Section 168: Right of finder of goods

In plain words

A finder of goods cannot sue the owner for the trouble and expense of preserving the goods and tracing the owner, but can keep the goods until paid. If the owner has offered a specific reward, the finder can sue for it and keep the goods until it is paid.

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.

Read the in-depth explanation, with key Supreme Court rulings ↓

Official text

The finder of goods has no right to sue the owner for compensation for trouble and expense voluntarily incurred by him to preserve the goods and to find out the owner; but he may retain the goods against the owner until he receives such compensation; and, where the owner has offered a specific reward for the return of goods lost, the finder may sue for such reward, and may retain the goods until he receives it.

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.

Understanding this section

Section 168 deals with the finder of goods. A finder has no right to sue the owner for compensation for trouble and expense voluntarily incurred, but may retain the goods until compensated, and may sue for a reward the owner has offered.

Key points

Section 71 treats a finder who takes charge of goods as having the responsibility of a bailee.
The finder must take the care required by section 151 and try to find the owner.
There is a right of retention (a lien), not a right of action, for expenses.
Section 169 allows sale in limited cases, such as perishable goods, when the owner cannot be found or refuses to pay lawful charges.

Common mistakes

Assuming a finder can sue the owner for expenses; they can only retain the goods or claim an offered reward.

Read with: Section 71 Indian Contract Act, 1872, Section 169 Indian Contract Act, 1872

Prepared with AI assistance as a study aid. Every ruling listed was checked against the Supreme Court's own judgments on this site, and quoted words appear in those judgments; linked names open the full judgment. Read the judgments themselves before relying on them. Not legal advice.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 168

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.