Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Chapter IX: Of Bailment
Section 160: Return of goods bailed, on expiration of time or accomplishment of purpose
In plain words
The bailee must return the goods, or deliver them as the bailor directs, without being asked, once the time of the bailment has expired or its purpose is achieved.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
It is the duty of the bailee to return, or deliver according to the bailors directions, the goods bailed, without demand, as soon as the time for which they were bailed has expired, or the purpose for which they were bailed has been accomplished.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.