Indian Contract Act, 1872
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 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 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 further security for the 2,000 rupees by a mortgage of B's
furniture. C, cancels the mortgaged. 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's 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.