Critical Exploration "The Doctrine of Election": in The Light of Transfer of Property Act-1882
Critical Exploration "The Doctrine of Election": in The Light of Transfer of Property Act-1882
Critical Exploration "The Doctrine of Election": in The Light of Transfer of Property Act-1882
However , when such benefit reverts back to the transferor , it is subject to the charge of making
good to the disappointed transferee the amount or value of the property attempted to be
transferred in two cases , namely ---
1
Codrington vs Lindsay 1873, 8 ch 578
2
A.I.R.(1965)S.C.241
3
Mst.Dhanpatti vs. Devi Prasad and others ,(1970)S.C.D 174
i) where the transfer is gratuitous , and the transferor has , before election , died or otherwise
become incapable of making a fresh transfer ; and
ii) where the transfer is for consideration.
In Cooper v/s Cooper4, Held that the Doctrine of Election, applies on every instrument and every
type of property movable or immovable .
4
L.R.7,H.L 53 at page 69
5
Safique hossain, Transfer of property act 1882, 1 st edition in April 2010, p.40
The conditions necessary for the Application of the doctrine of
election:
* When a person professes to transfer a property not his own
Professes means to purports or make contract, for a property which is not his own but he can
make contract for the same.
Example- Sheila mam profess to transfer a property Joy, which is owned by Abu Bakar, and also
confers a benefit 50,000 tk to Abu Bakar. Here Mam is not transferring the Abu Bakar’s
Property to Joy but simply profess which she does not own.
Whether transferor believe him as a real owner or not of transfer property the first part of this
section always applicable for him.
6
1903 ILR 30
* Real owner is not bound to confer any other benefit of a particular
transaction:
Where a particular benefit is expressed to be conferred on the owner of the property which the
transferor professes to transfer, and such benefit is expressed to be in lieu of that property, if
such owner claims the property, he must relinquish the particular benefit, but he is not bound to
relinquish any other benefit conferred upon him by the same transaction.7
Illustration: Joy transfers to Mamun property X in lieu of Mamun’s property which is given to
Shamim. Joy also gives Mamun property Y. If Mamun elect to retain his own property which
was given to Shamim. Now Mamun must relinquish his claim to property X but not bound to
confer property Y.
* If real owner accept the benefit before confirm election and waives
enquiry into the circumstances:
Acceptance of the benefit by the person on whom it is conferred constitutes an election by him to
confirm the transfer, if he is aware of his duty to elect and of those circumstances which would
influence the judgment of a reasonable man in making an election, or if he waives enquiry into
the circumstances.8
Illustration: Joy transfer a property Firoz which is owned by Abu Bakar and gives benefit Abu
Bakar at the same instrument. Now Abu Bakar accept benefit from Joy without confirm election
and he also waives enquiry into the circumstances. So in this situation court presume that he
approved the transaction and take benefit as election.
7
Section 35,Transfer of property act [iv of 1882]
8
ibid
9
Indian succession act 1925 section 188[1]
10
Section 35,Transfer of property act [iv of 1882]
Illustration
Tuli transfers to Joy an estate to which Abu Bakar is entitled, and as part of the same transaction
gives Abu Bakar a coal-mine. Abu Bakar takes possession of the mine and exhausts it. He has
thereby confirmed the transfer of the estate to Tuli.
* Suspension of election:
In case of disability by reason of infancy,lunacy, and so forth, the election shall be postponed
until the disability ceases, or until the election is made by some competent authority.12
11
ibid
12
Shukla Dr.S.N. Transfer of property act,24th edition:2002,reprint 2010.page 87.