AAP Tax Law

Section 69A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882: Appointment of Receiver

Section 69A regulates the appointment, powers, duties, remuneration and accountability of a receiver appointed to collect income from mortgaged property. It is closely connected with the mortgagee's statutory power of sale under Section 69.

Complete text of Section 69A - Appointment of receiver

69A. (1) A mortgagee having the right to exercise a power of sale under section 69 shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be entitled to appoint, by writing signed by him or on his behalf, a receiver of the income of the mortgaged property or any part thereof.

(2) Any person who has been named in the mortgage-deed and is willing and able to act as receiver may be appointed by the mortgagee.

If no person has been so named, or if all persons named are unable or unwilling to act, or are dead, the mortgagee may appoint any person to whose appointment the mortgagor agrees; failing such agreement, the mortgagee shall be entitled to apply to the court for the appointment of a receiver, and any person appointed by the Court shall be deemed to have been duly appointed by the mortgagee.

A receiver may at any time be removed by writing signed by or on behalf of the mortgagee and the mortgagor, or by the court on application made by either party and on due cause shown.

A vacancy in the office of receiver may be filled in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section.

(3) A receiver appointed under the powers conferred by this section shall be deemed to be the agent of the mortgagor; and the mortgagor shall be solely responsible for the receiver's acts or defaults, unless the mortgage-deed otherwise provides or unless such acts or defaults are due to the improper intervention of the mortgagee.

(4) The receiver shall have power to demand and recover all the income of which he is appointed receiver, by suit, execution or otherwise, in the name either of the mortgagor or of the mortgagee to the full extent of the interest which the mortgagor could dispose of, and to give valid receipts accordingly for the same, and to exercise any powers which may have been delegated to him by the mortgagee in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(5) A person paying money to the receiver shall not be concerned to inquire if the appointment of the receiver was valid or not.

(6) The receiver shall be entitled to retain out of any money received by him, for his remuneration, and in satisfaction of all costs, charges and expenses incurred by him as receiver, a commission at such rate not exceeding five per cent, on the gross amount of all money received as is specified in his appointment, and, if no rate is so specified, then at the rate of five per cent on that gross amount, or at such other rate as the Court thinks fit to allow, on application made by him for that purpose.

(7) The receiver shall, if so directed in writing by the mortgagee, insure to the extent, if any, to which the mortgagee might have insured, and keep insured against loss or damage by fire, out of the money received by him, the mortgaged property or any part thereof being of an insurable nature.

(8) Subject to the provisions of this Act as to the application of insurance money, the receiver shall apply all money received by him as follows, namely:-

(i) in discharge of all rents, taxes, land revenue, rates and outgoings whatever affecting the mortgaged property;

(ii) in keeping down all annual sums or other payments, and the interest on all principal sums, having priority to the mortgage in right whereof he is receiver;

(iii) in payment of his commission, and of the premiums on fire, life or other insurances, if any, properly payable under the mortgage-deed or under this Act, and the cost of executing necessary or proper repairs directed in writing by the mortgagee;

(iv) in payment of the interest falling due under the mortgage;

(v) in or towards discharge of the principal money, if so directed in writing by the mortgagee;

and shall pay the residue, if any, of the money received by him to the person who, but for the possession of the receiver, would have been entitled to receive the income of which he is appointed receiver, or who is otherwise entitled to the mortgaged property.

(9) The provisions of sub-section (1) apply only if and as far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the mortgage-deed; and the provisions of sub-sections (3) to (8) inclusive may be varied or extended by the mortgage-deed, and, as so varied or extended, shall, as far as may be, operate in like manner and with all the like incidents, effects and consequences, as if such variations or extensions were contained in the said sub-sections.

(10) Application may be made, without the institution of a suit, to the Court for its opinion, advice or direction on any present question respecting the management or administration of the mortgaged property, other than questions of difficulty or importance not proper in the opinion of the Court for summary disposal. A copy of such application shall be served upon, and the hearing thereof may be attended by, such of the persons interested in the application as the Court may think fit.

The costs of every application under this sub-section shall be in the discretion of the Court.

(11) In this section, "the Court" means the Court which would have jurisdiction in a suit to enforce the mortgage.

When can a mortgagee appoint a receiver?

Under Section 69, a mortgagee's power to sell without court intervention is available only in specified statutory circumstances. Section 69A(1) links the right to appoint a receiver to a mortgagee having that power of sale. The receiver is appointed by a writing signed by or on behalf of the mortgagee, subject to the selection procedure in subsection (2) and any contrary intention expressed in the mortgage deed under subsection (9). This is not a general power available to every mortgagee.

How is the receiver selected or removed?

First, the mortgagee may appoint a willing and able person named in the mortgage deed. If none is available, the mortgagee may appoint someone agreed to by the mortgagor. Without agreement, the mortgagee can apply to the competent court. Removal is possible by a writing signed by or on behalf of both mortgagee and mortgagor, or by court order on due cause shown on either party's application. A vacancy is filled using the same statutory procedure.

Legal position and powers of the receiver

Under subsection (3), the receiver is generally deemed the agent of the mortgagor, who is ordinarily responsible for the receiver's acts and defaults, subject to contrary terms in the mortgage deed or improper intervention by the mortgagee. Subsection (4) empowers the receiver to demand and recover income, including through legal proceedings, and to give valid receipts. Under subsection (5), a payer is not required to investigate the validity of the appointment.

Receiver's commission, insurance and application of income

Subsection (6) addresses commission, normally limited to the specified rate not exceeding five per cent of gross receipts, subject to the court's statutory power to allow another rate on application. Under subsection (7), a written direction from the mortgagee may require the receiver to insure insurable property against fire, within the extent of the mortgagee's own power to insure.

Subsection (8) prescribes the order in which receipts are applied: first, property outgoings; second, prior-ranking annual payments and interest; third, commission, proper insurance premiums and directed repairs; fourth, mortgage interest; and fifth, principal if the mortgagee directs in writing. The remaining balance must be paid to the person otherwise entitled to that income or property. The statutory order should be followed, subject to the Act's rules about insurance money and any permitted deed variations.

Can the mortgage deed change the statutory arrangement?

Subsection (9) allows the mortgage deed to express a contrary intention concerning subsection (1), and to vary or extend subsections (3) through (8). Subsection (10) permits an application for the court's opinion, advice or direction on appropriate current management questions without filing a suit, but excludes matters too difficult or important for summary disposal. Subsection (11) defines the competent court as the court having jurisdiction in a suit to enforce the mortgage.

Key definitions and related legal provisions

A mortgage is a transfer of an interest in specific immovable property to secure payment of money or performance of an obligation; the mortgagor transfers the interest and the mortgagee receives it, as defined in Section 58. A receiver under Section 69A manages and recovers the specified income, not ownership of the property. Section 67 concerns foreclosure or judicial sale; Section 68 addresses specified suits for mortgage-money. The remedies and conditions are distinct.

Practical example

Where a mortgagee validly holds a Section 69 power of sale over income-producing property, a duly appointed receiver may collect rent, pay the statutory outgoings and authorised expenses, apply the balance to interest and, on written direction, principal, and remit any residue to the person entitled to it. Appointment and administration remain subject to the mortgage deed and Section 69A's detailed requirements.

Official sources

Read the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 on the official India Code database and consult the Legislative Department for legislation and updates. State amendments and applicable judicial decisions should also be checked for individual transactions.