Indian Contract Act Section 70 — Obligation of person enjoying benefit of non-gratuitous act

Summary

If one person lawfully does something for another person, or gives something to that other person, and does not intend for it to be a free gift, and the other person enjoys the benefit of that act or delivery, then the person who received the benefit is required to pay compensation for it, or to return the thing that was done or delivered.

Official Text

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

Related Judgments

• K.S. SATYANARAYANA vs V.R. NARAYANA RAO — Supreme Court of India (1999)
• ANITA RANI vs ASHOK KUMAR & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2021)
• JIT RAM SHIV KUMAR AND ORS. ETC. vs STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR. ETC — Supreme Court of India (1980)
• MAHANAGAR TELEPHONE NIGAM LTD. vs TATA COMMUNICATIONS LTD — Supreme Court of India (2019)
• 30th January, 2012; SH. ANIL MOTIHAR & ANR. vs PUNJAB & SIND BANK & ORS — Delhi High Court (2012)
• UNION OF INDIA vs SITA RAM JAISWAL — Supreme Court of India (1976)