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Madras High Court· 19 August 2026

Whether Section 55(6)(b) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 can be invoked to give an agreement holder twelve years to recover advance amount?

S.M.SELVARAJ v. D.RAMAKRISHNAN
CRP.186/2024 · 2026:MHC:3451 · CRP No. 186 of 2024
Coram: Justice N. Anand Venkatesh
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Answer

No. Section 55(6)(b) provides for a charge for purchase money properly paid in anticipation of delivery, deals with the statutory consequences of the transaction of sale, and does not create an automatic proprietory security immediately after an agreement of sale is executed. Article 62 presupposes the existence of a charge and prescribes a limitation not for creating a security but for enforcing the security, so it cannot be made applicable to enlarge the limitation period where the cause of action is traceable to a contract.

Headnote

Limitation Act, 1963 — Article 54 — Article 62 — Article 113 — Transfer of Property Act, 1882 — s.54 — s.55(6)(b) — Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — Order VII Rule 11 — Refund of advance amount — Contractual right and proprietory right — Transfer of Property Act, 1882 — s.54 — Agreement for sale — Contractual right, not proprietory right — Held: An agreement for sale creates a contractual right and a completed sale creates a proprietory right, and the Scheme of the Act clearly makes a distinction between the contractual claims and proprietory claims. (¶16, 20) Limitation Act, 1963 — Article 62 — Charge upon immovable property — Presupposes existence of a charge — Held further: Article 62 presupposes the existence of a charge and prescribes limitation not for creating a security but for enforcing the security; it cannot be made applicable to enlarge the limitation period where the cause of action is traceable to a contract. (¶17, 19) Limitation Act, 1963 — Article 113 — Refund of advance amount — Three years from the right to sue — Held further: Where the purchaser seeks only refund of the advance amount, the claim is contractual in nature and the residuary Article 113 will apply, three years from the date when the right to sue accrues. (¶20) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — Order VII Rule 11 — Rejection of plaint — Bar of limitation evident on the plaint — Held further: Where a plain reading of the averments made in the plaint shows the suit to be hopelessly barred by limitation, the Court can reject the plaint without the rigmarole of a trial. Civil Revision Petition allowed. (¶21, 23)

In the Court's own words
Paragraph 17Article 62 provides 12 years for a suit to enforce payment of money secured by a mortgage or otherwise charged upon immovable property. A plain reading of this Article shows that it presupposes the existence of a charge and it prescribes a limitation not for creating a security but for enforcing the security.
Paragraph 18Section 55 (6)(a) speaks about a buyer where the ownership of the property has passed on to him and Section 55(6)(b) provides for a charge for purchase money properly paid in anticipation of delivery and for interest thereon. The provision specifically deals with the statutory consequences of the transaction of sale and the adjudication of the contractual rights. The provision does not create an automatic proprietory security immediately after an agreement of sale is executed.
Paragraph 19The legislature has thought it fit that an agreement holder shall have three years time to enforce the contract for sale. While so, it will be absurd if an interpretation is given to the effect that the same agreement for sale will provide 12 years limitation to recover the advance paid under the same contract merely because an agreement holder choses to confine his relief and seek only for refund of advance amount. Article 62 cannot be made applicable to enlarge the limitation period where the cause of action is traceable to a contract. This Article will apply only where the enforcement of money is secured by a charge. Such enforcement by itself does not create a charge. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 24/08/2026 07:04:45 pm ) 10 CRP No. 186 of 2024
Acts & Sections
Article 113 Limitation Act, 1963Article 54 Limitation Act, 1963Article 62 Limitation Act, 1963s.55(6)(b) Transfer of Property Act, 1882s.54 Transfer of Property Act, 1882Order VII Rule 11 Code of Civil Procedure, 1908Article 227 Constitution of India

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Also decided in this judgment
Under the Limitation Act, 1963, which Article will apply where the purchaser seeks only refund of the advance amount paid under an agreement for sale?
Plain-language answer prepared by the LexStreak Editorial Desk — verify against the judgment. Source: Madras High Court. Corrections