Transfer of Property Act, 1882
37. Apportionment of benefit of obligation on severance
When, in consequence of a transfer, property is divided and held
in several shares, and thereupon the benefit of any obligation relating to the
property as a whole passes from one to several owners of the property, the
corresponding duty shall, in the absence of a contract, to the contrary amongst
the owners, be performed in favor of each of such owners in proportion to the
value of his share in the property, provided that the duty can be severed and
that the severance does not substantially increase the burden of the
obligation; but if the duty cannot be severed, or if the severance would
substantially increase the burden of the obligation the duty shall be performed
for the benefit of such one of the several owners as they shall jointly
designate for that purpose:
PROVIDED that no person on whom the burden of the obligation
lies shall be answerable for failure to discharge it in the manner provided by
this section, unless and until he has had reasonable notice of the severance.
Nothing in this section applies to leases for agricultural
purposes unless and until the State Government by notification in the Official
Gazette so directs.
Illustrations
(a) A sells to B, C and D a house situated in a village and
leased to E at an annual rent of Rs. 30 and delivery of one fat sheep, B having
provided half the purchase-money and C and D one quarter each. E, having notice
of this, must pay Rs. 15 to B, Rs. 7.50 to C, and Rs. 7.50 to D and must
deliver the sheep according to the joint direction of B, C and D.
(b) In the same case, each house in the village being bound to
provide ten days' labor each year on a dyke to prevent inundation. E had agreed
as a term of his lease to perform this work for A, B, C and D severally
require E to perform the ten days' work due on account of the house of each. E
is not bound to do more than ten days' work in all, according to such
directions as B, C and D may join in giving.
(B) Transfer of immovable property