Easement By Express Grant and Necessity: Legal Sources and Extinguishment Different

Saji Koduvath, Advocate, Kottayam

Abstract

•• Legal sources of the right of an easement by express grant and an easement of necessity are different.

•• An easement of necessity under Section 13 of the Indian Easement Act arises from an absolute necessity. Easement acquired by grant is controlled only by the terms of the contract.

•• An easement of necessity is extinguished as per Section 41 of the Indian Easement Act — when the necessity comes to an end.

Easement By Express Grant And Necessity: Mutually Not Exclusive; but Mutually Destructive

Because both these rights can co-exist (at its beginning), they are not mutually exclusive. But, they have distinct legal bases. The source of the legal right of easement is absolute necessity arising out of ‘no-other-way’. If a granted, contractual way is pleaded easement of necessity does not arise. That is the legal requirement of necessity ceases when a way is acquired by express grant. In Hero Vinoth v. Seshammal, (2006) 5 SCC 545, the Suppreme Court held to the following effect:

  • “But easement of grant is a matter of contract between the parties. In the matter of grant the parties are governed by the terms of the grant and not anything else. Easement of necessity and quasi easement are dealt with in Section 13 of the Act. The grant may be express or even by necessary implication. In either case it will not amount to an easement of necessity under Section 13 of the Act even though it may also be an absolute necessity for the person in whose favour the grant is made. Limit of the easement acquired by grant is controlled only by the terms of the contract. If the terms of the grant restrict its user subject to any condition the parties will be governed by those conditions. Any how the scope of the grant could be determined by the terms of the grant between the parties alone. When there is nothing in the term of the grant in this case that it was to continue only until such time as the necessity was absolute. In fact even at the time it was granted, it was not one of necessity. If it is a permanent arrangement uncontrolled by any condition, that permanency in user must be recognized and the servient tenement will be recognized and the servient tenement will be permanently burdened with that disability. Such a right does not arise under the legal implication of Section 13 nor is it extinguished by the statutory provision under Section 41 of the Act which is applicable only to easement of necessity arising under Section 13 .
  • An easement by grant does not get extinguished under Section 41 of the Act which relates to an easement of necessity. An easement of necessity is one which is not merely necessary for the reasonable enjoyment of the dominant tenement, but one where dominant tenement cannot be used at all without the easement. The burden of the servient owner in such a case is not on the basis of any concession or grant made by him for consideration or otherwise, but it is by way of a legal obligation enabling the dominant owner to use his land. It is limited to the barest necessity however inconvenient it is irrespective of the question whether a better access could be given by the servient owner or not. When an alternate access becomes available, the legal necessity of burdening the servient owner ceases and the easement of necessity by implication of law is legally withdrawn or extinguished as statutorily recognized in Section 41. Such an easement will last only as long as the absolute necessity exists. Such a legal extinction cannot apply to an acquisition by grant and Section 41 is not applicable in such case.”

Easement By Express Grant And Necessity: Plaintiff Can Plead And Claim Alternatively

A plaintiff can plead and claim, in the same suit, an easement by Express Grant and easement of Necessity, in the alternative as both rights are not Mutually Not Exclusive.

If Both Rights Pleaded, Court Will proceed on the basis of Express Grant

The assertions in Express Grant being a more positive with its governing terms, the Court will proceed on the basis of Express Grant if both Express Grant and easement of necessity are claimed in one suit. Therefore, the statement that a plaintiff can plead and claim both rights ‘alternatively’, remains only academic. It is also noteworthy that an easement of necessity is extinguished when the necessity comes to an end as per Section 41 of the Indian Easement Act. (See: R.Paramasivan v. T. Anasuya, AIR 2005 Kar 240)

Easement By Express Grant And Necessity: Distinguished

The Supreme Court, in Hero Vinoth v. Seshammal, (2006) 5 SCC 545, distinguished an easement by grant from an easement of necessity. It held:

  • determined by the nature of acquisition;
  • an easement by grant may be absolutely necessary for enjoyment of the dominant tenement;
  • if a right was acquired by grant, it cannot become an easement of necessity under Section 13;
  • grant is governed by the terms of the grant;
  • Section 41, which extinguishes an easement of necessity when the necessity ceases, applies only to an easement of necessity under Section 13.
Read Also
Easement Simplified
What is Easement? Does Right of Easement  Allow to ‘Enjoy’ Servient Land After Making Improvements Therein  ?
“Implied Grant” in Law of  Easements
Implied Grant: A Valid Mode of Creation of Easement under Indian  Law
“Title Thereto” in the Definition of ‘Prescriptive Easement’ in Sec. 15 of the Indian Easements Act,  1882
Prescriptive Rights – Inchoate until the Title thereof is Upheld by a Competent  Court
Will Easement of Necessity Ripen into a Prescriptive  Easement?
What is “period ending within two years next before the institution of the suit” in Easement by  Prescription?
Is the Basis of Every Easement, Theoretically, a  Grant
Extent of Easement (Width of Way) in Easement of Necessity,  Quasi Easement and Implied  Grant
Easement of Necessity and Prescriptive Easement are Mutually Destructive; But, Easement of Necessity and Implied Grant Can be Claimed  Alternatively
Can  Easement of Necessity and  of Grant be Claimed in a Suit (Alternatively)?
Can an Easement-Way be Altered by the Owner of the  Land?
Village Pathways and Right to Bury are not  Easements.
Custom & Customary Easements in Indian  Law
‘Additional Burden Loses Lateral Support’ – Incorrect  Proposition
Grant in Law
Travancore Grant Deeds, in  Law
Right of Private Way Beyond (Other Than)  Easement
Easement – Should Date of Beginning of 20 Years be&nbs p;pleaded?
What is Easement, in law? Right of Easement  Simplified
One Year Interruption or Obstruction will not affect Prescriptive  Easement
Should the Plaintiff Schedule Servient Heritage in a Suit Claiming Perspective  Easement?
Necessary Parties in Suits on  Easement
Easement by Prescription – Grant or ‘Acquiring’ by “Hostile  Act”
Sec. 7 Easements Act – Natural Advantages Arising from the Situation of Land & Natural Flow of  Water
Licence and Irrevocable Licence: Section 60 Easements Act Applies only to ‘Bare Licences’ and Not to ‘Contractual  Licences’

How to Subscribe ‘IndianLawLive’? Click here  –  “How to Subscribe  free  

Read in this Cluster (Click on the Topic)

Civil Suits: Procedure & Principles

Book No, 1 –  Civil Procedure Code

Principles and Procedure

PROPERTY LAW

Title, ownership and Possession

Recovery of Possession:  

Survey, Revenue Records, Mutation

Adverse Possession

Land Laws/  Transfer of Property Act

Land Reform Laws

Power of attorney

Evidence Act – General

Sec. 65B

Admission, Relevancy and Proof

Law on Documents

Documents – Proof and Presumption

Interpretation

Contract Act

Specific Relief Act

Law on Damages

Easement

Stamp Act & Registration

Natural Justice/Disciplinary Action

Divorce/Marriage

Negotiable Instruments Act

Criminal

Arbitration

Will

Book No.  2:  A Handbook on Constitutional Issues

Religious issues

Book No.  3:  Common Law of CLUBS and SOCIETIES in India

Book No.  4:  Common Law of TRUSTS in India

Leave a Comment