) 5[The Director General or the Financial Commissioner] shall receive such salary and allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(6) A person shall be disqualified from being appointed as or for being 5[the Director General or the Financial Commissioner] if he is subject to any of the disqualifications specified in section 13.
(7) The Central Government may at any time remove 5[the Director General or the Financial Commissioner] from office and shall do so if such removal is recommended by a resolution of the
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 5, for “sub-section (3)” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
2. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, for “nominated” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “nomination” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
4.
5. 6.
Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for “The Principal Officers” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 10 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
13

Corporation passed at a special meeting called for the purpose and supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total strength of the Corporation.
17. Staff.—(1) The Corporation may employ such other staff of officers and servants as may be necessary for the efficient transaction of its business provided that the sanction of the Central Government shall be obtained for the creation of any post 1[the maximum monthly salary of which 2[exceeds such salary as may be prescribed by the Central Government].]
3[(2) (a) The method of recruitment, salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service of the members of the staff of the Corporation shall be such as may be specified in the regulations made by the Corporation in accordance with the rules and orders applicable to the officers and employees of the Central Government drawing corresponding scales of pay:
Provided that where the Corporation is of the opinion that it is necessary to make a departure from the said rules or orders in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, it shall obtain the prior approval of the Central Government:
(b) In determining the corresponding scales of pay of the members of the staff under clause (a), the Corporation shall have regard to the educational qualifications, method of recruitment, duties and responsibilities of such officers and employees under the Central Government and in case of any doubt, the Corporation shall refer the matter to the Central Government whose decision thereon shall be final.]
(3) Every appointment to 5[posts 6[(other than medical posts)] corresponding to 7[Group A and Group B] posts under the Central Government] shall be made in consultation with the 8[Union] Public Service Commission:
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply to an officiating or temporary appointment for 9[a period] not exceeding one year:
10[Provided further that any such officiating or temporary appointment shall not confer any claim for regular appointment and the services rendered in that capacity shall not count towards seniority or minimum qualifying service specified in the regulations for promotion to next higher grade.]
11[(4) If any question arises whether a post corresponds to a 7[Group A and Group B] post under the Central Government, the question shall be referred to that Government whose decision thereon shall be final.]
18. Powers of the Standing Committee.—(1) Subject to the general superintendence and control of the Corporation, the Standing Committee shall administer the affairs of the Corporation and may exercise any of the powers and perform any of the functions of the Corporation.
(2) The Standing Committee shall submit for the consideration and decision of the Corporation all such cases and matters as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf.
(3) The Standing Committee may, in its discretion, submit any other case or matter for the decision of the Corporation.
19. Corporation’s power to promote measures for health, etc., of insured persons.—The Corporation may, in addition to the scheme of benefits specified in this Act, promote measures for the
1. 2. 3.
4. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
5. Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 11, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
6. Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 7 (w.e.f. 16-5-1990).
7. Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 3, for “
8. 9. 10
11. Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 11 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
4[Provided further that this sub-section shall not apply to appointment of consultants and specialists in
various fields appointed on contract basis.]
Subs. by Act 38 of 1975, s. 3, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
Subs by Act 29 of 1989, s. 7, for “exceeds two thousand and two hundred fifty rupees” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 8-11-1989).
Class I or Class II” (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Federal”.
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 7, for “an aggregate period” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
. Ins. by s. 7, ibid. ( (w.e.f. 20-10-1989)
14

improvement of the health and welfare of insured persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of insured persons who have been disabled or injured and may incur in respect of such measures expenditure from the funds of the Corporation within such limits as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
20. Meetings of Corporation, Standing Committee and Medical Benefit Council.—Subject to any rules made under this Act, the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules or procedure in regard to transaction of business at their meetings as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf.
21. Supersession of the Corporation, and Standing Committee.—(1) If in the opinion of the Central Government, the Corporation or the Standing Committee persistently makes default in performing the duties imposed on it by or under this Act or abuses its powers, that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the Corporation, or in the case of the Standing Committee, supersede, in consultation with the Corporation, the Standing Committee:
Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section the Central Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be, to show cause why it should not be superseded and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be.
(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) superseding the Corporation or the Standing Committee, all the members of the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be, shall, as from the date of such publication, be deemed to have vacated their offices.
(3) When the Standing Committee has been superseded, a new Standing Committee shall be immediately constituted in accordance with section 8.
(4) When the Corporation has been superseded, the Central Government may—
(a) immediately 1[appoint] or cause to be 2[appointed] new members to the Corporation in
accordance with section 4 and may constitute a new Standing Committee under section 8;
(b) in its discretion, appoint such agency, for such period as it may think fit, to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Corporation and such agency shall be competent to exercise all the powers and perform all the functions of the Corporation.
(5) The Central Government shall cause a full report of any action taken under this section and the circumstances leading to such action to be laid before 3[Parliament] at the earliest opportunity and in any case not later than three months from the date of the notification superseding the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be.
22. Duties of Medical Benefit Council.—The Medical Benefit Council shall—
(a) advise 4[the Corporation and the Standing Committee] on matters relating to the administration of medical benefit, the certification for purposes of the grant of benefits and other connected matters;
(b) have such powers and duties of investigation as may be prescribed in relation to complaints against medical practitioners in connection with medical treatment and attendance; and
(c) perform such other duties in connection with medical treatment and attendance as may be specified in the regulations.
23. Duties of 5[Director General and the Financial Commissioner].—The 5[Director General and the Financial Commissioner] shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties as may be prescribed. They shall also perform such other functions as may be specified in the regulations.
1. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 4, “nominate” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
2. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., “nominated” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
3. 4.
5.
Subs. by A.O. 1950, for “the Central Legislature”.
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 9, for “the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Commissioner”
(w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 8, for “Principal Officers” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
15

24. Acts of Corporation, etc., not invalid by reason of defect in constitution, etc.—No act of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council shall be deemed to be invalid by reason of any defect in the constitution of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, or on the ground that any member thereof was not entitled to hold or continue in office by reason of any disqualification or of any irregularity in his 1[appointment] or election, or by reason of such act having been done during the period of any vacancy in the office of any member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council.
25. Regional Boards, Local Committees, Regional and Local Medical Benefit Councils.—The Corporation may appoint Regional Boards, Local Committees and Regional and Local Medical Benefit Councils in such areas and in such manner, and delegate to them such powers and functions, as may be provided by the regulations.
CHAPTER III FINANCE AND AUDIT
26. Employees’ State Insurance Fund.—(1) All contributions paid under this Act and all other moneys received on behalf of the Corporation shall be paid into a fund called the Employees’ State Insurance Fund which shall be held and administered by the Corporation for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Corporation may accept grants, donations and gifts from the Central or any State Government, 2*** local authority, or any individual or body whether incorporated or not, for all or any of the purposes of this Act.
3[(3) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act and to any rules or regulations made in this behalf, all moneys accruing or payable to the said Fund shall be paid into the Reserve Bank of India or such other bank as may be approved by the Central Government to the credit of an account styled the account of the Employees’ State Insurance Fund.]
(4) Such account shall be operated on by such officers as may be authorised by the Standing Committee with the approval of the Corporation.
27. [Grant by the Central Government.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1966 (44 of 1966) s. 12 (w.e.f. 17-6- 1967).
28. Purposes for which the Fund may be expended.—Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any rules made by the Central Government in that behalf, the Employees’ State Insurance Fund shall be expended only for the following purposes, namely:—
(i) payment of benefits and provision of medical treatment and attendance to insured persons and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, the provision of such medical benefit to their families, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and defraying the charges and costs in connection therewith;
(ii) payment of fees and allowances to members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council, the Regional Boards, Local Committees and Regional and Local Medical Benefit Councils;
(iii) payment of salaries, leave and joining time allowances, travelling and compensatory allowances, gratuities and compassionate allowances, pensions, contributions to provident or other benefit fund of officers and servants of the Corporation and meeting the expenditure in respect of offices and other services set up for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act;
(iv) establishment and maintenance of hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions and the provision of medical and other ancillary services for the benefit of insured persons and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, their families;
1. Subs. by Act 39 of 1989, s. 4, for “nomination” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989). 2.
3.
The words and letter “Part B State,” omitted by Act 53 of 1951, s. 10 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
16

(v) payment of contributions to any State Government, 1*** local authority or any private body or individual, towards the cost of medical treatment and attendance provided to insured persons and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, their families, including the cost of any building and equipment, in accordance with any agreement entered into by the Corporation;
(vi) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of auditing the accounts of the Corporation and of the valuation of its assets and liabilities;
(vii) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of the Employees’ Insurance Courts set up under this Act;
(viii) payment of any sums under any contract entered into for the purposes of this Act by the Corporation or the Standing Committee or by any officer duly authorized by the Corporation or the Standing Committee in that behalf;
(ix) payment of sums under any decree, order or award of any Court or Tribunal against the Corporation or any of its officers or servants for any act done in the execution of his duty or under a compromise or settlement of any suit or other legal proceeding or claim instituted or made against the Corporation;
(x) defraying the cost and other charges of instituting or defending any civil or criminal proceedings arising out of any action taken under this Act;
(xi) defraying expenditure, within the limits prescribed, on measures for the improvement of the health welfare of insured persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of insured persons who have been disabled or injured; and
(xii) such other purposes as may be authorized by the Corporation with the previous approval of the Central Government.
2[28A. Administrative expenses.—The types of expenses which may be termed as administrative expenses and the percentage of the income of the Corporation which may be spent for such expenses shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government and the Corporation shall keep its administrative expenses within the limit so prescribed by the Central Government.]
29. Holding of property, etc.—(1) The Corporation may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, acquire and hold property both movable and immovable, sell or otherwise transfer any movable or immovable property which may have become vested in or have been acquired by it and do all things necessary for the purposes for which the Corporation is established.
(2) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, the Corporation may from time to time invest any moneys which are not immediately required for expenses properly defrayable under this Act and may, subject as aforesaid, from time to time re-invest or realise such investments.
(3) The Corporation may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government and on such terms as may be prescribed by it, raise loans and take measures for discharging such loans.
(4) The Corporation may constitute for the benefit of its staff or any class of them, such provident or other benefit fund as it may think fit.
30. Vesting of the property in the Corporation.—All property acquired before the establishment of the Corporation shall vest in the Corporation and all income derived and expenditure incurred in this behalf shall be brought into the books of the Corporation.
31. [Expenditure by Central Government to be treated as a loan.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1966 (44 of 1966). s. 12 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
32. Budget estimates.—The Corporation shall in each year frame a budget showing the probable receipts and the expenditure which it proposes to incur during the following year and shall submit a copy
1. 2.
The words and letter “Part B State” omitted by Act 53 of 1951, s. 11 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 9 (w.e.f. 1-5-1997).
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of the budget for the approval of the Central Government before such date as may be fixed by it in that behalf. The budget shall contain provisions adequate in the opinion of the Central Government for the discharge of the liabilities incurred by the Corporation and for the maintenance of a working balance.
33. Accounts.—The Corporation shall maintain correct accounts of its income and expenditure in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
1[34. Audit.—(1) The accounts of the Corporation shall be audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any expenditure incurred by him in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Corporation to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Corporation shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General has, in connection with the audit of Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the Corporation.
(3) The accounts of the Corporation as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded to the Corporation which shall forward the same to the Central Government along with its comments on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.]
35. Annual report.—The Corporation shall submit to the Central Government an annual report of its work and activities.
36. Budget, audited accounts and the annual report to be placed before Parliament.—The annual report, the audited accounts of the Corporation 2[together with the 3[the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India thereon and the comments of the Corporation on such report] under section 34] and the budget as finally adopted by the Corporation shall be placed before 4[Parliament] 5***.
37. Valuation of assets and liabilities.—The Corporation shall, at intervals of 6[three years], have a valuation of its assets and liabilities made by a valuer appointed with the approval of the Central Government:
Provided that it shall be open to the Central Government to direct a valuation to be made at such other times as it may consider necessary.
CHAPTER IV CONTRIBUTIONS
38. All employees to be insured.—Subject to the provisions of this Act, all employees in factories, or establishments to which this Act applies shall be insured in the manner provided by this Act.
39. Contributions.—(1) The contribution payable under this Act in respect of an employee shall comprise contribution payable by the employer (hereinafter referred to as the employer’s contribution) and contribution payable by the employee (hereinafter referred to as the employee’s contribution) and shall be paid to the Corporation.
7[(2) The contributions shall be paid at such rates as may be prescribed by the Central Government: Provided that the rates so prescribed shall not be more than the rates which were in force immediately
before the commencement of the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1989 (29 of 1989).]
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 7, for “five years” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
7. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 12, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 10, for section 34 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 44 of 1986, s. 13 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 11, for “auditor’s report thereon” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Central Legislature”.
The words “and published in the Gazette of India” omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 11 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
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1[(3) The wage period in relation to an employee shall be the unit in respect of which all contributions shall be payable under this Act.]
(4) The contributions payable in respect of each 2[wage period] shall ordinarily for due on the last day of the 2[wage period] and where an employee is employed for part of the 2[wage period] or is employed under two or more employers during the same 2[wage period] the contribution shall fall due on such days as may be specified in the regulations.
3[(5) (a) If any contribution payable under this Act is not paid by the principal employer on the date on which such contribution has become due, he shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of twelve per cent. per annum or at such higher rate as may be specified in the regulation till the date of its actual payment:
Provided that higher interest specified in the regulations shall not exceed the lending rate of interest charged by any scheduled bank.
(b) Any interest recoverable under clause (a) may be recovered as an arrear of land revenue or under section 45C to section 45-I.
Explanation.—In this sub-section, “scheduled bank” means a bank for the time being included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934).]
40. Principal employer to pay contributions in the first instance.—(1) The principal employer shall pay in respect of every employee, whether directly employed by him or by or through an immediate employer, both the employer’s contribution and the employee’s contribution.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment but subject to the provisions of this Act and the regulations, if any, made thereunder, the principal employer shall, in the case of an employee directly employed by him (not being an exempted employee), be entitled to recover from the employee the employee’s contribution by deduction from his wages and not otherwise:
Provided that no such deduction shall be made from any wages other than such as relate to the period or part of the period in respect of which the contribution is payable, or in excess of the sum representing the employee’s contribution for the period.
(3) Notwithstanding any contract to the contrary, neither the principal employer nor the immediate employer shall be entitled to deduct the employer’s contribution from any wages payable to an employee or otherwise to recover it from him.
(4) Any sum deducted by the principal employer from wages under this Act shall be deemed to have been entrusted to him by the employee for the purpose of paying the contribution in respect of which it was deducted.
(5) The principal employer shall bear the expenses of remitting the contributions to the Corporation.
41. Recovery of contribution from immediate employer.—(1) A principal employer, who has paid contribution in respect of an employee employed by or through an immediate employer, shall be entitled to recover the amount of the contribution so paid (that is to say the employer’s contribution as well as the employee’s contribution, if any) from the immediate employer, either by deduction from any amount payable to him by the principal employer under any contract, or as a debt payable by the immediate employer.
4[(1A) The immediate employer shall maintain a register of employees employed by or through him as provided in the regulations and submit the same to the principal employer before the settlement of any amount payable under sub-section (1).]
1. 2. 3. 4.
Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 4, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “week” (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 12 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
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(2) In the case referred to in sub-section (1), the immediate employee shall be entitled to recover the employee’s contribution from the employee employed by or through him by deduction from wages and not otherwise, subject to the conditions specified in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 40.
1* * * * *
42. General provisions as to payment of contributions.—(1) No employee’s contribution shall be payable by or on behalf of an employee whose average daily wages 2[during a wage period are below 3[such wages as may be prescribed by the Central Government]].
Explanation.—The average daily wages of an employee shall be calculated 4[in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(2) Contribution (both the employer’s contribution and the employee’s contribution) shall be payable by the principal employer for each 5[wage period] 6[in respect of the whole or part of which wages are payable to the employee and not otherwise].
7* * * * *
8* * * * *
43. Method of payment of contributions.—Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Corporation may make regulations for any matter relating or incidental to the payment and collection of contributions payable under this Act and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such regulations may provide for—
(a) the manner and time of payment of contributions;
(b) the payment of contributions by means of adhesive or other stamps affixed to or impressed upon books, cards or otherwise and regulating the manner, times and conditions in, at and under which, such stamps are to be affixed or impressed;
9[(bb) the date by which evidence of contributions having been paid is to be received by the Corporation;]
(c) the entry in or upon books or cards of particulars of contributions paid and benefits distributed in the case of the insured persons to whom such books or cards relate; and
(d) the issue, sale, custody, production, inspection and delivery of books or cards and the replacement of books or cards which have been lost, destroyed or defaced.
10[44. Employers to furnish returns and maintain registers in certain cases.—(1) Every principal and immediate employer shall submit to the Corporation or to such officer of the Corporation as it may direct such returns in such form and containing such particulars relating to persons employed by him or to any factory or establishment in respect of which he is the principal or immediate employer as may be specified in regulations made in this behalf.
(2) Where in respect of any factory or establishment the Corporation has reason to believe that a return should have been submitted under sub-section (1) but has not been so submitted, the Corporation may require any person in charge of the factory or establishment to furnish such particulars as it may consider necessary for the purpose of enabling the Corporation to decide whether the factory or establishment is a factory or establishment to which this Act applies.
1. The 2.
3.
4.
5. 6.
7. O
8. O
9. 10.
Explanation omitted by Act 44 of 1966, s. 14 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 5, for “are below one rupee and fifty paise” (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 14, for “six rupees” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by s. 14, ibid., for “in such manner specified in the First Schedule” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 5, for “week” (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 15, for “during the whole or part of which an employee is employed” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
mitted by Act 45 of 1984, s. 5 (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
mitted by Act 44 of 1966, s. 15 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Ins. by s. 16, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 12, for section 44 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
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(3) Every principal and immediate employer shall maintain such registers or records in respect of his factory or establishment as may be required by regulations made in this behalf.]
45. 1[Social Security Officers], their functions and duties.—(1) The Corporation may appoint such persons as inspectors, as it thinks fit, for the purposes of this Act, within such local limits as it may assign to them.
(2) Any 2[Social Security Officer] appointed by the Corporation under sub-section (1) (hereinafter referred to as 2[Social Security Officer]), or other official of the Corporation authorised in this behalf by it may, for the purposes of enquiring into the correctness of any of the particulars stated in any return referred to in section 44 or for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of the provisions of this Act has been complied with—
(a) require any principal or immediate employer to furnish to him such information as he may consider necessary for the purposes of this Act; or
(b) at any reasonable time enter any office, establishment, factory or other premises occupied by such principal or immediate employer and require any person found in charge thereof to produce to such 2[Social Security Officer] or other official and allow him to examine such accounts, books and other documents relating to the employment of persons and payment of wages or to furnish to him such information as he may consider necessary; or
(c) examine, with respect to any matter relevant to the purposes aforesaid, the principal or immediate employer, his agent or servant, or any person found in such factory, establishment, office or other premises, or any person whom the said 2[Social Security Officer] or other official has reasonable cause to believe to be or to have been an employee;
3[(d) make copies of, or take extracts from, any register, account book or other document maintained in such factory, establishment, office or other premises;
(e) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed.]
(3) An 2[Social Security Officer] shall exercise such functions and perform such duties as may be
authorized by the Corporation or as may be specified in the regulations.
5[45A. Determination of contributions in certain cases.—(1) Where in respect of a factory or establishment no returns, particulars, registers or records are submitted, furnished or maintained in accordance with the provisions of section 44 or any 2[Social Security Officer] or other official of the Corporation referred to in sub-section (2) of section 45 is 6[prevented in any manner] by the principal or immediate employer or any other person, in exercising his functions or discharging his duties under section 45, the Corporation may, on the basis of information available to it, by order, determine the amount of contributions payable in respect of the employees of that factory or establishment:
7[Provided that no such order shall be passed by the Corporation unless the principal or immediate employer or the person in charge of the factory or establishment has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.]
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 8, for “Inspectors” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
2. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for “Inspector” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
3. Ins. by Act 53 of 1961, s. 13 (w.e.f.
4. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 8 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
5. 6. 7.
4[(4) Any officer of the Corporation authorised in this behalf by it may, carry out re-inspection or test
inspection of the records and returns submitted under section 44 for the purpose of verifying the
correctness and quality of the inspection carried out by a Social Security Officer.]
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 17 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 15, for “obstructed” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 15, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
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1[Provided further that no such order shall be passed by the Corporation in respect of the period
beyond five years from the date on which the contribution shall become payable.]
(2) An order made by the Corporation under sub-section (1) shall be sufficient proof of the claim of the Corporation under section 75 or for recovery of the amount determined by such order as an arrear of land revenue under section 45B 2[or the recovery under section 45C to section 45-I].
3[45AA. Appellate authority.—1[If an employer is not satisfied with the order referred to in section 45A, he may prefer an appeal to an appellate authority as may be provided by regulation, within sixty days of the date of such order after depositing twenty-five per cent. of the contribution so ordered or the contribution as per his own calculation, whichever is higher, with the Corporation:
Provided that if the employer finally succeeds in the appeal, the Corporation shall refund such deposit to the employer together with such interest as may be specified in the regulation.]
45B. Recovery of contributions.—Any contribution payable under this Act may be recovered as an arrear of land revenue.]
4[45C. Issue of certificate to the Recovery Officer.—(1) Where any amount is in arrear under this Act, the authorised officer may issue, to the Recovery Officer, a certificate under his signature specifying the amount of arrears and the Recovery Officer, on receipt of such certificate, shall proceed to recover the amount specified therein from the factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer by one or more of the modes mentioned below:—
(a) attachment and sale of the movable or immovable property of the factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer;
(b) arrest of the employer and his detention in prison;
(c) appointing a receiver for the management of the movable or immovable properties of the
factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the employer:
Provided that the attachment and sale of any property under this section shall first be effected against the properties of the factory or establishment and where such attachment and sale is insufficient for recovering the whole of the amount of arrears specified in the certificate, the Recovery Officer may take such proceedings against the property of the employer for recovery of the whole or any part of such arrears.
(2) The authorised officer may issue a certificate under sub-section (1) notwithstanding that proceedings for recovery of the arrears by any other mode have been taken.
45D. Recovery officer to whom certificate is to be forwarded.—(1) The authorised officer may forward the certificate referred to in section 45C to the Recovery Officer within whose jurisdiction the employer—
(a) carries on his business or profession or within whose jurisdiction the principal place of his factory or establishment is situate; or
(b) resides or any movable or immovable property of the factory or establishment or the principal or immediate employer is situate.
(2) Where a factory or an establishment or the principal or immediate employer has property within the jurisdiction of more than one Recovery Officers and the Recovery Officer to whom a certificate is sent by the authorised officer—
(a) is not able to recover the entire amount by the sale of the property, movable or immovable, within his jurisdiction; or
(b) is of the opinion that, for the purpose of expediting or securing the recovery of the whole or any part of the amount, it is necessary so to do,
1. 2.
4.
Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 9 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
Added by Act 29 of 1989, s. 15 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
3. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 10 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 16 (w.e.f. 1-9-1991).
22

he may send the certificate or, where only a part of the amount is to be recovered, a copy of the certificate certified in the manner prescribed by the Central Government and specifying the amount to be recovered to the Recovery Officer within whose jurisdiction the factory or establishment or the principal or immediate employer has property or the employer resides, and thereupon that Recovery Officer shall also proceed to recover the amount due under this section as if the certificate or the copy thereof had been the certificate sent to him by the authorised officer.
45E. Validity of certificate and amendment thereof.—(1) When the authorised officer issues a certificate to a Recovery Officer under section 45C, it shall not be open to the factory or establishment or the principal or immediate employer to dispute before the Recovery Officer the correctness of the amount, and no objection to the certificate on any other ground shall also be entertained by the Recovery Officer.
(2) Notwithstanding the issue of a certificate to a Recovery Officer, the authorised officer shall have power to withdraw the certificate or correct any clerical or arithmetical mistake in the certificate by sending an intimation to the Recovery Officer.
(3) The authorised officer shall intimate to the Recovery Officer any orders withdrawing or cancelling a certificate or any correction made by him under sub-section (2) or any amendment made under sub- section (4) of section 45F.
45F. Stay of proceedings under certificate and amendment or withdrawal thereof.—(1) Notwithstanding that a certificate has been issued to the Recovery Officer for the recovery of any amount, the authorised officer may grant time for the payment of the amount, and thereupon the Recovery Officer shall stay the proceedings until the expiry of the time so granted.
(2) Where a certificate for the recovery of amount has been issued, the authorised officer shall keep the Recovery Officer informed of any amount paid or time granted for payment, subsequent to the issue of such certificate.
(3) Where the order giving rise to a demand of amount for which a certificate for recovery has been issued has been modified in appeal or other proceedings under this Act, and, as a consequence thereof, the demand is reduced but the order is the subject-matter of a further proceeding under this Act, the authorised officer shall stay the recovery of such part of the amount of the certificate as pertains to the said reduction for the period for which the appeal or other proceeding remains pending.
(4) Where a certificate for the recovery of amount has been issued and subsequently the amount of the outstanding demand is reduced as a result of an appeal or other proceeding under this Act, the authorised officer shall, when the order which was the subject- matter of such appeal or other proceeding has become final and conclusive, amend the certificate or withdraw it, as the case may be.
45G. Other modes of recovery.—(1) Notwithstanding the issue of a certificate to the Recovery Officer under section 45C, the Director General or any other officer authorised by the Corporation may recover the amount by any one or more of the modes provided in this section.
(2) If any amount is due from any person to any factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer who is in arrears, the Director General or any other officer authorised by the Corporation in this behalf may required such person to deduct from the said amount the arrears due from such factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer under this Act and such person shall comply with any such requisition and shall pay the sum so deducted to the credit of the Corporation:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any part of the amount exempt from attachment in execution of a decree of a civil court under section 60 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
(3) (i) The Director General or any other officer authorised by the Corporation in this behalf may, at any time or from time to time, by notice in writing, require any person from whom money is due or may become due to the factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer or any person who holds or may subsequently hold money for or on account of the factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer, to pay to the Director General either forthwith upon the money becoming due or being held or at or within the time specified in the notice (not being before the money becomes due or is held) so much of the money as is sufficient to pay the amount
23

due from the factory or establishment or, as the case may be, the principal or immediate employer in respect of arrears or the whole of the money when it is equal to or less than that amount.
(ii) A notice under this sub-section may be issued to any person who holds or may subsequently hold any money for or on account of the principal or immediate employer jointly with any other person and for the purposes of this sub-section, the shares of the joint-holders in such account shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be equal.
(iii) A copy of the notice shall be forwarded to the principal or immediate employer at his last address known to the Director General or, as the case may be, the officer so authorised and in the case of a joint account to all the joint-holders at their last addresses known to the Director General or the officer so authorised.
(iv) Save as otherwise provided in this sub-section, every person to whom a notice is issued under this sub-section shall be bound to comply with such notice, and, in particular, where any such notice is issued to a post office, bank or an insurer, it shall not be necessary for any pass book, deposit receipt, policy or any other document to be produced for the purpose of any entry, endorsement or the like being made before payment is made notwithstanding any rule, practice or requirement to the contrary.
(v) Any claim respecting any property in relation to which a notice under this sub-section has been issued arising after the date of the notice shall be void as against any demand contained in the notice.
(vi) Where a person to whom a notice under this sub-section is sent objects to it by a statement on oath that the sum demanded or any part thereof is not due to the principal or immediate employer or that he does not hold any money for or on account of the principal or immediate employer, then, nothing contained in this sub-section shall be deemed to require such person to pay any such sum or part thereof, as the case may be, but if it is discovered that such statement was false in any material particular, such person shall be personally liable to the Director General or the officer so authorised to the extent of his own liability to the principal or immediate employer on the date of the notice, or to the extent of the principal or immediate employer’s liability for any sum due under this Act, whichever is less.
(vii) The Director General or the officer so authorised may, at any time or from time to time, amend or revoke any notice issued under this sub-section or extend the time for making any payment in pursuance of such notice.
(viii) The Director General or the officer so authorised shall grant a receipt for any amount paid in compliance with a notice issued under this sub-section and the person so paying shall be fully discharged from his liability to the principal or immediate employer to the extent of the amount so paid.
(ix) Any person discharging any liability to the principal or immediate employer after the receipt of a notice under this sub-section shall be personally liable to the Director General or the officer so authorised to the extent of his own liability to the principal or immediate employer so discharged or to the extent of the principal or immediate employer’s liability for any sum due under this Act, whichever is less.
(x) If the person to whom a notice under this sub-section is sent fails to make payment in pursuance thereof to the Director General or the officer so authorised, he shall be deemed to be a principal or immediate employer in default in respect of the amount specified in the notice and further proceedings may be taken against him for the realisation of the amount as if it were an arrear due from him in the manner provided in sections 45C to 45F and the notice shall have the same effect as an attachment of a debt by the Recovery Officer in exercise of his powers under section 45C
(4) The Director General or the officer authorised by the Corporation in this behalf may apply to the court in whose custody there is money belonging to the principal or immediate employer for payment to him of the entire amount of such money, or if it is more than the amount due, an amount sufficient to discharge the amount due.
(5) The Director General or any officer of the Corporation may, if so authorised by the Central Government by general or special order, recover any arrears of amount due from a factory or an establishment or, as the case may be, from the principal or immediate employer by distraint and sale of its
24

or his movable property in the manner laid down in the Third Schedule to the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).
45H. Application of certain provisions of the Income-tax Act.—The provisions of the Second and Third Schedules to the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) and the Income-tax (Certificate Proceedings) Rules, 1962, as in force from time to time, shall apply with necessary modifications as if the said provisions and the rules referred to the arrears of the amount of contributions, interests or damages under this Act instead of to the income-tax:
Provided that any reference in the said provisions and the rules to the “assesse” shall be construed as a reference to a factory or an establishment or the principal or immediate employer under this Act.
45-I. Definitions.—For the purposes of sections 45C to 45H,—
(a) “authorised officer” means the Director General, Insurance Commissioner, Joint Insurance Commissioner, Regional Director or such other officer as may be authorised by the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette;
(b) “Recovery Officer” means any officer of the Central Government, State Government or the Corporation, who may be authorised by the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to exercise the powers of a Recovery Officer under this Act.]
CHAPTER V BENEFITS
46. Benefits.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the insured persons 1[their dependants or the persons hereinafter mentioned, as the case may be,] shall be entitled to the following benefits, namely:—
(a) periodical payments to any insured person in case of his sickness certified by a duly appointed medical practitioner 2[or by any other person possessing such qualifications and experience as the Corporation may, by regulations, specify in this behalf] (hereinafter referred to as sickness benefit);
3[(b) periodical payments to an insured woman in case of confinement or mis-carriage or sickness arising out of pregnancy, confinement, premature birth of child or mis-carriage, such woman being certified to be eligible for such payments by an authority specified in this behalf by the regulations (hereinafter referred to as maternity benefit;)]
(c) periodical payments to an insured person suffering from disablement as a result of an employment injury sustained as an employee under this Act and certified to be eligible for such payments by an authority specified in this behalf by the regulations (hereinafter referred to as disablement benefit);
(d) periodical payments to such dependants of an insured person who dies as a result of an employment injury sustained as an employee under this Act, as are entitled to compensation under this Act (hereinafter referred to as dependants benefit); 4***
(e) medical treatment for and attendance on insured persons (hereinafter referred to as medical benefit) ; 2[and]
2[(f) payment to the eldest surviving member of the family of an insured person who has died, towards the expenditure on the funeral of the deceased insured person, or, where the insured person did not have a family or was not living with his family at the time of his death, to the person who actually incurs the expenditure on the funeral of the deceased insured person (to be known as 5[funeral expenses]):
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 18, for “or, as the case may be, their dependants” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Ins. by s. 18, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by s. 18, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
The word “and” omitted by s. 18, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 17, for “funeral benefit” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
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Provided that the amount of such payment shall not exceed 1[such amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government] and the claim for such payment shall be made within three months of the death of the insured person or within such extended period as the Corporation or any officer or authority authorised by it in this behalf may allow.]
(2) The Corporation may, at the request of the appropriate Government, and subject to such conditions as may be laid down in the regulations, extend the medical benefits to the family of an insured person.
47. [When person eligible for sickness benefit.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1989 (29 of 1989), s. 18 (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
48. [When person deemed available for employment.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1966 (44 of 1966), s. 20 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
2[49. Sickness benefit.—The qualification of a person to claim sickness benefit, the conditions subject to which such benefit may be given, the rates and period thereof shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
50. Maternity benefit.— The qualification of an insured woman to claim maternity benefit, the conditions subject to which such benefit may be given, the rates and period thereof shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
3[51. Disablement Benefit.—Subject to the provisions of this Act 4***,—
(a) a person who sustains temporary disablement for not less than three days (excluding the day of accident) shall be entitled to periodical payment 5[at such rates and for such periods and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government];
(b) a person who sustains permanent disablement, whether total of partial, shall be entitled to periodical payment 5[at such rates and for such period and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government]:
6* * * * *
51A. Presumption as to accident arising in course of employment.—For the purposes of this Act, an accident arising in the course of 7[an employee’s] employment shall be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, also to have arisen out of that employment.
51B. Accidents happening while acting in breach of regulations, etc.—An accident shall be deemed to arise out of and in the course of 7[an employee’s] employment notwithstanding that he is at the time of the accident acting in contravention of the provisions of any law applicable to him, or of any orders given by or on behalf of his employer or that he is acting without instructions from his employer, if—
(a) the accident would have been deemed so to have arisen had the act not been done in contravention as aforesaid or without instructions from his employer, as the case may be; and
(b) the act is done for the purpose of and in connection with the employer’s trade or business.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6.
7. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 12, for “an insured person’s” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 17, for “one hundred rupees” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by s. 19, ibid., for sections 49 and 50 (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 23, for section 51 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
The words “and the regulations, if any” omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 20 (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by s. 20, ibid., for “for the period of such disablement in accordance with the provisions of the First Schedule” (w.e.f. 1-
2-1991).
Proviso omitted by s. 20, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
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51C. Accidents happening while travelling in employer’s transport.—(1) An accident happening while an 1[employee] is, with the express or implied permission of his employer, travelling as a passenger by any vehicle to or from his place of work shall, notwithstanding that he is under no obligation to his employer to travel by that vehicle, be deemed to arise out of and in the course of his employment, if—
(a) the accident would have been deemed so to have arisen had he been under such obligation; and
(b) at the time of the accident, the vehicle—
(i) is being operated by or on behalf of his employer or some other person by whom it is
provided in pursuance of arrangements made with his employer, and
(ii) is not being operated in the ordinary course of public transport service.
(2) In this section “vehicle” includes a vessel and an aircraft.
51D. Accidents happening while meeting emergency.—An accident happening to an 1[employee] in or about any premises at which he is for the time being employed for the purpose of his employer’s trade or business shall be deemed to arise out of and in the course of his employment, if it happens while he is taking steps, on an actual or supposed emergency at those premises, to rescue, succour or protect persons who are, or are thought to be or possibly to be, injured or imperilled, or to avert or minimise serious damage to property.]
2[51E. Accidents happening while commuting to the place of work and vice versa.—An accident occurring to an employee while commuting from his residence to the place of employment for duty or from the place of employment to his residence after performing duty, shall be deemed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment if nexus between the circumstances, time and place in which the accident occurred and the employment is established.]
3[52. Dependant’s benefit.—(1) If an insured person dies as a result of an employment injury sustained as an employee under this Act (whether or not he was in receipt of any periodical payment for temporary disablement in respect of the injury) dependant’s benefit shall be payable 4[at such rates and for such periods and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government] to his dependants specified in 5[sub-clause (i), sub-clause (ia) and] sub-clause (ii) of clause (6A) of section 2.
(2) In case the insured person dies without leaving behind him the dependants as aforesaid, the dependants’ benefit shall be paid to the other dependants of the deceased 4[at such rates and for such period and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government].
52A. Occupational disease.—(1) If an employee employed in any employment specified in Part A of the Third Schedule contracts any disease specified therein as an occupational disease peculiar to that employment, or if an employee employed in the employment specified in Part B of that Schedule for a continuous period of not less than six months contracts any disease specified therein as an occupational disease peculiar to that employment or if an employee employed in any employment specified in Part C of that Schedule for such continuous period as the Corporation may specify in respect of each such employment, contracts any disease specified therein as an occupational disease peculiar to that employment, the contracting of the disease shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be an “employment injury” arising out of and in the course of employment.
(2) (i) Where the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be, adds any description of employment to the employments specified in Schedule III to the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of 1923), by virtue of the powers vested in it under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the said description of employment and the occupational diseases specified under that sub-section as peculiar to that description of employment shall be deemed to form part of the Third Schedule.
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 12, for “insured person” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
2. Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
3. 4.
5.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 24, for section 52 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 21, for “in accordance with the provisions of the First Schedule” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “sub-clause (i) and” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
27

(ii) Without prejudice to the provisions of clause (i), the Corporation after giving, by notification in the Official Gazette, not less than three months’ notice of its intention so to do, may, by a like notification, add any description of employment to the employments specified in the Third Schedule and shall specify in the case of employments so added the diseases which shall be deemed for the purposes of this section to be occupational diseases peculiar to those employments respectively and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall apply, as if such diseases had been declared by this Act to be occupational diseases peculiar to those employments.
(3) Save as provided by sub-sections (1) and (2), no benefit shall be payable to an employee in respect of any disease unless the disease is directly attributable to a specific injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.
(4) The provisions of section 51A shall not apply to the cases to which this section applies.]
1[53. Bar against receiving or recovery of compensation or damages under any other law.—An insured person or his dependants shall not be entitled to receive or recover, whether from the employer of the insured person or from any other person, any compensation or damages under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of 1923), or any other law for the time being in force or otherwise, in respect of an employment injury sustained by the insured person as an employee under this Act.]
2[54. Determination of question of disablement.—Any question—
(a) whether the relevant accident has resulted in permanent disablement; or
(b) whether the extent of loss of earning capacity can be assessed provisionally or finally; or
(c) whether the assessment of the proportion of the loss of earning capacity is provisional or final; or
(d) in the case of provisional assessment, as to the period for which such assessment shall hold good,
shall be determined by a medical board constituted in accordance with the provisions of the regulations and any such question shall hereafter be referred to as the “disablement question”.
54A. References to medical boards and appeals to medical appeal tribunals and Employees’ Insurance Courts.—(1) The case of any insured person for permanent disablement benefit shall be referred by the Corporation to a medical board for determination of the disablement question and if, on that or any subsequent reference, the extent of loss of earning capacity of the insured person is provisionally assessed, it shall again be so referred to the medical board not later than the end of the period taken into account by the provisional assessment.
(2) If the insured person or the Corporation is not satisfied with the decision of the medical board, the insured person or the Corporation may appeal in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time to—
(i) the medical appeal tribunal constituted in accordance with the provisions of the regulations with a further right of appeal in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time to the Employees’ Insurance Court, or
(ii) the Employees’ Insurance Court directly:]
3[Provided that no appeal by an insured person shall lie under this sub-section if such person has applied for commutation of disablement benefit on the basis of the decision of the medical board and received the commuted value of such benefit:
Provided further that no appeal by the Corporation shall lie under this sub-section if the Corporation paid the commuted value of the disablement benefit on the basis of the decision of the medical board.]
1. 2. 3.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 25, for section 53 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by s. 26, ibid., for section 54 (w.e.f 28-1-1968).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 22 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
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1[55. Review of decisions by medical board or medical appeal tribunal.—(1) Any decision under this Act of a medical board or a medical appeal tribunal may be reviewed at any time by the medical board or the medical appeal tribunal, as the case may be, if it is satisfied by fresh evidence that the decision was given in consequence of the non-disclosure or misrepresentation by the employee or any other person of a material fact (whether the non-disclosure or misrepresentation was or was not fraudulent).
(2) Any assessment of the extent of the disablement resulting from the relevant employment injury may also be reviewed by a medical board, if it is satisified that since the making of the assessment there has been a substantial and unforeseen aggravation of the results of the relevant injury:
Provided that an assessment shall not be reviewed under this sub-section unless the medical board is of opinion that having regard to the period taken into account by the assessment and the probable duration of the aggravation aforesaid, substantial injustice will be done by not reviewing it.
(3) Except with the leave of a medical appeal tribunal, an assessment shall not be reviewed under sub-section (2) on any application made less than five years, or in the case of a provisional assessment, six months, from the date thereof and on such a review the period to be taken into account by any revised assessment shall not include any period before the date of the application.
(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, a medical board day deal with a case of review in any manner in which it could deal with it on an original reference to it, and in particular may make a provisional assessment notwithstanding that the assessment under review was final; and the provisions of section 54A shall apply to an application for review under this section and to a decision of a medical board in connection with such application as they apply to a case for disablement benefit under that section and to a decision of the medical board in connection with such case.
55A. Review of dependants’ benefit.—(1) Any decision awarding dependants’ benefit under this Act may be reviewed at any time by the Corporation if it is satisfied by fresh evidence that the decision was given in consequence of non-disclosure or misrepresentation by the claimant or any other person of a material fact (whether the non-disclosure or misrepresentation was or was not fraudulent) or that the decision is no longer in accordance with this Act due to any birth or death or due to the marriage, re-marriage or cesser of infirmity of, or attainment of the age of eighteen years by a claimant.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Corporation may, on such review as aforesaid, direct that the dependants’ benefit be continued, increased, reduced or discontinued.]
56. Medical benefit.—(1) An insured person or (where such medical benefit is extended to his family) a member of his family whose condition requires medical treatment and attendance shall be entitled to receive medical benefit.
(2) Such medical benefit may be given either in the form of out-patient treatment and attendance in a hospital or dispensary, clinic or other institution or by visits to the home of the insured person or treatment as in-patient in a hospital or other institution.
(3) A person shall be entitled to medical benefit during any 2[Period] for which contributions are payable in respect of him or in which he is qualified to claim sickness benefit or maternity benefit 3[or is in receipt of such disablement benefit as does not disentitle him to medical benefit under the regulations]:
Provided that a person in respect of whom contribution ceases to be payable under this Act may be allowed medical benefit for such period and of such nature as may be provided under the regulations:
4[Provided further that an insured person who ceases to be in insurable employment on account of permanent disablement shall continue, subject to payment of contribution and such other conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, to receive medical benefit till the date on which he would
2. 3.
1. Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 27, for section 55 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
4.
Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 8, for “week” (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 17, for “or, as provided under the regulations, is in receipt of disablement benefit”
(w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 23 (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
29

have vacated the employment on attaining the age of superannuation had he not sustained such permanent disablement:
1[Provided also that an insured person, who has attained the age of superannuation, and his spouse shall be eligible to receive medical benefit subject to payment of contribution and such other conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
Explanation.—In this section, “superannuation”, in relation to an insured person, means the attainment by that person of such age as is fixed in the contract or conditions of service as the age on the attainment of which he shall vacate the insurable employment or the age of sixty years where no such age is fixed and the person is no more in the insurable employment.]
57. Scale of medical benefit.—(1) An insured person and (where such medical benefit is extended to his family) his family shall be entitled to receive medical benefit only of such kind and on such scale as may be provided by the State Government or by the Corporation, and an insured person or, where such medical benefit is extended to his family, his family shall not have a right to claim any medical treatment except such as is provided by the dispensary, hospital, clinic or other institution to which he or his family is allotted, or as may be provided by the regulations.
(2) Nothing in this Act shall entitle an insured person and (where such medical benefit is extended to his family) his family to claim reimbursement from the Corporation of any expenses incurred in respect of any medical treatment, except as may be provided by the regulations.
58. Provision of medical treatment by State Government.—(1) The State Government shall provide for insured persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to his families) their families in the State, reasonable medical, surgical and obstetric treatment:
Provided that the State Government may, with the approval of the Corporation, arrange for medical treatment at clinics of medical practitioners on such scale and subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon.
(2) Where the incidence of sickness benefit payment to insured persons in any State is found to exceed the all-India average, the amount of such excess shall be shared between the Corporation and the State Government in such proportion as may be fixed by agreement between them:
Provided that the Corporation may in any case waive the recovery of the whole or any part of the share which is to be borne by the State Government.
(3) The Corporation may enter into an agreement with a State Government in regard to the nature and scale of the medical treatment that should be provided to insured persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to the families) their families (including provision of buildings, equipment, medicines and staff) and for the sharing of the cost thereof and of any excess in the incidence of sickness benefit to insured persons between the Corporation and the State Government.
(4) In default of agreement between the Corporation and any State Government as aforesaid the nature and extent of the medical treatment to be provided by the State Government and the proportion in which the cost thereof and of the excess in the incidence of sickness benefit shall be shared between the Corporation and that Government, shall be determined by an arbitrator (who shall be or shall have been a Judge of the 2[High Court 3[of a State]]) appointed by the Chief Justice of India and the award of the arbitrator shall be binding on the Corporation and the State Government.
4[(5) The State Government may, in addition to the Corporation under this Act, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish such organisation (by whatever name called) to provide for certain benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity and employment injury:
Provided that any reference to the State Government in the Act shall also include reference to the organisation as and when such organisation is established by the State Government.
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 14, for the proviso (w.e.f. 1-6-2010). 2.
3
4. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 15 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “High Court of a Province”.
. Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 18, for “for a Part A State” (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
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(6) The organisation referred to in sub-section (5) shall have such structure and discharge functions, exercise powers and undertake such activities as may be prescribed.]
59. Establishment and maintenance of hospitals, etc., by Corporation.—(1) The Corporation may, with the approval of the State Government, establish and maintain in a State such hospitals, dispensaries and other medical and surgical services as it may think fit for the benefit of insured persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to their families) their families.
(2) The Corporation may enter into agreement with any 1*** local authority, private body or individual in regard to the provision of medical treatment and attendance for insured persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to their families) their families, in any area and sharing the cost thereof.
3[59A. Provision of medical benefit by the Corporation in lieu of State Government.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the Corporation may, in consultation with the State Government, undertake the responsibility for providing medical benefit to insured persons and where such medical benefit is extended to their families, to the families of such insured persons in the State subject to the condition that the State Government shall share the cost of such medical benefit in such proportion as may be agreed upon between the State Government and the Corporation.
(2) In the event of the Corporation exercising its power under sub-section (1), the provisions relating to medical benefit under this Act shall apply, so far as may be, as if a reference therein to the State Government were a reference to the Corporation.]
4[59B. Medical and para-medical education.—The Corporation may establish medical colleges, nursing colleges and training institutes for its para-medical staff and other employees with a view to improve the quality of services provided under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme.]
General
60. Benefit not assignable or attachable.—(1) The right to receive any payment of any benefit under this Act shall not be transferable or assignable.
(2) No cash benefit payable under this Act shall be liable to attachment or sale in execution of any decree or order of any Court.
61. Bar of benefits under other enactments.—When a person is entitled to any of the benefits provided by this Act, he shall not be entitled to receive any similar benefit admissible under the provisions of any other enactment.
62. Persons not to commute cash benefits.—Save as may be provided in the regulations no person shall be entitled to commute for a lump sum any 5[disablement benefit] admissible under this Act.
6[63. Persons not entitled to receive benefit in certain cases.—Save as may be provided in the regulations, no person shall be entitled to sickness benefit or disablement benefit for temporary disablement on any day on which he works or remains on leave or on a holiday in respect of which he receives wages or on any day on which he remains on strike.]
1. The words and letter “Part B State” omitted by the A.O. (No. 4) 1957 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
2. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 16 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
3. Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 28 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
4. Ind. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 17 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
5. 6.
2[(3) The Corporation may also enter into agreement with any local authority, local body or private
body for commissioning and running Employees’ State Insurance hospitals through third party participation for providing medical treatment and attendance to insured persons and where such medical
benefit has been extended to their families, to their families.]
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 24, for “periodical payment” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by s. 25, ibid., for section 63 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
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64. Recipients of sickness or disablement benefit to observe conditions.—A person who is in receipt of sickness benefit or disablement benefit (other than benefit granted on permanent disablement)—
(a) shall remain under medical treatment at a dispensary, hospital, clinic or other institution provided under this Act and shall carry out the instructions given by the medical officer or medical attendant in charge thereof;
(b) shall not while under treatment do anything which might retard or prejudice his chances of recovery;
(c) shall not leave the area in which medical treatment provided by this Act is being given, without the permission of the medical officer, medical attendant or such other authority as may be specified in this behalf by the regulations; and
(d) shall allow himself to be examined by any duly appointed medical officer 1*** or other person authorised by the Corporation in this behalf.
65. Benefits not to be combined.—(1) An insured person shall not be entitled to receive for the same period—
(a) both sickness benefit and maternity benefit; or
(b) both sickness benefit and disablement benefit for temporary disablement; or (c) both maternity benefit and disablement benefit for temporary disablement.
(2) Where a person is entitled to more than one of the benefits mentioned in sub-section (1), he shall be entitled to choose which benefit he shall receive.
66. [Corporation’s right to recover damages from employer in certain cases.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1966 (44 of 1966), s. 29 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
67. [Corporation’s right to be indemnified in certain cases.] Omitted by s. 29, ibid. (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
68. Corporation’s rights where a principal employer fails or neglects to pay any contribution.—(1) If any principal employer fails or neglects to pay any contribution which under this Act he is liable to pay in respect of any employee and by reason thereof such person becomes disentitled to any benefit or entitled to a benefit on a lower scale, the Corporation may, on being satisfied that the contribution should have been paid by the principal employer, pay to the person the benefit at the rate to which he would have been entitled if the failure or neglect had not occurred and the Corporation shall be entitled to recover from the principal employer either—
2[(i) the difference between the amount of benefit which is paid by the Corporation to the said person and the amount of the benefit which would have been payable on the basis of the contributions which were in fact paid by the employer; or]
(ii) twice the amount of the contribution which the employer failed or neglected to pay, whichever is greater.
(2) The amount recoverable under this section may be recovered as if it were an arrear of land-revenue 3[or under section 45C to section 45-I.]
69. Liability of owner or occupier of factories, etc., for excessive sickness benefit.—(1) Where the Corporation considers that the incidence of sickness among insured persons is excessive by reason of—
(i) insanitary working conditions in a factory or establishment or the neglect of the owner or occupier of the factory or establishment to observe any health regulations enjoined on him by or under any enactment, or
1.
2. Subs. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 19, for clause (i) 3.
The words “or sick visitor” omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 26 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
(w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Added by Act 29 of 1989, s. 27 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
32

(ii) insanitary conditions of any tenements or lodgings occupied by insured persons and such insanitary conditions are attributable to the neglect of the owner of the tenements or lodgings to observe any health regulations enjoined on him by or under any enactment,
the Corporation may send to the owner or occupier of the factory or establishment or to the owner of the tenements or lodgings, as the case may be, a claim for the payment of the amount of the extra expenditure incurred by the Corporation as sickness benefit; and if the claim is not settled by agreement, the Corporation may refer the matter, with a statement in support of its claim, to the appropriate Government.
(2) If the appropriate Government is of opinion that a prima facie case for inquiry is disclosed, it may appoint a competent person or persons to hold an inquiry into the matter.
(3) if upon such inquiry it is proved to the satisfaction of the person or persons holding the inquiry that the excess in incidence of sickness among the insured persons is due to the default or neglect of the owner or occupier of the factory or establishment or the owner of the tenements or lodgings, as the case may be, the said person or persons shall determine the amount of the extra expenditure incurred as sickness benefit, and the person or persons by whom the whole or any part of such amount shall be paid to the Corporation.
(4) A determination under sub-section (3) may be enforced as if it were a decree for payment of money passed in a suit by a Civil Court.
(5) For the purposes of this section, “owner” of tenements or lodgings shall include any agent of the owner and any person who is entitled to collect the rent of the tenements or lodgings as a lessee of the owner.
70. Repayment of benefit improperly received.—(1) Where any person has received any benefit or payment under this Act when he is not lawfully entitled thereto, he shall be liable to repay to the Corporation the value of the benefit or the amount of such payment, or in the case of his death his representative shall be liable to repay the same from the assets of the deceased, if any, in his hands.
(2) The value of any benefits received other than cash payments shall be determined by such authority as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf and the decision of such authority shall be final.
(3) The amount recoverable under this section may be recovered as if it were an arrear of land-revenue. 1[or under section 45 C to section 45-I].
71. Benefit payable up to and including day of death.—2[If a person dies] during any period for which he is entitled to a cash benefit under this Act, the amount of such benefit up to and including the day of his death shall be paid to any person nominated by the deceased person in writing in such form as may be specified in the regulations or if there is no such nomination, to the heir or legal representative of the deceased person.
72. Employer not to reduce wages, etc.—No employer by reason only of his liability for any contributions payable under this Act shall, directly or indirectly reduce the wages of any employee, or except as provided by the regulations, discontinue or reduce benefits payable to him under the conditions of his service which are similar to the benefits conferred by this Act.
73. Employer not to dismiss or punish employee during period of sickness, etc.—(1) No employer shall dismiss, discharge, or reduce or otherwise punish an employee during the period the employee is in receipt of sickness benefit or maternity benefit, nor shall he, except as provided under the regulations, dismiss, discharge or reduce or otherwise punish an employee during the period he is in receipt disablement benefit for temporary disablement or is under medical treatment for sickness or is absent from work as a result of illness duly certified in accordance with the regulations to arise out of the pregnancy or confinement rendering the employee unfit for work.
1.
2. Subs. by s. 28, ibid., for
Added by Act 29 of 1989, s. 27 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
“Except as provided in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 50, if a person dies
33
” (w.e.f. 1-2-1991).
Earlier these words were substituted for “If a person dies” by Act 44 of 1966, s. 30 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).

(2) No notice of dismissal or discharge or reduction given to an employee during the period specified in sub-section (1) shall be valid or operative.
1[CHAPTER VA
SCHEME FOR OTHER BENEFICIARIES
73A. Definitions.—In this Chapter,
(a) “other beneficiaries” means persons other than the person insured under this Act;
(b) “Scheme” means any Scheme framed by the Central Government from time to time under
section 73B for the medical facility for other beneficiaries;
(c) “underutilised hospital” means any hospital not fully utilised by the persons insured under this Act;
(d) “user charges” means the amount which is to be charged from the other beneficiaries for medical facilities as may be notified by the Corporation in consultation with the Central Government from time to time.]
.—Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame Scheme for other beneficiaries and the members of their families for providing medical facility in any hospital established by the Corporation in
any area which is underutilised on payment of user charges.
73C. Collection of user charges.—The user charges collected from the other beneficiaries shall be deemed to be the contribution and shall form part of the Employees’ State Insurance Fund.
73D. Scheme for other beneficiaries.—The Scheme may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
73B. Power to frame Schemes
(i) the other beneficiaries who may be covered under this Scheme;
(ii) the time and manner in which the medical facilities may be availed by the other beneficiaries;
(iii) the form in which the other beneficiary shall furnish particulars about himself and his family whenever required as may be specified by the Corporation;
(iv) any other matter which is to be provided for in the Scheme or which may be necessary or proper for the purpose of implementing the Scheme.
73E. Power to amend Scheme.—The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to, amend, vary or rescind the Scheme.
73F. Laying of Scheme framed under this Chapter.—Every Scheme framed under this Chapter shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the Scheme or both Houses agree that the Scheme should not be made, the Scheme shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or to be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that Scheme.]
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 18, for Chapter VA (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
34

CHAPTER VI ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTE AND CLAIMS
74. Constitution of Employees’ Insurance Court.—(1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute an Employees’ Insurance Court for such local area as may be specified in the notification.
(2) The Court shall consist of such number of Judges as the State Government may think fit.
(3) Any person who is or has been a judicial officer or is a legal practitioner of five years’ standing
shall be qualified to be a Judge of the Employees’ Insurance Court.
(4) The State Government may appoint the same Court for two or more local areas or two or more Courts for the same local area.
(5) Where more than one Court has been appointed for the same local area, the State Government may by general or special order regulate the distribution of business between them.
75. Matters to be decided by Employees’ Insurance Court.—(1) If any question or dispute arises as to—
(a) whether any person is an employee within the meaning of this Act or whether he is liable to pay the employee’s contribution, or
(b) the rate of wages or average daily wages of an employee for the purposes of this Act, or
(c) the rate of contribution payable by a principal employer in respect of any employee, or
(d) the person who is or was the principal employer in respect of any employee, or
(e) the right of any person to any benefit and as to the amount and duration thereof, or
1[(ee) any direction issued by the Corporation under section 55A on a review of any payment of dependant’s benefits, or]
2* * * * *
(g) any other matter which is in dispute between a principal employer and the Corporation, or between a principal employer and an immediate employer, or between a person and the Corporation or between an employee and a principal or immediate employer in respect of any contribution or benefit or other dues payable or recoverable under this Act 3[or any other matter required to be or which may be decided by the Employees’ Insurance Court under this Act],
such question or dispute 4[subject to the provisions of sub-section (2A)] shall be decided by the Employees’ Insurance Court in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) 4[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2A), the following claims] shall be decided by the Employees’ Insurance Court, namely:—
(a) claim for the recovery of contributions from the principal employer;
(b) claim by a principal employer to recover contributions from any immediate employer;
2* * * * *
(d) claim against a principal employer under section 68;
(e) claim under section 70 for the recovery of the value or amount of the benefits received by a person when he is not lawfully entitled thereto; and
(f) any claim for the recovery of any benefit admissible under this Act.
1.
3. 4.
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 32, for clause (ee) (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
2. Omitted by s. 32, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Ins. by s. 32, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by s. 32, ibid., for “The following claims” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
35

3[(2A) If in any proceedings before the Employees’ Insurance Court a disablement question arises and the decision of a medical board or a medical appeal tribunal has not been obtained on the same and the decision of such question is necessary for the determination of the claim or question before the Employees’ Insurance Court, that Court shall direct the Corporation to have the question decided by this Act and shall thereafter proceed with the determination of the claim or question before it in accordance with the decision of the medical board or the medical appeal tribunal, as the case may be, except where an appeal has been filed before the Employees’ Insurance Court under sub-section (2) of section 54A in which case the Employees’ Insurance Court may itself determine all the issues arising before it.
1[(2B) No matter which is in dispute between a principal employer and the Corporation in respect of any contribution or any other dues shall be raised by the principal employer in the Employees’ Insurance Court unless he has deposited with the Court fifty per cent. of the amount due from him as claimed by the Corporation:
Provided that the Court may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, waive or reduce the amount to be deposited under this sub-section.]
(3) No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to decide or deal with any question or dispute as aforesaid or to adjudicate on any liability which by or under this Act is to be decided by 2[a medical board, or by a medical appeal tribunal or by the Employees’ Insurance Court].
76. Institution of proceedings, etc.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any rules made by the State Government, all proceedings before the Employees’ Insurance Court shall be instituted in the Court appointed for the local area in which the insured person was working at the time the question or dispute arose.
(2) If the Court is satisfied that any matter arising out of any proceeding pending before it can be more conveniently dealt with by any other Employees’ Insurance Court in the same State, it may, subject to any rules made by the State Government in this behalf, order such matter to be transferred to such other Court for disposal and shall forthwith transmit to such other Court the records connected with that matter.
(3) The State Government may transfer any matter pending before any Employees’ Insurance Court in the State to any such Court in another State with the consent of the State Government of that State.
(4) The Court to which any matter is transferred under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) shall continue the proceedings as if they had been originally instituted in it.
77. Commencement of proceedings.—(1) The proceedings before an Employees’ Insurance Court shall be commenced by application.
3[(1A) Every such application shall be made within a period of three years from the date on which the cause of action arose.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section,—
(a) the cause of action in respect of a claim for benefit shall not be deemed to arise unless the insured person or in the case of dependants’ benefit, the dependants of the insured person claims or claim that benefit in accordance with the regulations made in that behalf within a period of twelve months after the claim became due or within such further period as the Employees’ Insurance Court may allow on grounds which appear to it to be reasonable];
4[(b) the cause of action in respect of a claim by the Corporation for recovering contributions (including interest and damages) from the principal employer shall be deemed to have arisen on the date on which such claim is made by the Corporation for the first time:
Provided that no claim shall be made by the Corporation after five years of the period to which the claim relates;
1. 2. 3. 4.
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 29 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 32, for “the Employees’ Insurance Court” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Ins. by s. 33, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 30, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
36

(c) the cause of action in respect of a claim by the principal employer for recovering contributions from an immediate employer shall not be deemed to arise till the date by which the evidence of contributions having been paid is due to be received by the Corporation under the regulations.]
(2) Every such application shall be in such form and shall contain such particulars and shall be accompanied by such fee, if any, as may be prescribed by rules made by the State Government in consultation with the Corporation.
78. Powers of Employees’ Insurance Court.—(1) The Employees’ Insurance Court shall have all the powers of a Civil Court for the purposes of summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses, compelling the discovery and production of documents and material objects, administering oath and recording evidence and such Court shall be deemed to be a Civil Court within the meaning of 1[section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).]
(2) The Employees’ Insurance Court shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed by rules made by the State Government.
(3) All costs incidental to any proceeding before an Employees’ Insurance Court shall, subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf by the State Government, be in the discretion of the Court.
(4) An order of the Employees’ Insurance Court shall be enforceable as if it were a decree passed in a suit by a Civil Court.
79. Appearance by legal practitioners, etc.—Any application, appearance or act required to be made or done by any person to or before an Employees’ Insurance Court (other than appearance of a person required for the purpose of his examination as a witness) may be made or done by a legal practitioner or by an officer of a registered trade union authorized in writing by such person or with the permission of the Court, by any other person so authorized.
80. [Benefit not admissible unless claimed in time.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1966 (44 of 1966), s. 34 (w.e.f. 28-1- 1968).
81. Reference to High Court.—An Employees’ Insurance Court may submit any question of law for the decision of the High Court and if it does so shall decide the question pending before it in accordance with such decision.
82. Appeal.—(1) Save as expressly provided in this section, no appeal shall lie from an order of an Employees’ Insurance Court.
(2) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from an order of an Employees’ Insurance Court if it involves a substantial question of law.
(3) The period of limitation for an appeal under this section shall be sixty days.
(4) The provisions of sections 5 and 12 of the 2[Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963)] shall apply to
appeals under this section.
83. Stay of payment pending appeal.—Where the Corporation has presented an appeal against an order of the Employees’ Insurance Court, that Court may, and if so directed by the High Court shall, pending the decision of the appeal, withhold the payment of any sum directed to be paid by the order appealed against.
CHAPTER VII PENALTIES
84. Punishment for false statement.—Whoever, for the purpose of causing any increase in payment or benefit under this Act, or for the purpose of causing any payment or benefit to be made where no payment or benefit is authorised by or under this Act, or for the purpose of avoiding any payment to be
1. 2.
Subs. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 9, for “section 195 Chapter XXXV of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)”
(w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 31, for “Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908)” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
37

made by himself under this Act or enabling any other person to avoid any such payment, knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or false representation, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1[six months] or with fine not exceeding 2[two thousand] rupees, or with both:
3[Provided that where an insured person is convicted under this section, he shall not be entitled for any cash benefit under this Act for such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government].
85. Punishment for failure to pay contributions, etc.—If any person—
(a) fails to pay any contribution which under this Act he is liable to pay, or
(b) deducts or attempts to deduct from the wages of an employee the whole or any part of the employer’s contribution, or
(c) in contravention of section 72 reduces the wages or any privileges or benefits admissible to an employee, or
(d) in contravention of section 73 or any regulation dismisses, discharges, reduces or otherwise punishes an employee, or
(e) fails or refuses to submit any return required by the regulations, or makes a false return, or
(f) obstructs any Inspector or other official of the Corporation in the discharge of his duties, or
(g) is guilty of any contravention of or non-compliance with any of the requirements of this Act or the rules or the regulations in respect of which no special penalty is provided,
4[he shall be punishable—
5[(i) where he commits an offence under clause (a), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years but—
(a) which shall not be less than one year, in case of failure to pay the employee’s contribution which has been deducted by him from the employee’s wages and shall also be liable to fine of ten thousand rupees;
(b) which shall not be less than six months, in any other case and shall also be liable to fine of five thousand rupees:
Provided that the Court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term;
(ii) where he commits an offence under any of the clauses (b) to (g) (both inclusive), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to four thousand rupees, or with both.]
6[85A. Enhanced punishment in certain cases after previous conviction.—Whoever, having been convicted by a court of an offence punishable under this Act, commits the same offence shall, for every such subsequent offence, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7[two years and with fine of five thousand rupees]:
Provided that where such subsequent offence is for failure by the employer to pay any contribution which under this Act he is liable to pay, he shall, for every such subsequent offence, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 8[five years but which shall not be less than two years and shall also be liable to fine of twenty-five thousand rupees].
1.
2.
3. The proviso shall stand Inserted (date to be notified)
6. 7.
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 32, for “three months” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by s. 32, ibid., for “five hundred” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
by s. 32, ibid.
4. Subs. by Act 38 of 1975, s. 4, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
5. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 33, for clauses (i) and (ii) (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 38 of 1975, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 34, for “one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or both”
(w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by s. 35, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
8.
38

85B. Power to recover damages.—(1) Where an employer fails to pay the amount due in respect of any contribution or any other amount payable under this Act, the Corporation may recover, 1[from the employer by way of penalty such damages not exceeding the amount of arrears as may be specified in the regulations]:
Provided that before recovering such damages, the employer shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard:
2[Provided further that the Corporation may reduce or waive the damages recoverable under this section in relation to an establishment which is a sick industrial company in respect of which a scheme for rehabilitation has been sanctioned by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction established under section 4 of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (1 of 1986), subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in regulations.]
(2) Any damages recoverable under sub-section (1) may be recovered as an arrear of land revenue 2[or under section 45C to section 45-I].
85C. Power of Court to make orders.—(1) Where an employer is convicted of an offence for failure to pay any contribution payable under this Act, the Court may, in addition to awarding any punishment, by order, in writing, require him within a period specified in the order (which the Court may if it thinks fit and on application in that behalf, from time to time, extend), to pay the amount of contribution in respect of which the offence was committed, 3[and to furnish the return relating to such contributions].
(2) Where an order is made under sub-section (1), the employer shall not be liable under this Act in respect of the continuation of the offence during the period or extended period, if any, allowed by the Court, but if, on the expiry of such period or extended period, as the case may be, the order of the Court has not been fully complied with, the employer shall deemed to have committed a further offence and shall be punishable with imprisonment in respect thereof under section 85 and shall also be liable to pay fine which may extend to 4[one thousand] rupees for every day after such expiry on which the order has not been complied with.]
86. Prosecutions.—(1) No prosecution under this Act shall be instituted except by or with the previous sanction of the Insurance Commissioner 5[or of such other officer of the Corporation as may be authorised in this behalf by the 6[Director General of the Corporation]].
7[(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the First Class shall try any offence under this Act.]
(3) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on a complaint made in writing in respect thereof 8***.
9[86A. Offences by companies.—(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, every person, who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of, any director
1.
2.
3.
4. Subs. by s, 36, ibid., for “one hundred” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989). 5.
6.
8. 9.
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 35, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-1-1992).
Ins. by s. 35, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-1-1992).
Added by s. 36, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Added by Act 53 of 1951, s. 22 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 35, for “Central Government” (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
7. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 37, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Certain words omitted by s. 37, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 38, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
39

or manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm and other associations of
individuals; and
(ii) “director” in relation to—
(a) a company, other than a firm, means the managing director or a whole-time director; (b) a firm means a partner in the firm.]
CHAPTER VIII MISCELLANEOUS
87. Exemption of a factory or establishment or class of factories or establishments.—The appropriate Government, may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification, exempt any factory or establishment or class of factories or establishments in any specified area from the operation of this Act for a period not exceeding one year and may from time to time by like notification renew any such exemption for periods not exceeding one year at a time.
88. Exemption of persons or class of persons.—The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to such conditions as it may deem fit to impose, exempt any persons or class of persons employed in any factory or establishment or class of factories or establishments to which this Act applies from the operation of the Act.
89. Corporation to make representation.—No exemption shall be granted or renewed under section 87 or section 88, unless a reasonable opportunity has been given to the Corporation to make any representation it may wish to make in regard to the proposal and such representation has been considered by the appropriate Government.
90. Exemption of factories or establishments belonging to Government or any local authority.—The appropriate Government may 2[after consultation with the Corporation,] by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification, exempt any factory or establishment belonging to 3*** any local authority 4[the operation of this Act], if the employees in any such factory or establishment are otherwise in receipt of benefits substantially similar or superior to the benefits provided under this Act.
91. Exemption from one or more provisions of the Act.—The appropriate Government may, with the consent of the Corporation, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt any employees or class of employees in any factory or establishment or class of factories or establishments from one or more of the provisions relating to the benefits provided under this Act.
1. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 20 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010). 2.
3.
4. Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 36 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
1[Provided that such exemptions may be granted only if the employees in such factories or establishments are otherwise in receipt of benefits substantially similar or superior to the benefits provided under this Act:
Provided further that an application for renewal shall be made three months before the date of expiry of the exemption period and a decision on the same shall be taken by the appropriate Government within two months of receipt of such application.]
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 36 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
The words “The Government or” omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 39 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
40

1[91A. Exemptions to be either prospective or retrospective.—Any notification granting exemption under section 87, section 88, section 90 or section 91 may be issued so as to take effect 2[prospectively] on such date as may be specified therein.]
3[91AA. Central Government to be appropriate Government.—Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, in respect of establishments located in the States where medical benefit is provided by the Corporation, the Central Government shall be the appropriate Government.]
4[91B. Misuse of benefits.—If the Central Government is satisfied that the benefits under this Act are being misused by insured persons in a factory or establishment, that Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, disentitle such persons from such of the benefits as it thinks fit:
Provided that no such order shall be passed unless a reasonable opportunity of being heard is given to the concerned factory or establishment, insured persons and the trade unions registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926) having members in the factory or establishment.
91C. Writing off of losses.—Subject to the conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, where the Corporation is of opinion that the amount of contribution, interest and damages due to the Corporation is irrecoverable, the Corporation may sanction the writing off finally of the said amount.]
92. Power of Central Government to give directions.—5[(1)] The Central Government may give directions to a State Government as to the carrying into execution of this Act in the State.
6[(2) The Central Government may, from time to time, give such directions to the Corporation as it may think fit for the efficient administration of the Act, and if any such direction is given, the Corporation shall comply with such direction.]
93. Corporation officers and servants to be public servants.—All officers and servants of the Corporation shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
7[93A. Liability in case of transfer of establishment.—Where an employer, in relation to a factory or establishment, transfers that factory or establishment in whole or in part, by sale, gift, lease or licence or in any other manner whatsoever, the employer and the person to whom the factory or establishment is so transferred shall jointly and severally be liable to pay the amount due in respect of any contribution or any other amount payable under this Act in respect of the periods up to the date of such transfer:
Provided that the liability of the transferee shall be limited to the value of the assets obtained by him by such transfer.]
94. Contributions, etc., due to Corporation to have priority over other debts.—There shall be deemed to be included among the debts which, under section 49 of the Presidency-towns Insolvency Act, 1909 (3 of 1909) or under section 61 of the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920 (5 of 1920), 8[or under any law relating to insolvency in force 9[in the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956 were comprised in a Part B State]], 10[or under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], are, in the distribution of the property of the insolvent or in the distribution of the assets of a company being wound up, to be paid in priority to all other debts, the amount due in respect of any contribution or any other amount payable under this Act the liability where for accured before the date of the order of adjudication of the insolvent or the date of the winding up, as the case may be.
1. Ins. by Act 44 of, 1966, s. 37 (w.e.f. 17-6-1967).
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 21, for “either prospectively or retrospectively” (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
3. 4. 5. S 6. 7. 8. 9.
Ins. by s. 22, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 40 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
ection 92 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by s. 41, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 41, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 38 of 1975, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
Ins. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 23 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
Subs. by A.O. (No. 3), 1956, for “in a Part B State”.
10. Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 42, for “or under section 230 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
41

1[94A. Delegation of powers.—The Corporation, and, subject to any regulations made by the Corporation in this behalf, the Standing Committee may direct that all or any of the powers and functions which may be exercised or performed by the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be, may, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified, be also exercisable by any officer or authority subordinate to the Corporation.]
95. Power of Central Government to make rules.—(1) The Central Government may, 2[after consultation with the Corporation and] subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules not inconsistent with this Act for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions thereof.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
3[(a) the limit of wages beyond which a person shall not be deemed to be an employee;
(ab) the limit of maximum monthly salary for the purpose of sub-section (1) of section 17;]
4[(ac)] the manner in which 5[appointments] and elections of members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall be made;
(b) the quorum at meetings of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council and the minimum number of meetings of those bodies to be held in a year;
(c) the records to be kept of the transaction of business by the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council;
(d) the powers and duties of the 6[Director General and the Financial Commissioner] and the conditions of their service;
(e) the powers and duties of the Medical Benefit Council ;
7[(ea) the types of expenses which may be termed as administrative expenses, the percentage of
income of the Corporation which may be spent for such expenses;
(eb) the rates of contributions and limits of wages below which employees are not liable to pay contribution;
(ec) the manner of calculation of the average daily wage;
(ed) the manner of certifying the certificate to recover amount by the Recovery Officer;
(ee) the amount of funeral expenses;
(ef) the qualifications, conditions, rates and period of sickness, benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit and dependents benefit;
8[(eff) the income of dependant parents from all sources;]
(eg) the conditions for grant of medical benefits for insured persons who cease to be in insurable
employment on account of permanent disablement;
(eh) the conditions for grant of medical benefits for persons who have attained the age of Superannuation;]
1.
6.
7.
8. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 23 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
Ins. by Act 53 of 1951, s. 24 (w.e.f. 6-10-1951).
2. Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 38 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
3. Ins. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 43 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
4. Clause (a) re-lettered as clause (ac) by s. 43, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
5. Subs. by s. 43, ibid., for “nominations” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Subs. by s. 43, ibid., for “Principal Officers” (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 43, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
42

1[(ehh) the conditions under which the medical benefits shall be payable to the insured person and
spouse of an insured person who has attained the age of superannuation, the person who retires under
Voluntary Retirement Scheme and the person who takes pre-mature retirement;]
2[ 3[(ei)] the manner in which and the time within which appeals may be filed to medical appeal tribunals or Employees’ Insurance Courts;]
(f) the procedure to be adopted in the execution of contracts;
(g) the acquisition, holding and disposal of property by the Corporation;
(h) the raising and repayment of loans;
(i) the investment of the funds of the Corporation and of any provident or other benefit fund and
their transfer or realisation ;
(j) the basis on which the periodical valuation of the assets and liabilities of the Corporation shall be made;
(k) the bank or banks in which the funds of the Corporation may be deposited, the procedure to be followed in regard to the crediting of moneys accruing or payable to the Corporation and the manner in which any sums may be paid out of the Corporation funds and the officers by whom such payment may be authorised;
(l) the accounts to be maintained by the Corporation and the forms in which such accounts shall be kept and the times at which such accounts shall be audited;
(m) the publication of the accounts of the Corporation and the report of auditors, the action to be taken on the audit report, the powers of auditors to disallow and surcharge items of expenditure and the recovery of sums so disallowed or surcharged;
(n) the preparation of budget estimates and of supplementary estimates and the manner in which such estimates shall be sanctioned and published;
(o) the establishment and maintenance of provident or other benefit fund for officers and servants of the Corporation; 4***
5[(oa) the period of non-entitlement for cash benefit in case of conviction of an insured person;] (p) any matter which is required or allowed by this Act to be prescribed by the Central
Government.
6[(2A) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall include the power to give retrospective effect, from a date not earlier than the date of commencement of this Act, to the rules or any of them but no retrospective effect shall be given to any rule so as to prejudicially affect the interest of any person other than the Corporation to whom such rule may be applicable.]
(3) Rules made under this section shall be published in the Official Gazette and thereupon shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.
7[(4) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session 8[or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid] both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule of both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]
1. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 23 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
2. Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 38 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
3. Clause (ee) relettered as Clause (ei) by
4.
5.
6. Ins. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 10 (w.e.f. 27-1-1985). 7.
8.
s. 43 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 43, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Act 29 of 1989,
The word “and” omitted by s. 43, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 38 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
Subs. by Act 38 of 1975, s. 7, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
43

96. Power of State Government to make rules.—(1) The State Government may, 1[after consultation with the Corporation and] subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules not inconsistent with this Act in regard to all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the constitution of Employees’ Insurance Courts, the qualifications of persons who may be appointed Judges thereof, and the conditions of service of such Judges;
(b) the procedure to be followed in proceedings before such Courts and the execution of orders made by such Courts;
(c) the fee payable in respect of applications made to the Employees’ Insurance Court, the costs incidental to the proceedings in such Court, the form in which applications should be made to it and the particulars to be specified in such applications;
(d) the establishment of hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions, the allotment of insured persons or their families to any such hospital, dispensary or other institution;
(e) the scale of medical benefit which shall be provided at any hospital, clinic, dispensary or institution, the keeping of medical records and the furnishing of statistical returns;
(f) the nature and extent of the staff, equipment and medicine that shall be provided at such hospitals, dispensaries and institutions;
(g) the conditions of service of the staff employed at such hospitals dispensaries and institutions; and
(h) any other matter which is required or allowed by this Act to be prescribed by the State Government.
(2) Rules made under this section shall be published in the Official Gazette and thereupon shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.
3[(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature where it consists of two Houses, or, where such Legislature consists of one House, before that House.]
97. Power of Corporation to make regulations.—(1) The Corporation may, 4*** subject to the condition of previous publications, make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder, for the administration of the affairs of the Corporation and for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(i) the time and place of meetings of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council and the procedure to be followed at such meetings;
5[(ia) the time within which and the manner in which a factory or establishment shall be registered;]
(ii) the matters which shall be referred by the Standing Committee to the Corporation for decision;
(iii) the manner in which any contribution payable under this Act shall be assessed and collected; 1. Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 39 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
2. Ins. by Act 18 of 2010, s. 24 (w.e.f. 1-6-2010).
4. 5.
2[(ee) the organisational structure, functions, powers, activities and other matters for the
establishment of the organisation;]
3. Ins. by Act 45 of 1984, s. 11 (w.e.f. 27-1-1985).
The words “with the prior approval of the Central Government” omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 44 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 40 (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
44

1[(iiia) the rate of interest higher than twelve per cent. on delayed payment of contributions;] (iv) reckoning of wages for the purpose of fixing the contribution payable under this Act; 2[(iva) the register of employees to be maintained by the immediate employer;
(ivb) the entitlement of sickness benefit or disablement benefit for temporary disablement on any day on which person works or remains on leave or on holiday and in respect of which he receives wages or for any day on which he remains on strike;]
(v) the certification of sickness and eligibility for any cash benefit.
3[(vi) the method of determining whether an insured person is suffering from one or more of the
diseases specified in the Third Schedule;]
(vii) the assessing of the money value of any benefit which is not a cash benefit;
(viii) the time within which 4[and the form and manner in which] any claim for a benefit may be made and the particulars to be specified in such claim;
(ix) the circumstances in which an employee in receipt of disablement benefit may be dismissed, discharged, reduced or otherwise punished;
(x) the manner in which and the place and time at which any benefit shall be paid;
(xi) the method of calculating the amount of cash benefit payable and the circumstances in which and the extent to which commutation of disablement and dependant’s benefits, may be allowed and the method of calculating the commutation value;
(xii) the notice of pregnancy or of confinement and notice and proof of sickness;
3[(xiia) specifying the authority competent to give certificate of eligibility for maternity benefit;
(xiib) the manner of nomination by an insured woman for payment of maternity benefit in case of her or her child’s death;
(xiic) the production of proof in support of claim for maternity benefit or additional maternity benefit;]
(xiii) the conditions under which any benefit may be suspended;
(xiv) the conditions to be observed by a person when in receipt of any benefit and the periodical
medical examination of such persons;
5* * * * *
(xvi) the appointment of medical practitioners for the purposes of this Act, the duties of such practitioners and the form of medical certificates;
3[(xvia) the qualification and experience which a person should possess for giving certificate of sickness;
(xvib) the constitution of medical boards and medical appeal tribunals;]
(xvii) the penalties for breach of regulations by fine (not exceeding two days’ wages for a first breach and not exceeding three days’ wages for any subsequent breach) which may be imposed on employees;
2[(xviia) the amount of damages to be recovered as penalty;
(xviib) the terms and conditions for reduction or waiver of damages in relation to a sick industrial
company;]
1. 2.
Subs. by Act 29 of 1989, s. 44, for clause (iiia) (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
Ins. by s. 44, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
3. Subs. by Act 44 of 1966, s. 40, for clause (vi) (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
4. Subs. by s. 40, ibid., for “and the form in which” (w.e.f. 28-1-1968).
5. Omitted by Act 29 of 1989, s. 44 (w.e.f. 20-10-1989).
45

(xviii) the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which any regulation may be relaxed, the extent of such relaxation, and the authority by whom such relaxation may be granted;
1[(xix) the returns to be submitted and the registers or records to be maintained by the principal and immediate employers, the forms of such returns, registers or records, and the times at which such returns should be submitted and the particulars which such returns, registers and records should contain;]
(xx) the duties and powers of 2[Social Security Officers] and other officers and servants of the Corporation;
4[(xxi) the method of recruitment, pay and allowances, discipline, superannuation benefits and other conditions of service of the officers and servants of the Corporation other than the 5[Director General and Financial Commissioner]];
(xxii) the procedure to be followed in remitting contributions to the Corporation; and
(xxiii) any matter in respect of which regulations are required or permitted to be made by this Act. 6[(2A) The condition of previous publication shall not apply to any regulations of the nature specified
in clause (xxi) of sub-section (2).]
(3) Regulations made by the Corporation shall be published in the Gazette of India and thereupon
shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.
7[(4) Every regulation shall, as soon as may be, after it is made by the Corporation, be forwarded to the Central Government and that Government shall cause a copy of the same to be laid before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the sessiion immediatly following the session the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the regulation or both Houses agree that the regulation should not be made, the regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of any thing previously done under that regulation.]
98. [Corporation may undertake duties in Part B. States.] Omitted by the Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1951 (53 of 1951), s. 26.
8[99. Medical care for the families of insured persons.—At any time when its funds so permit, the Corporation may provide or contribute towards the cost of medical care for the families of insured persons.]
9[99A. Power to remove difficulties.—(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions or give such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appears to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.
(2) Any order made under this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith in any rules or regulations made under this Act.]

1[100. Repeals and savings.— If, immediately before the day on which this Act comes into force 2[in any part of the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in a Part B State], there is in force in 3[that part] any law corresponding to this Act, that law shall, on such day, stand repealed:
Provided that the repeal shall not affect—
(a) the previous operations of any such law, or
(b) any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against any such law, or
(c) any investigation or remedy in respect of any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment;
and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced and any
such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if this Act had not been passed:
Provided further that subject to the preceding proviso anything done or any action taken under any such law shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provision of this Act and shall continue in force accordingly unless and until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act.]
Resource: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/12829/1/the_employees_state_insurance_act%2C_1948_no._34_of_1948_date_19.04.1948.pdf 

Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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Regulation Updates in India

Appointment of Authorities for Sanction of Prosecution under Chapters V and VI of the Code on Social Security, 2020

What it is: A government notification appoints the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) and the Additional Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) as the authorities to grant prior sanction for prosecution of offences under Chapters V and VI of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

What it changes: The prior sanction for prosecution of offences related to gratuity and maternity under Chapters V and VI will be granted by the designated Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) and Additional Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) authorities.

Who is affected:

  • Employers

What employers should do:

  • Be aware that prior sanction for prosecution under Chapters V and VI may now be required to be obtained from the specified authorities.
  • Prepare for compliance processes accordingly to align with the new sanctioning authority.

Notes: Effective month: 2026-05. Manual verification recommended.

What it is: The Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 were notified, replacing multiple legacy rules and establishing national procedures requiring employers to register establishments electronically and to operationalize new obligations related to social contributions, provident/insurance registrations and benefit administration.

What it changes: It introduces national procedures for electronic establishment registration and new obligations around social contributions, provident/insurance registrations, and benefit administration.

Who is affected:

  • Employers

What employers should do:

  • Register establishments electronically
  • Implement the new obligations related to social contributions, provident/insurance registrations, and benefit administration

Notes: Effective month: 2026-05. Manual verification recommended.

What it is: A government notification revising minimum wage rates in Punjab, effective 01 May 2026.

What it changes: The notification revises the state’s minimum wage rates and creates new employer obligations for payroll to comply with the revised minimum wage, effective 01 May 2026.

Who is affected:

  • Employers with payroll obligations in Punjab
  • Workers covered by minimum wage requirements in Punjab

What employers should do:

  • Adjust payroll to align with the revised minimum wage effective 01 May 2026.

Notes: Effective month: 2026-05. Manual verification recommended.

What it is: The Uttar Pradesh Minimum Wages Notification No. 374/36-2-2026-2041256 directs interim revisions to minimum wage rates for scheduled employments and creates a legal obligation on private employers to pay the revised minimum wage for affected districts and worker categories.

What it changes: It establishes an interim increase to minimum wage rates for scheduled employments and requires private employers to pay the revised minimum wage for the relevant districts and worker categories.

Who is affected:

  • Private employers in Uttar Pradesh
  • Workers in scheduled employments in the affected districts and worker categories

What employers should do:

  • Ensure payment of the revised minimum wage to workers in the affected districts and worker categories
  • Review payroll to align with the interim minimum wage revisions
  • Document compliance with the revised minimum wage requirement for reporting and record-keeping

Notes: Effective month: 2026-04. Manual verification recommended.

Discover the latest employment and compliance updates in India — helping you stay ahead in a changing regulatory landscape.