Condition that transfer shall cease to have effect in case specified uncertain event happens or does not happen
Section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 deals with condition that transfer shall cease to have effect in case specified uncertain event happens or does not happen. Subject to the provisions of section 12, on a transfer of property an interest therein may be created with the condition superadded that it shall cease to exist in case a specified uncertain event shall happen, or in case a specified uncertain event shall not happen. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1882.
Subject to the provisions of section 12, on a transfer of property an interest therein may be created with the condition superadded that it shall cease to exist in case a specified uncertain event shall happen, or in case a specified uncertain event shall not happen.
Illustrations
(a) A transfers a farm to B for his life, with a proviso that, in case B cuts down a certain wood, the transfer shall cease to have any effect. B cuts down the wood. He loses his life-interest in the farm.
(b) A transfers a farm to B, provided that, if B shall not go to England within three years after the date of the transfer, his interest in the farm shall cease. B does not go to England within the term prescribed. His interest in the farm ceases.
Section 31, The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (Act 4 of 1882).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Andhra Pradesh Indu. Infrastructure CORP vs K. Veerabhadra Rao
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Once a registered sale deed is executed transferring absolute ownership of immovable property from the seller to the buyer, the seller cannot enforce conditions stipulated in the allotment letter or demand additional payment based on such conditions. The Transfer of Property Act, 1882, particularly Sections 5, 8, 10, 11, and 55, establishes that upon transfer of absolute interest through a registered sale deed, prior conditions cease to have effect and the buyer acquires absolute marketable title which cannot be unilaterally revoked by the seller.
On this section: Permits conditions that an interest shall cease upon a specified uncertain event, but such conditions must be in the transfer document itself, not in prior allotment letters
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 31
What have the courts held on Section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act?
Andhra Pradesh Indu. Infrastructure CORP vs K. Veerabhadra Rao (10 Apr 2018) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Permits conditions that an interest shall cease upon a specified uncertain event, but such conditions must be in the transfer document itself, not in prior allotment letters.
How do I find court cases under Section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: TP Act 31, section 31 TP Act, section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Andhra Pradesh Indu. Infrastructure CORP vs K. Veerabhadra Rao (10 Apr 2018).
What should I read with Section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 12 (Condition making interest determinable on insolvency or attempted alienation), so none of them can safely be read on its own.
When did Section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act come into force?
Section 31 of the Transfer of Property Act, cited as TP Act 31, came into force on 01 Jul 1882, having been enacted on 17 Feb 1882. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 55. Rights and liabilities of buyer and seller1096 words
- 108. Rights and liabilities of lessor and lessee1030 words
- 69A. Appointment of receiver892 words
- 3. Interpretation-clause658 words
- 35. Election when necessary614 words
- 58. Mortgage , mortgagor , mortgagee , mortgage-money and mortgage- deed defined554 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.