Bailment is a legal relationship in which one person (the bailor) delivers goods to another person (the bailee) for a particular purpose. The bailor retains ownership of the goods, but the bailee has possession of them.
There are four essential features of bailment:
- Delivery of goods: There must be a delivery of goods from the bailor to the bailee. This can be done physically or constructively.
- Consent: Both the bailor and the bailee must consent to the bailment. This consent can be express or implied.
- Intended use: The goods must be delivered for a particular purpose. This purpose can be for safekeeping, repair, or use.
- Return of goods: The bailee is obligated to return the goods to the bailor at the end of the bailment period.
MCQs on Essential Features of Bailment
- Which of the following is not an essential feature of bailment?
- Delivery of goods.
- Consent of the bailee.
- Intended use of the goods.
- Return of the goods to the bailor.
- Answer: Consent of the bailee. The consent of the bailee is not an essential feature of bailment.
- The goods must be delivered for a particular purpose. What are some examples of the intended use of the goods in bailment?
- Safekeeping.
- Repair.
- Use.
- All of the above.
- Answer: All of the above. The goods can be delivered for any of these purposes.
- The bailee is obligated to return the goods to the bailor at the end of the bailment period. What happens if the bailee does not return the goods?
- The bailee is liable to the bailor for the value of the goods.
- The bailor can sue the bailee for the return of the goods.
- The bailor can take possession of the goods by force.
- All of the above.
- Answer: All of the above. The bailee is liable to the bailor for the value of the goods, the bailor can sue the bailee for the return of the goods, and the bailor can take possession of the goods by force.