Transfer of Property Act, 1882
51. Improvements made by bona fide holders under defective
titles
When the transferee of immovable property makes any improvement
on the property, believing in good faith that he is absolutely entitled
thereto, and he is subsequently evicted there from by any person having a
better title, the transferee has a right to require the person causing the
eviction either to have the value of the improvement estimated and paid or
secured to the transferee, or to sell interest in the property to the
transferee at the then market value thereof, irrespective of the value of such
improvement.
The amount to be paid or secured in respect of such improvement
shall be the estimated value thereof at the time of the eviction.
When, under the circumstances aforesaid, the transferee has
planted or sown on the property crops which are growing when he is evicted
there from, he is entitled to such crops and to free ingress and egress to
gather and carry them.