DR. RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW.
Law of Contracts Final Draft:
“Agent, sub-agent, substituted-agent: substituted-agent: Judicial Interpretation” Submitted for the project work undertaken in the partial fulfillment of B.A. LL.B (Hons.) 5 years integrated course at Dr. RMLNLU, Lucknow.
Under the guidance of:
Submitted by:
Dr. Visalakshi Vegesne
Saurabh Raman (113)
Associate Prof. (Law)
Saurabh Sharma (114)
Dr. RMLNLU, Lko.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This project has been presented in a simple and lucid manner for better understanding and appreciation of the study. However, it would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of them. We are highly indebted to our teacher, Dr. Visalakshi Vegesne, Associate Professor (Law), Dr. R.M.L. National Law University for her guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project & also for her support in completing the project.
Last but not the least, a sincere word of appreciation to our family and friends and thanks to people who have willingly helped us out with their abilities.
Helpful suggestions from the readers are always welcome.
In India, the relationship between Agent and Principal is primarily contractual in nature and is governed by the terms of contract entered into between them ("Agency Contract"). The law of agency derives its statutory base from Chapter X of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 ("Act"), which provides the framework of rules and regulations that govern formation and performance of any contract including the Agency Contract. Section 182 of the Act defines „Agent‟ as „person employed to do any act for another o r to represent another in dealings with third person‟. Any person, who is of the age of majority according to the law to which he is subject, and 1
who is of sound mind, can employ an Agent . As between Principal and third person a person may become an Agent, so as to be responsible to his Principal according to the provisions 2
3
contained in the Act . No consideration is necessary to create an agency . The authority of an 4
Agent may be express or implied . An authority is said to be express when it is given by 5
words, spoken or written . An authority is said to be implied when it is to be inferred from the t he circumstances of the case and things spoken or written or in the ordinary course of dealing 6
may account for the circumstances of the case . An Agent having an authority to do an act 7
has authority to do every lawful thing, which is necessary in order to do such act . The Agent in doing that act must neither do anything that is illegal, not beyond the limits of his own authority, nor beyond the powers of his Principal. An Agent has authority in an emergency to do all such acts for the purpose of protecting his Principal from loss as would be done by a 8
person of ordinary prudence, in his own case under similar circumstance . Several types of commercial agents have been recognized under Indian law, which includes inter alia brokers, 1 2 3
Section 183 Section 184 Section 185
4
Section 186
5
Section 187
6 7 8
Section 187 Section 188 Section 189
auctioneers, del credere agents, persons entrusted with money for obtaining sales and insurance agents.
Test of determining existence of agency of relationship 9
“ Agency depends on the true nature of relationship.” The American jurisprudence refers to the case in which it was held the use of words „agency agreement‟ and „agent‟ by the parties 10
in a contract does not necessarily establish a relationship of agency in legal sense. The law in India is same. It has been held in several decisions that the fact that the parties have called their relationship an agency is not conclusive, if the incidence of this relationship, as disclosed by the evidence does not justify a finding of a agency, and that the court must examine the true nature of relationship and the functions and responsibilities of the alleged agent.
11
Scope of an Agent's Authority: Ultimately, this depends on the agreement made between the principal and the agent. In general, there are two ways to determine the scope of an agent's authority:
Express: An agent's authority can be expressly expressly determined. If an agreement agreement specifies an agent's duties, an agent does not have authority to t o represent the principal beyond those duties.
Implied: An agent's authority can be implied i mplied by custom. Custom is determined by the express duties of other agents in the same position. For example, a realty company hires a real estate agent. It is implied that the agent has authority to help third parties buy and sell homes since it is the custom among real estate agents. Are There Other Ways to Determine an Agent's Authority? There are situations where an agent's authority is created even if the person is not an agent. Here are examples of these different situations:
Apparent Authority: A principal has a duty not to misrepresent another as his/her agent. When a principal (accidentally or purposefully) causes a third party to believe that someone
9
rd
Halsbury’s Law of England , 3 edn, Vol I, p 146 10 McCarty v King County Medical Service Corporation, Corporation , 26 Wash 2d 660; 175 11 Banaras Bank v. Ram Prasad, AIR 1930 All 573
is an agent, the principal is bound by the agent's actions even if the person was not an agent. The third party must be reasonable in believing that the person was an agent.
Emergency Powers: In an emergency situation, an agent may act beyond his/her authority even if the principal did not give the agent permission. For example, an agent might use company funds to provide medical attention to an injured employee. The agent may not have authority to do so, but the emergency situation would excuse the agent's actions.
Ratification: There are times when a principal will authorize the agent to act beyond his/her authority. As long as the principal ratifies the action ahead of time, the agent has authority to act. Duties Of Agent In Contract a) Execution of Instructions One of the primary duties of an agent is to execute the instructions of the principal. This duty is the basis of any agency. The scope of the instructions to be executed would however depend on the terms of the agency agreement. Importantly though, an agent should only execute lawful instructions.
12
(b) Exercise of skill and care Skill and care are prerequisites to the efficient exercise of duties by agents. It is therefore a cardinal requirement of law that agents must exercise a reasonable degree of skill and care in executing the principal‟s instructions. Where there i s apparent lapses in executing the agent‟s responsibilities, the agent is considered to have breached the terms of the agency.
13
(c) Act in good faith An agent must in all respects, and within the bounds of reasonableness, act in good faith in the discharge of the agency responsibilities. This means, in the performance of the obligations, the interest of the principal is of paramount consideration. The agent should therefore avoid conflict of interests between his/her personal business business with that of the
12 13
Bonsor v Musicians’ Union [1956] AC 104 New Zealand Farmers Cooperative Ltd v National Mortgage & Agency of NZ [1961] NZLR 969
14
principal. But, this duty also extends to the production of the agency accounts when asked to do so by the principal.
15
Liability and Duties of an Agent To The Principal By An Agent: If an agent expressly claims to have authority or by his acts indicates that he has authority, he warrants his authority but if the third person knows the facts as well as the agent, there is no warranty. An agent may expressly state that he has authority. He may do this because he thinks he has authority or because he intends to deceive. In either case he is liable to the person who thus deals with him and who on account of lack of authority, apparent or real, could not hold the principal, and therefore suffers damages.
16
Thus suppose that A states to C that he has been
sent by P, to purchase C's cattle. C thereupon delivers his cattle to A, to deliver to P. The cattle die on the way through no fault of A. In this case if A had had actual or apparent authority, he could not be held, as the contract would be between C and P, with A as a mere representative of P. P would be responsible r esponsible as delivery to his agent would be delivery to him. But if A lacks authority C is not without remedy. He can hold A upon his statement that he has authority, on the strength of which he parted with the cattle. If, however, in this case, C was in possession of all the facts, and in common with A, misconstrued them, he could not hold A. Thus if A had said: "I have here a letter which P has sent me, in respect to the purchase of cattle, and I think from it that I have authority to buy cattle," and C, upon reading the letter, had assented to that view, yet the legal effect of the letter was not to give A authority to buy cattle, but merely, say, to make inquiries concerning their purchase, here there would be no warranty by A of his authority, for there would be no reliance upon A's assertions that he had authority. It is not necessary that the agent expressly state that he has authority. An implication to that effect may arise from the facts, and this would, perhaps, be the more usual case. Indeed, the 14
Chaudhry v Prabhakar [1989] 1 WLR 29
15
Yasuda v Fire & Marine Ltd v Orion Marine Insurance Ltd [1995] 2 WLR 49.Kelly v Cooper [1993] AC 205
16
Section 237 and Section 186 of I.C.A, 1872
agent by acting as agent and by purporting to bind another person as principal, holds himself out as having the authority to so act and thereby warrants himself to have authority.
17
The P bank by A, as vice president, guaranteed a commercial account. The bank being sued on the guaranty defended that it had no power as a bank to make such an engagement, not being proper banking business. The court sustained the defence. The plaintiff then sued the Vice President upon the ground that he warranted his authority. But the court held that inasmuch as the third person was chargeable as a matter of law with the power of a bank and therefore must be taken to have known that the Vice President had no powers to bind the bank upon this guaranty, there was no warranty of authority.
18
When Agent having authority to bind principal may instead bind himself?
One who is an agent and has full power to bind his principal may nevertheless binds himself. There is nothing to prevent an agent from binding himself upon a contract made by him. He 19
may do this for a variety of reasons. He may be careless in the execution of his authority . He may not disclose the principal, preferring for some reason to let only his own identity appear. Or it may be that his principal has not sufficient credit with the person dealt with and therefore the agent binds himself. As per Sec. 73(Principal Undisclosed) If the principal pr incipal is undisclosed by the agent the agent is liable. So, if the agent does not disclose his principal, the agent is liable. In some such cases the third person upon discovering the principal may elect to hold him, because he is the real party in interest, as we note in another connection; but he may, if he chooses, in all cases, hold the agent for it is with the agent that he has dealt as principal. In the case of Thilmany v. Iowa Paper Bag Co. & Wil liam Daggett, W sold flour to R, R sues for breach of warranty of merchantability of the flour. W defends that he was an agent. On the deal W did not disclose the name of his principal, although he was known to be a broker. The transaction was oral. Held, that W was liable. Furthermore, when agent bound on sealed instruments by the form of his execution. It is a long established rule that only those who are named or described in and sign a sealed 17
Bryant, Powis and Bryant Ltd v La Banque du Peuple Cunnigham & Co. Ltd (1891-92) All ER Rep 1253 (PC) Ferguson v. Um Chand Boid (1906) ILR 33 Cal 343 19 Mulukchand bin Gyanmal v. Shan Mohan Vardraj (1890) ILR 14 Bom 590 18
instrument are bound thereon. If the agent signs his own name only, though he describe himself as agent, he will be bound and the principal will not be bound. By the law of sealed instruments, only those can be sued thereon, who are parties thereto? An agent may, by careless execution of a sealed instrument, bind himself when he intended only to bind his principal. We may indicate here the proper form one should use and that will be about the extent to which in this discussion we can go. The books are full of discussions of particular sets of facts and courts are at some variance upon similar cases. But there are well established forms of execution which everyone should have in mind when he executes such paper. First, it must be noted that it is everywhere agreed that if one merely describes himself as agent, that in itself is not sufficient to bind his principal.
20
Thus if he signs "John Brown,
Agent," or "William Smith, President," or "Harry Jones, Trustee," etc., these descriptive words are merely words of description and in no way qualify the liability of the party 21
signing.
And it is also everywhere agreed that if one go further and say "John Brown, Agent
of Thomas Anderson," the deed is the deed of John Brown. So, one can go into a multitude of form. It is not absolutely essential that the agent's name should appear. Yet it is highly desirable, in order that the evidence may be the more surely preserved and other reasons of convenience. It is therefore common and the better usage for the agent to set forth that the execution is by him as agent. Even in those states where statutes have abolished the seal, the above form of signature is the only safe one to use. Lastly, agent is bound where no definite or responsible principal. So, if a person represents a large, unorganized or irresponsible body, it will be presumed, unless the contrary appears, that the representative was given the credit. If a committee representing a large public gathering as a political party, an unincorporated club, etc., deals with others for supplies, it is reasonable under the circumstances to presume that it is the committee to whom the credit is given, and such committee will usually be personally responsible. Wherever there are situations of that sort in which the credit appears to be given the agent and he must have known it was so given, he will be responsible. Duty Not To Delegate: Delegatus non potest delegare is a well known maxim of the law of agency. The principal
chooses a particular agent because he has trust and confidence in his integrity and 20 21
Wheeler v. Reed (1885) 29 Ch D 500 Casco Nat. Bk. v. Clark (1808) All ER Rep 227
competence. Ordinarily, therefore, the agent cannot further delegate the work which has been delegated to him by principal.
22
23
It was laid down in John McCain & Co. v. Pow that unless
so authorised by the principal, an estate agent has no right to appoint s sub- agent and delegate to him his powers which require special skill and care. Moreover , a factor or other agent employed because of his skill and discretion must perform 24
all acts involving these qualities personally, in the absence of a contrary understanding. . He may, however, be given authority to hire another agent for the principal to co-operate with him in the performance of delegated acts, in which case he is under no li ability for the acts of the additional agent
25
.The agent may, on the other hand, have only procured the consent of
the principal to his hiring another to perform, as his agent, the acts which he otherwise would have had to perform personally. In this case he is liable to the principal for any default by his 26
own agent . The law on this subject is fairly well settled, but, as the parties seldom define clearly the relations which they intend to create, a difficult question of fact is often presented. Although the additional agent is hired in the original agent's name, the principal may be in the position of an undisclosed principal to the additional agent, if the employment is in his 27
behalf.
Roughly, this would seem to be the case if he is to receive the benefits, furnish the
consideration, and have the control. In the principal case the plaintiff was, ultimately, to furnish the consideration, and, as the defendant was under no obligation to perform the services of the principal, the contract was for his benefit. It is true that the defendant was to have the immediate control but it would seem that the plaintiff was the real principal of the additional agent.
28
The court thought otherwise, however, and properly applied the law to its
interpretation of the facts. 29
In the case of Caplin v. Penn Mutual Life Ins. Co , where a life insurance policy was issued which contained the pro-vision that the insurer would lend money thereon to the "insured or owner of the policy". The plaintiff was an assignee who sought to borrow on it. It was held, that specific performance of the contract to lend would be granted. Ordinarily, specific 30
performance will not be decreed of an agreement to borrow , or to lend money. The reason for its refusal lies in the fact that the remedy at law is adequate, since the damages arising 22
De Busche v. Alt (1878) 8 Ch 286, 310 (1975) 1 All ER 129 24 Warren v. Martin (1850) 52 U. S. 209 ; Smith v. Jefferson Bank (1906) 120 Mo. App. 527, 97 S. 23
25
Morris v. Warlick Warlick (1903) 118 Ga. 421, 45 S. E. 407
26
Barnard v. Coffin (1886) 141 Mass. 37, 6 N. E. 364; Bank of Ky. V. Adams Express Co. (1876) 93 U. S. 174 Whitlock v. Hichs (1874) 75 Ill. 460; see Blackburn v. Mason (1893) 68 L. T. R. (N. S.) 510 28 Cf. De Bussche v. Alt (1873) 8 Ch. D. 286; Mccants v. Wells (1873) 4 S. C. 381 29 (App. Div. 2nd Dept. 1918) 58 N. Y. L. J. 1987 30 Rogers v. Challis (1859) 27 Beav. 175 27
from breach of a contract to borrow or to lend are easily assessable, being, in the absence of special damages, the difference between the contract rate and the market rate of interest, plus the expenses incurred in procuring a new loan. l oan.
A person appointed by an agent to perform some duty, or the whole of the business relating to his agency.Sub-agents agency.Sub-agents may be considered in two t wo points of view. 1. With regard to their rights ri ghts and duties or obligations, towards their immediate employers. 2. As to their rights and obligations towards their superior or real principals. A sub-agent is generally invested with the same rights, and incurs the same liabilities in regard to his immediate employers, as if he were the sole and real principal. To this general rule there are some exceptions for example, where by the general usage of trade or the agreement of the parties, sub-agents are ordinarily or necessarily employed, to accomplish the ends of the agency, there, if the agency is avowed, and the credit is exclusively given to the principal, the intermediate agent may be entirely exempted from all liability to the sub-agent. The agent, however, will be liable to the sub-agent, unless such exclusive credit has been given, although the real principal or superior may also be liable. When the agent employs a sub-agent to do the whole, or any part of the business of the agency, without the knowledge or consent of his principal, either express or implied, the latter will onl y be entitled to recover from his immediate employer, and his sole responsibility is also to him. In this case the superior or real principal is not responsible to the sub-agent, because there is no privity between them. Where by an express or implied agreement of the parties, or by the usages of trade, a subagent is to be employed, a privity exists between the principal and the sub-agent, and the latter may justly maintain his claim for compensation, both against the principal and his
immediate employer, unless exclusive credit is given to one of them; and, in that case, his remedy is limited to that party.
Who is a Sub-agent? A sub-agent is a person employed by and acting under the control of the original agent in the business of the agency (Sec. 190). In simple words, a sub-agent is the agent of the agent. Thus, an agent is the principal of the sub-agent. He really acts in the double capacity. He is an agent of the principal and at the same time, is the t he principal of the sub-agent.
Appointment of sub agent As a general rule, an agent cannot appoint a sub-agent. However, in the following cases, an agent can appoint a sub-agent: 1. A sub-agent may be appointed if there is a custom of the trade to appoint a sub-agent. 2. Again, a sub-agent may be appointed where the nature of the work is such that a sub-agent is necessary. 3. Where the principal expressly or impliedly allows the appointment of a sub-agent. 4. Where the work to be done is purely ministerial and does not depend upon personal skill, experience, etc. of the agent. 5. Where the principal is aware that the agent will delegate his authority. 6. Where an emergency makes it necessary to appoint a sub-agent.
Sub-Agency An agency is a consensual relationship created by contract or by law where the principal grants authority to an agent to act on behalf behalf of the principal principal to deal with a third party. party. An agency relationship is fiduciary in nature and the actions and words of an agent exchanged with a third party bind the principal. A subagent is a person to whom the agent agent delegates as his/her agent. Through a subagent, subagent, the agent can perform an an act for the principal. If an agent feels that the appointment appointment of subagents subagents
are necessary to the proper transaction and carrying on of the business committed to the 31
agent, then the agent has an implied authority to make such appointments . Generally, if an agent employs a subagent, then the agent is the employing person and the principal is not a party to the contract of employment. employment. However, a principal can be a party party if s/he becomes a 32
surety.
If an agent employs a subagent for his/her principal, and by his/her authority, then the subagent is the agent of the principal and is directly responsible to the principal for his/her conduct, and if damage results from the conduct of such subagent, the agent is only responsible in case s/he has not exercised due care in the selection of the subagent.
33
Whereas, if the agent employs a subagent on his/her own account to assist him/her in the work at his/her own risk, then there is no privity between such subagent and the principal. Under this circumstance, a subagent is only responsible to the agent, while the agent is responsible to the principal for the actions done by him/her and the actions by the subagent.
34
An agent is responsible to the principle for the conduct of a subagent with reference to the affairs of the principal entrusted to the subagent.
35
O’Byrne, 64 It was observed in Shaw v. O’Byrne,
Utah 139 (Utah 1924), that if an agent is authorized by owners to sell certain land, and if s/he authorizes a subagent to perform the same, then the sale made by such subagent will be binding upon the owners. However, a subagency subagency cannot rise higher higher than the general agency 36
and when that general agency ceases to exist; it will automatically dissolve the subagency . An agent is not liable to third persons for the misfeasance or malfeasance of a subagent employed by him/her in the service of his/her principal, unless s/he is guilty of negligence in the appointment of such subagent or improperly co operates in the acts or omissions of the 37
subagent.
“The law regarding the responsibility of a principal for persons allegedly appointed as 38 subagents is well settled.” Booker v. United American Insurance Insurance Co. “‟When one employs
an agent who has either express or implied authority to employ a subagent, the subagent will
31
Consolidated Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Landers, 285 Ala. 677 (Ala. 1970) McKnight v. Peoples-Pittsburgh Trust Trust Co., 360 Pa. 290 (Pa. 1948) 33 Baker-Riedt Motor Co. v. Moore, 93 Okla. 153 (Okla. 1923) 34 Id 35 Sanoma, Inc. v. Interested Underwriters Concerned Via Ewing Int’l Marine Corp., Corp., 2001 36 Union Casualty & Surety Co. v. Gray , 114 F. 422 (3d Cir. Pa. 1902) 37 Baisley v. Henry , 55 Cal. App. 760 (Cal. App. 1921) 38 700 So.2d 1333, 1335 (Ala. 1997). 32
also be the agent of the principal. … [However, t]he act of a subagent will not bind the original principal where the appointment of such subagent was not by authority, express or implied, or was not subsequently subsequently ratified by the principal…‟” Id.In other words, “a principal will be bound by the acts of a purported subagent only if: (1) the agent had express authority to appoint the subagent; (2) the agent had implied authority to appoint the subagent; or (3) the principal ratified the appointment.” Id. at 1335-1336( 1335-1336(Consolidated Underwriters Ins. Co. v. 39
Landers,
Eagle Motor Lines v. Hood,
40
41
Butler v. Standard Life Ins. Co. of the South ).
Relationship between Agent and Sub-Agent.
A subagent is a person to whom the agent agent delegates as his/her agent. agent. Through a subagent, subagent, the agent can perform an an act for the principal. If an agent feels that the appointment appointment of subagents subagents are necessary to the proper transaction and carrying on of the business committed to the agent, then the agent has an implied authority to make such appointments[i]. Generally, if an agent employs a subagent, then the agent is the employing person and the principal is not a party to the contract of employment. „It may be generally stated that, where agents employ sub -agents in the business of the agency, the latter are clothed with precisely the same rights, and incur precisely the same obligations, and are bound to the same duties, in regard to their immediate employers, as if they were the sole and real principals.‟
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The sub-agents loook to, and is controlled by the agent who appointed him, and is not under any contract with the principal, he must look to the agent for his remuneration and indemnity. Thus, a sub-agent will not be liable to render an account to the principal. However, in Union of India v. Mohd Nazim ,
44
43
a resident of India sent a valur payable article
to an addressee in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan realized the value of the article, but did not hand over the amount to the Government of India, as it suspended the VP service betwenn the two countries. It was held that the arrangement entered into for exchange of Vp article under agreement between the two countries did not make the Government of Pakistan
39
285 Ala. 677, 681, 235 So.2d 818, 822 (Ala. 1970); 395, 398, 55 So.2d 126, 129 (Ala. 1951); 41 232 Ala. 238, 167 So. 307, 309-310 (Ala. 1936) 42 Story of Agency, 386. 43 Purushotham Haridas v. Amruth Ghee Co Ltd AIR 1961 AP 143; relying on Hugh Francis Hoole v. Royal Trust Co. AIR 1930 PC 274 44 AIR 1980 SC 431 40
the sub-agent of the Gavernment of India, and did not render the latter liable to pay the price of the article to the sender. Sub-Agent’s Sub-Agent’s Responsibility
The sub-agent looks to and is controlled by the agent who apoointed him, and is not under any contract with the pincipal.
45
If money due to A is paid to P, who is Z‟s servant, Z having
authority from A to collect it, P is accountable only to Z, and A cannot recover the money directly from P.
46
In S Summan Singh v. National City Bank of New York,
47
A has instructed the American Bank
to remit money to X in Jullundur. The bank issued instructions to the Jullundur bank to pay the money to X, in Jullundur. These were, in Jullundur, two persons of the name of X, and Jullundur bank paid the money to the wrong person. It was held that A could not recover money from the Jullundur bank, as there was no privity of contract between them. A authorised B to carry on business on his behalf in any manner that he liked. B appointed C as commission agent to enter unto transactions of purchase and sale of bullion in the following terms: i. ii.
To render accounts to B of all transactions and sale; To be responsible for the solvency of persons and whom he did business;
iii.
To act on instructions of B on behalf of B;
iv.
To charge certain commission on the transactions. t ransactions.
It was held that the terms on which the business was done, showed that the rehip between B and C was one of the pricipal and agent and not of principal and principal and, therefore, C was a sub-agent, and the case fell under S. 192, and not under S. 226. As such, C was not answerable to A, and suit for accounts by A against C was not sustainable.
Liability of agent to principal for acts of sub-agent .-
45
Except in cases of substituted agent appointed bt the agents: S.194. Stephens v. Badcock (1832) 3 B&Ad 354 47 AIR 1952 Punj 172 48 Rughunath Prasad v. Seva Ram Tikam Das AIR 1980 All 15. 46
48
Plaintiff, an in-surance company, appointed defendant its agent to effect insurance, i nsurance, and issue policies for it in a certain territory. Defendant, without authority from the plaintiff, appointed a sub-agent and confided to him the general charge of his business. Without the agent's knowl-edge the sub-agent delivered a policy (countersigned by him in the agent's name), and re-ceived payment (which was turned into the agent's account), covering a risk which the plaintiff company had instructed the agent not to take. A loss occurred, which the company paid, and it now sues the agent for indemnity. Held, that the agent is liable for this act of his sub-agent, and the fact that he had no knowledge that the policy was issued, or the pre-mium 49
received, is no defense. Franklin Fire Ins. Co, v, Bradford . This holding, if we assume that the facts are correctly interpreted, is in accord with the general rule that an agent who employs a sub-agent on his own account is responsible to his principal for the manner in which the business has been done, whether by himself or his agent.
50
If the sub-agent is really the agent of the original agent, the latter is responsible for
his acts within the scope of the authority conferred, even though he may have been ignorant of the particular act, or may have expressly forbidden it.
51
The court held that, under the
circumstances, there was no forgery committed when the sub-agent signed the agent's name to the policy, and that the act was within the scope of the authority conferred by the agent upon the sub-agent. In another case, however, growing out of the same transaction and involving the same agent and sub-agent, the court of ap-peals for the third circuit, in a similar suit by another insurance company, held that the act of the sub-agent was not within the scope of the authority, that the countersigning of the policy was legally a forgery, and therefore that the agent was not responsible. Bradford v. Hanover Ins. Co.
52
This holding,
like the other, is sound in law, if the facts are rightly interpreted.
Authority to appoint sub-agents J purchased a note and mortgage of F and left the same in his hands for collection. F resided in New Hampshire, the mortgagor in Nebraska. F had negotiated the original loan through one B of Lincoln, Nebraska, and had received several payments through him after the
49
(1901) 201 Pa. 32, 50 Atl. Rep. 286, 55 I. R. A. 408.1 MECHEM ON AGENCY, 197 51 Id. a 735 52 (1900) 102 Fed. Rep. 48, 43 C. C. A. 310, 49 L. R. A. 530 50
assignment. B finally collected the last installment of the note and failed to turn over the proceeds. J, the holder, transferred the note and mortgage after maturity to the plaintiff, who brings suit to foreclose. Held , that the plaintiff must fail because F, from necessity, had Meeker. implied authority to appoint B as a sub-agent to receive payment. Breck v. Meeker.
53
The rule is too well settled for dispute that, as an exception to the general rule that agents 54
55
have no power tolappoint sub-agents, ( Ruthven v. American Fire Ins. ; Connor v. Parker ;) authority so to act may be implied from necessity arising out of the cir-cumstances of the 56
parties; Appleton Bank v. McGilvray ; Planters' etc. Nat'l Bank v. Wilmington First Nal'l 57
Bank .
53
(1903), - Neb. -, 93 N. W. Rep. 993. Co. (1894), 92 Ia. 316, 60 N. W. 663 55 114 Mass. 331 56 4 Gray (Mass.) 518, 64 Am. Dec. 92 57 75 N. C. 534. 54
Section 194 provides that where an agent, holding an express or implied authority to name another person to act for the principal, has named another person, such person is not a subagent, but is an agent of the principal himself. For the sake of brevity, such other person who has been named is called a “ substituted agent ”.
A "Co-agent" or a "substituted Agent" is a person who is appointed by the agent to act for t he principal
in
the
business
of
agency
with
the
consent
of
the
principal.
Section 194 enacts, "where an agent holding an express or implied authority to name another person to act for the principal, names another person accordingly, he is not a sub-agent, but a substituted agent for the principal" Where an agent appoints or names other person for being appointed as an agent in his place, such person is called a substituted agent. In the words of (Section 194), “where anagent, holding an express or implied authority to name another person accordingly, such person is not a sub-agent but an agent of the principal for such part of the business of theagency as is entrusted to him.”
Ex E xamp mplles
(1) A directs B, his solicitor, to sell his estate by auction, and to employ an auctioneer for the purpose. B names C, an auctioneer, to conduct the sale. C is not a sub-agent, but is A ‟s agent for the conduct of the sale. (2) A authorises B, a merchant in Kolkata, to recover the money due to A from C &Co. B instructs D , a solicitor to take proceedings against C & Co., for the recoveryof the money. D is not a sub-agent but is solicitor for A (Section 194).
In the case of Central Bank Of India Ltd., ... vs Firm Rur Chand Kurra Mal,
58
the Court laid
down that, „In „ In view of the conclusion at which we have arrived, namely, that the relationship between the plaintiff-firm and the Oriental Bank was one of substituted agent, it becomes unnecessary unnecessary to go into other matters which have been considered by the trial Court and which have been argued before us. It is equally unnecessary to decide whether there was any negligence on the part of the defendant-bank in the matter of entrusting the work to the Oriental Bank or in the delay in informing the plaintiff firm about non-realisation of the amount of the hundi. It was admitted by Mr. Dalip Chand Gupta that the question of negligence would only arise if the defendant bank was the agent and not if the Oriental Bank became the substituted agent.‟
Where an agent holding an express or implied authority to name another person to act for the principal in the business of the agency has named another person accordingly, such person is not a sub-agent, but an agent of the principal for such part of the business of agency as is entrusted to him. (Section194). Where the agent has authority to appoint an agent and the person so appointed is in the nature of a substitute for the original agent, the contract arises between the principal and the substitute and the substituted agent becomes responsible to the principal for the due discharge of the duties as if he is appointed by the principal himself. According to Section 195, in selecting substituted agent for his principal an agent is bound to exercise the same amount of discretion as a man of ordinary prudence would exercise in his own case; and if he does so, he is not responsible to the principal for acts or negligence of the substituted agent so selected.
58
AIR 1958 P H 159
What is the difference between Sub-agent and Substituted agent?
It is important to understand the distinction between the two as their li ability is different: Sub-agent
1. A sub-agent is appointed by the agent and as such he is under the control of the agent. 2. A sub-agent acts under the agent. 3. There is no privity of contract between the subagent and the principal. 4. A sub-agent cannot ask for his remuneration from the principal. 5. The principal cannot hold the sub-agent liable, except in case of fraud. 6. An agent is liable for the agent acts of the sub-agent.
Substituted Agent
1. A substituted agent is only named by the agent but is under the control of the principal. 2. A substituted agent acts independen independently tly for his principal. 3. There is contractual relationship between the substituted agent and the principal. 4. A substituted agent can ask for his remuneration from the principal. 5. The principal can hold the substituted agent liable. 6. An agent is not liable for the acts of the substituted agent. 59
Furthermore, in Halsbury's Laws of England it is stated that there may be three classes of sub-agents: (1) those employed without the authority, express or implied, of the principal, by whose acts the principal is not bound; (2) those employed with the express or implied authority of the principal but between whom & the principal there is no privity of contract; (3) those employed with the principal's authority, between whom & the principal there is privity of contract, and a direct relationship of principal and agent is, accordingly, established.
59
(Volume I) Simonds edition para- 405
For the acts and defaults of the first two classes the agent is responsible to the principal; in the third case the substituted agent has the rights and liabilities of an agent vis-a-vis the 60
principal.
Halsbury's Laws Laws of England , Volume I, wherein it is stated-
"There is as a general rule no privity of contract between the principal and a sub-agent, the sub-agent being liable only to his employer, the agent. The exception is where the principal was a party to the appointment of the sub-agent or has subsequently adopted his acts, and it was the intention of the parties that privity of contract should be established between between them."
It can be inferred that, that the whole distinction in our law appears to turn on the original agent naming the person he appoints to represent the principal for the whole or part of the business first entrusted to him. Whether this naming is put to the agent or principal is by no means apparent. The naming should, however, be to the principal himself so as to bring about privity of contract. In case of a sub-agent no such naming is required and consequently no such privity in law is established.
60
Mercantile Bank of India Ltd. v. Chetumal Bulchand AIR 1930 Sind 247
As a general rule, no doubt, the maxim 'delegatus non potest delegare' applies so as to prevent an agent from establishing the relationship of principal and agent between his own principal and a third person; but this maxim when analyzed merely imports that an agent cannot, without authority from his principal, devolve upon another obligations to the principal which he has himself undertaken to personally fulfil; and that, inasmuch as confidence in the particular person employed is at the root of the contract of agency, such authority cannot be implied as an ordinary incident in the contract. But the exigencies of business do from time to time render necessary the carrying out of the instructions of a principal by a person other than the agent originally instructed for the purpose, and where that is the case, the reason of the thing requires that the rule should be relaxed, so as, on the one hand, to enable the agent to appoint what has been termed a sub-agent or 'substitute' (the latter of which designations, although it does not exactly denote the legal relationship of the parties, we adopt for want of a better, and for the sake of brevity); and on the other hand, to constitute, in the interests and
for the protection of the principal, a direct privity of contract between him and such 61
substitute."
th
Furthermore, as per 13 law commission report in section 190 the following changes must be incorporated in the present act of I.C.A, 1872 and the paper affirms it too.
Where the employment of a sub agent is justified by usage of the particular trade or business in which the agent employed, provided such a usage is neither unreasonable, nor inconsistent with express term‟s of agent‟s authority
Where the authority conferred is of such a nature as to necessitate its execution wholly or in part by means of sub- agent
Where the act done is purely ministerial and does not involve confidence or discretion.
In my opinion, that is the true test to determine whether the person appointed by an agent authorised in that behalf to perform part of the business of the agency is a substituted agent of the principal or the sub- agent of the agent, and the test to be applied is the same whether the case falls within Section 194 or whether, as in the present case, the person so appointed is the nominee of the principal although there is a difference in the obligation undertaken by the agent, for Section 195 applies to a case falling within Section194, while in cases where the substituted agent is the nominee of the principal, the agent is not concerned with the character or efficiency of the person so appointed, and his obligation quo to the part of the business of the agency entrusted to the substituted agent ceases if and so soon as privity of contract has been created between the substituted agent and the principal
.
The true test to determine whether the person appointed by the agent authorised in that behalf to perform part of the business of agency is a substitute agent of the principal or the subagent of the agent is to see if there is a privity of contract between the principal and the
person so appointed, and the test to be applied is the same whether the case falls within Section 194 or whether the person so appointed is nominee of the principal, although there is difference in the obligation undertaken by the agent.
61
13 th law commission report and Pollock and Mulla)
References
Books th
13 Law Commission Report (Universal publishing and Co.)
Contract Act& Specific Relief Acts, Acts, vol 2 (13 edn, Lexis Pollock & Mulla, Indian Contract
th
Nexis Butterworths Wadhwa 2009)
th
Avtar Singh, Contract & Specific Relief Act (10 edn, EBC)
P C Markanda, The Law of Contracts (2
nd
edition, Vol. 1, Wadhwa Publications)
Web- sources
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