The Carriage by Road Act, 2007
15. Right of common
carrier in case of consignee's default. -
1.
If
the consignee fails to take delivery of any consignment of goods within a
period of thirty days from the date of notice given by the common carrier, such
consignment may be deemed as unclaimed: Provided that in case of perishable
consignment, the period of thirty days shall not apply and the consignment
shall be deemed unclaimed after a period of twenty-four hours of service of
notice or any lesser period as may be mutually agreed to by and between the
common carrier and the consignor.
2.
In
the case of an unclaimed consignment under sub-section (1), the common carrier
may,-
a. if such consignment
is perishable in nature, have the right to sell the consignment; or
b. if such consignment
is not perishable in nature, cause a notice to be served upon the consignee or
upon the consignor if the consignee is not available, requiring him to remove
the goods within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of the
notice and in case of failure to comply with the notice, the common carrier
shall have the right to sell such consignment without any further notice to the
consignee or the consignor, as the case may be.
1.
2.
3.
The
common carrier shall, out of the sale proceeds received under sub-section (2), retain
a sum equal to the freight, storage and other charges due including expenses
incurred for the sale, and the surplus, if any, from such sale proceeds shall
be returned to the consignee or the consignor, as the case may be.
4.
Unless
otherwise agreed upon between the common carrier and consignor, the common
carrier shall be entitled to detain or dispose of the consignment in part or
full to recover his dues in the event of the consignee failing to make payment
of the freight and other charges payable to the common carrier at the time of
taking delivery.