Six important Rights of the Bailee

As pointed out earlier, the duties of the bailor are the rights of the bailee. A bailee has the following additional rights:

1. Right to return goods to one of the joint owners without consent of all:

Where several joint owners of goods bail them, the bailee may deliver them back to, or dispose them of according to the directions of one joint owner without the consent of all, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary (Sec. 165).

2. Rights of immunity against delivery of goods to the bailor if he has no title to the goods:

If the bailor has no title to the goods, and the bailee, in good faith, delivers them back to, or according to the direction of the bailor, the bailee is not responsible to the owner in respect of such delivery (Sec. 166).

3. Right to seek directions of the Court where a third person claims the goods bailed:

If a person other than the bailor, claims the goods bailed, the bailee may apply to the Court to stop the delivery of the goods to the bailor and to decide the title of the goods.

4. Right of lien:

Where the bailee expends labour and skill in respect of the goods bailed, he has, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, a right to retain such goods until he receives the remuneration for the services rendered in respect of such goods (Sec. 170).

5. Right of action against third parties:

If a third person wrongfully deprives the use or possession of the goods, or injures them, the bailee is entitled to such remedies as the owner might have used in the like if no bailment had been made. (Sec. 180).

6. Right to share compensation obtained by such suits:

Any compensation received from such suit shall be shared by the bailor and bailee in accordance with their interests.