Section 186 - Agent's authority may be express or implied, Section 187 - Definitions of express and implied authority : Indian Contract Act 1872

Agent's authority may be express or implied? What are the Definitions of express and implied authority? Section 186 and 187 of Indian Contract Act 1872


 

Section 186 of Indian Contract Act 1872 : "Agent's authority may be express or implied"

186. The authority of an agent may be express or implied

 

Section 187 of Indian Contract Act 1872 : "Definitions of express and implied authority"

187. An authority is said to be express when it is given by words spoken or written. An authority is said to be implied when it is to be inferred from the circumstances of the case; and things spoken or written, or the ordinary course of dealing, may be accounted circumstances of the case.

Illustration
A owns a shop in Serampore, living himself in Calcutta, and visiting the shop occasionally. The shop is managed by B, and he is in the habit of ordering goods from C in the name of A for the purposes of the shop, and of paying for them out of A's funds with A's knowledge. B has an implied authority from A to order goods from C in the name of A for the purposes of the shop.