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Transfer of Property Act Hub / Chapter VII - Gifts
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 - Professional Corpus - Batch 07

Chapter VII - Gifts

Verify voluntariness, acceptance, registration, revocation, onerous obligations and personal-law savings.

Authors: CA Nikhil Gupta and Kajri SinghLegal review cut-off: 2026-07-18Unit 19 of 50India-first
Statutory source control. The provision map is aligned to the India Code architecture. The official consolidated PDF and signed Gazette/State instrument control exact text, footnotes, territorial extension, exemptions and transaction-date law.
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Dedicated Finin2min Summary - Chapter in 2 Minutes

  • Section 122: Gift defined and acceptance - convert every condition, exception and consequence into evidence-backed controls.
  • Section 123: Gift how effected - convert every condition, exception and consequence into evidence-backed controls.
  • Section 124: Gift of existing and future property - convert every condition, exception and consequence into evidence-backed controls.
  • Verify voluntariness, acceptance, registration, revocation, onerous obligations and personal-law savings.
  • Apply current State stamp, registration, land, tenancy, RERA and procedural law before execution or litigation.

Current statutory text / controlled source map

Section 122 - Gift defined and acceptance. Section 123 - Gift how effected. Section 124 - Gift of existing and future property. Section 125 - Gift to several where one does not accept. Section 126 - Suspension or revocation of gift. Section 127 - Onerous gifts. Section 128 - Universal donee. Section 129 - Saving of donations mortis causa and Muhammadan law.

Section-by-section provision map

ProvisionSubjectStatusFinin2min clause-by-clause decodeImplementationEvidence/control
Section 122Gift defined and acceptanceOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 122 governs gift defined and acceptance. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 123Gift how effectedOperative subject to current official/State lawFor immovable property, use a registered instrument signed by or on behalf of the donor and attested as required; acceptance must occur during the donor's lifetime.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 124Gift of existing and future propertyOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 124 governs gift of existing and future property. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 125Gift to several where one does not acceptOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 125 governs gift to several where one does not accept. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 126Suspension or revocation of giftOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 126 governs suspension or revocation of gift. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 127Onerous giftsOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 127 governs onerous gifts. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 128Universal doneeOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 128 governs universal donee. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.
Section 129Saving of donations mortis causa and Muhammadan lawOperative subject to current official/State lawSection 129 governs saving of donations mortis causa and muhammadan law. Identify actor, property/right, transfer event, statutory conditions, exceptions, notice and legal consequence within the gift validity and acceptance framework.Record title and authority, transaction dates, consideration, possession, instrument form, stamp/registration status, notice, approvals and third-party claims. Obtain State-specific review before execution or enforcement.Official source snapshot; title chain; encumbrance/litigation search; authority; executed instrument; valuation; payment and tax proof; possession/delivery record; notices; registration receipt.

Finin2min implementation explanation

Classification

Identify the property, interest, parties, consideration, possession and intended legal result. Separate agreement, conveyance, security, licence, lease and statutory transfer.

Title and authority

Verify chain of title, encumbrances, litigation, acquisition/land restrictions, co-owner rights, entity authority and power-of-attorney scope.

Form and perfection

Select instrument, attestation, stamp duty, registration, filing, notice, possession and security-perfection steps under current Central and State law.

Closing and change control

Block payment/possession until conditions are met. Preserve closing set, registration receipt and superseded drafts. Recheck law and searches on closing date.

Practical examples and calculations

Chapter-specific scenario.

A donor signs a gift deed but possession and acceptance are disputed. The file must prove capacity, voluntariness, existing property, execution, attestation, registration and acceptance during lifetime.

Calculation/controlMethodEvidence
Stamp valueApply State relationship-based gift duty and market-value rules.Valuation and State stamp schedule
Tax basisRecord donor cost/history, recipient relationship and future capital-gain basis.Tax records and deed
Onerous liabilityQuantify attached debt, charge, tax and maintenance obligations.Encumbrance and liability statements

Practical transaction application

  1. Classify the transaction and every interest being created, transferred, reserved, charged or extinguished.
  2. Complete title, authority, encumbrance, litigation, land-use and possession diligence.
  3. Map each statutory provision to the instrument and identify State stamp, registration, RERA, tenancy and local-law overlays.
  4. Reconcile consideration, taxes, debt, possession, completion deliverables, representations, indemnities and notices.
  5. Approve closing, post-registration filings, evidence retention and enforcement/limitation strategy.

Authority, consent and execution controls

Stamp duty and registration alerts

  • Instrument classification and market value are State-specific; obtain current rate and adjudication where ambiguity exists.
  • Sections 54, 59, 107 and 123 must be read with the Registration Act and State amendments.
  • Section 53A protection requires compliance with the post-2001 registration framework.
  • Registration does not by itself cure defective title, authority, prohibited transfer or insufficient stamping.

Evidence and document-retention checklist

Performance, delivery and payment controls

Breach, loss, mitigation and remedy framework

  • Separate invalidity, rescission, specific performance, injunction, possession, redemption, foreclosure/sale, damages, restitution and indemnity.
  • Prove causation, remoteness, mitigation, market value and avoided cost.
  • Identify third-party and bona-fide-purchaser protections.
  • Protect title and possession through timely notices, registration, caveats and interim relief.

Limitation and forum controls

Arbitration and mediation interface

Property disputes may be arbitrable where they concern subordinate contractual rights, but rights in rem, statutory forums, registration/title rectification and third-party interests require separate analysis. Preserve interim-relief, lis pendens, possession and limitation strategy even during mediation.

Company, partnership, GST and tax overlays

Finin2min Q&A

What is the first professional step?

Classify the transaction and property interest before applying Chapter VII - Gifts.

What is the most common failure?

Executing or paying before title, authority, State stamp/registration and third-party rights are independently verified.

Does a contract always transfer ownership?

No. The Act distinguishes contracts, completed transfers, security interests and possession-based protections; the required instrument and registration must be tested.

What should the matter file contain?

Official source, title chain, searches, authority, valuation, instrument, payment, possession, notices, tax records, registration proof and remedy/limitation analysis.

Chapter-specific decision flowchart

Decision flow for Chapter VII - Gifts
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