Tody Jurisprudence

Lecturer
Possession in
jurisprudence
LLB Part-I Jurisprudence
Possession is very difficult to define in English
Jurisprudence. But it very important topic.
Human life and society would become
impossible without retention and consumption
of material and non-material things. Food,
clothes, tools, etc. are essential items to use.
We get hold over the first to claim possession. It
is not just acquisition of things but it is
continuing claim for use of them. It may be legal
or illegal.
How the possession is
acquired:
Following are some points which can be
referred to acquire or loss the ownership:
 Possession itself is evidence being owner.
Pen in my hand is evidence being owner,
regardless legally or illegally.
 The person in possession is presumed to be
the owner. A house in my possession is
presumed my ownership along-with all the
things lying in it.
 Anything can be held wrongfully or by fraud.
 Long possession of twelve years confers
the title in property, which may belong to
others. When a title is conferred to another
even without ownership is acquisition of
possession.
Possession is defined as “it is continuing
exercise of a claim to the exclusive use of it.” It
does not cover incorporeal possession.
Possession is different from ownership but
normally possession and ownership lie
together.
How the possession is acquired: Lease, renting
out, pledge, mortgage, theft, fraud, and
bailment etc. is the general mode of acquisition
of possession. Possession is of two kinds, i.e.,
possession in fact or de facto and possession in
law or de jure. Some discordance in law and
fact occurs. Law something presumes which
may not actually exist. Normally possession in
law and possession in fact exist in a person but
it may vary.
 Possession in fact or de
facto:
It means the possession, which physically
exists in term of control over it. It can be seen
landlord and tenant where tenant holds
possession of house physically or de facto,
but it is not possession in law or de jure.
 Possession in law or de jure:
It is the possession which, in the eyes of law,
exists. It may exclude physical control over it.
It is also called constructive possession. A
servant may possess car, but in the eyes of
law, it is possession of master. Possession of
bailor through bailee is de jure possession on
the part of bailor.
Corporeal and incorporeal
possession:
Corporeal possession is the possession of a
material or tangible objects, thus it is continuing
exercise of a claim on the use of material or
tangible object.
Incorporeal possession is the possession of a
non-material or intangible object. Thus it is
continuing exercise of a claim on the use of
non-material or intangible object.
There are two essential elements of
possession, i.e., animus and corpus.
 Animus is the intent or mental condition
or activity or claim of exclusive use of the
thing possessed. Cloth at tailor’s shop is in
possession of tailor but he may not intend to
exclude the owner or subject of the owner.
Animus may be legal or illegal. The only test is
whether the man in possession intends to
exclude others or not. General intent is
enough to constitute possession. All books in
library, all fishes in net, all sheep in flock, are
 subject of intent whether in knowledge or not,
thus possessio completes.
 Corpus is second element, which is
essential and completes possession. It is
objective part of possession. Both animus and
corpus are necessary for possession.
The intent to exclude to others from interfering
with the object possessed must be evidenced
by physical facts. If there is no action then no
intention is expressed. Pen in my pocket, ring
on my finger, or goods in my home, are
corpus of my possession of each of these.

Completion of possession:
 Power of possession: It shows
possession. Books or watch in my hand
excludes others thus possession is complete.
Things under lock and key are also
possession.
 Presence of possession: A
person may be feeble and unable to exclude
other but his presence may command respect.
Cash in the hand of child is possession.
 Secrecy: Mere knowledge that I have
cash in bank, which is exclusive knowledge, is
possession.
 Continuing use: I use pen
continuously, read book continuously, use of
transport continuously, is possession.
 Customs: In some localities people are
not allowed to interfere to other things even
presence is not there, like in Saudi Arabia
where people leave their shops remain open
and go to offer prayer and no interference is
allowed. It is possession even in absence.
 Respect of rightful claim: In
law-abiding societies people do not interfere in
the right of other and rightful claim generally
obtain security from general acquisition.

Res nullius
Res nullius means ownerless things or objects.
Terra nullius means no man land. A person,
who finds lost goods, while passing on road,
e.g., a wallet, being first finder, he has good title
against the whole world except the true owner,
even if it is found on another person property
without committing trespass. This is the rule.
Any other person who looks at finder of lost
goods cannot demand his share from lost
goods.If a customer finds a lost wallet while
shopping in a store which is not identifiable, can
retain till reasonable time to wait its true owner.
He is obliged to bring this matter into the
knowledge of shopkeeper and give him his own
address. If true owner did not come till
reasonable time, he will hold title. There are
many other things which have no owner, i.e.,
gems stone, metal, gold, silver, natural
resources, bird, animal, provided these things
are found in way, without committing trespass.
Precious stone cannot be held from the area
specified by government. Bird or fish cannot be
hunt from the area of property holder. Things
cannot be hold from others house. Bird cannot
be hunt, which is prohibited.
There are three exceptions in this rule:
 Owner of the property on which the thing is
found is in possession of the thing itself as
well as property, or
 If the finder is servant or agent then master
or principal has title, or
 Wrongful act does not constitute
possession. Trespass is not allowed.
Natural resources in economic zone like water,
sea, land etc. belong to government. If treasure
comes out from others property will also belong
to government.

Kinds of corporeal possession:

Acquisition of possession:
Possession is acquired when both the animus
and corpus are acquired:
 By taking: When someone takes
anything, he has possession. It may either be
rightful or wrongful possession.
 By delivery: The thing is acquired by
delivery with consents of previous possessor.
 Actual delivery Actual delivery is a kind in
which goods are delivered while constructive
delivery is the rental or sold goods.

Syed Mazhar hussain