Appropriation Under CONTRACT Laws

1. INTRODUCTION:which debt the payment is to be applied, the
When a debtor owes several distinct debt to acreditor may apply it at his discretion to any
creditor and makes a payment which islawful debt the payment actually due and payable
insufficient to the whole debt, the question arisesto him from the debtor, whether its recovery is
to which debt the payment is to applied. Sectionor is not barred by the law in-force for the time
59 to 61 provides the rules which governs thebeing as to the limitation of suits.
appropriation of payment made by a debtor to=> Example:
the creditors.A owes several debt to B. one of them Rs. 2 Lac
2. RULES WHICH GOVERN APPROPRIATION OFis time barred. A sends Rs. 4 l.ac to B without
PAYMENT:Indicating to which debt the amount is to be
Following are the rules which govern appropriationappropriated. B may appropriate Rs. 2 Lac against
of payment.the time barred debt.
(I) APPROPRIATION BY DEBTOR:(III) APPROPRIATION BY LAW:
The first rule which governs the appropriation ofThe third rule is in sec. 61.
payment is laid down in sec. 59. It confers theWhen neither party makes any appropriation of
right of appropriation upon the debtor.payment shall be applied In discharge of the debt
According to this sec.in order of time. Whether they are or are not
Where a debtor, owing several distinct debt tobarred by the law in force for the time being as
one person, makes a payment to him, either withto the limitation of the suit. If the debt are ol
express intimation, or under circumstancesequal standing the payment shall be applied in
implying, that the payment is to be applied to thedischrage of each proportionately.
discharge of some particular debt, the payment If=> Application:
accepted, must be applied accordingly.It applies when neither party makes an
=> Application of Rule:appropriation. In this situation the law gets the
This principle applies to several distinct debt andright to appropriate the payment.
not to a single debt payable by installments.=> Example:
=> Example:A owes two debts of Rs 4 lac each which are
A owes to B other debt the sum of 5000.time barred and another debt of 8 lac to B. A
Rupees B writes to A and demands payment ofsends Rs 4 lac. Neither party makes any
this sum. A sends to B 5000 Rupees. Thisappropriation of Rs 4 lac would be appropriated
payment is to be applied to the discharge of therateably against two debt of Rs 4 lac each which
debt of which B had demanded payment.are time barred.
(II) APPROPRIATION BY CREDITOR:3. CONCLUSION:
The second rule is laid down in sec 60. whichTo conclude I can say that, under contract Act
enables the creditor to make appropriation1872. Sec 59 to 61 provide the rules which
payment According to this sectiongoverns the appropriation of payment made by a
"Where the debtor has omitted to intimate, anddebtor who owns a number of distinct debts to
there are no other circumstances Indicating tohis creditor.