Section 216 - Principal's right to benefit gained by agent dealing on his own account in business of agency, Section 217 - Agent's right of retainer out of sums received on principal's account : Indian Contract Act 1872

What is Principal's right to benefit gained by agent dealing on his own account in business of agency? What is Agent's right of retainer out of sums received on principal's account? Section 216 and 217 of Indian Contract Act 1872

Section 216 of Indian Contract Act 1872 : "Principal's right to benefit gained by agent dealing on his own account in business of agency"

216. If an agent, without the knowledge of his principal, deals in the business of the agency on his own account instead of on account of his principal, the principal is entitled to claim from the agent any benefit which may have resulted to him from the transaction.

Illustration
A directs B, his agent, to buy a certain house for him. B tells A it cannot be bought, and buys the house for himself. A may, on discovering that B has bought the house, compel him to sell it to A at the price he gave for it.

Section 217 of Indian Contract Act 1872 : "Agent's right of retainer out of sums received on principal's account"

217. An agent may retain, out of any sums received on account of the principal in the business of the agency, all moneys due to himself in respect of advances made or expenses properly incurred by him in conducting such business, and also such remuneration as may be payable to him for acting as agent.