Section 76:
Liabilities of mortgagee in possession.
When, during the continuance of the mortgage, the
mortgagee takes possession of the mortgaged property,--
(a) he must manage the property as a person of ordinary prudence would manage it if it were his
own;
(b) he must use his best endeavours to collect the rents and profits thereof;
(c) he must, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, out of the income of the property,
pay the Government-revenue, all other charges of a public nature 1[and all rent] accruing due in
respect thereof during such possession, and any arrears of rent in default of payment of which
theproperty may be summarily sold;
(d) he must, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, make such necessary repairs of the
property as he can pay for out of the rents and profits thereof after deducting from such rents and
profits the payments mentioned in clause (c) and the interest on the principal money;
(e) he must not commit any act which is destructive or permanently injurious to the property;
(f) where he has insured the whole or any part of the property against loss or damage by fire,
he must, in case of such loss or damage, apply any money which he actually receives under the policy, or. so much thereof as may be necessary, in reinstating the property, or, if the mortgagor so
directs, in reduction or discharge of the mortgage-money;
(g) he must keep clear, full and accurate accounts of all sums received and spent by him as
mortgagee, and, at any time during the continuance of the mortgage, give the mortgagor, at his
request and cost, true copies of such accounts and of the vouchers by which they are
supported;
(h) his receipts from the mortgaged property, or, where such property is personally occupied
by him. a fair occupation-rent in respect thereof shall, after deducting the expenses 2[properly
incurred for the management of the property and the collection of rents and profits and the other
expenses] mentioned in clauses (c) and (d), and interest thereon, be debited against him in
reduction of the amount (if any) from time to time due to him on account of interest 3*** and, so
far as such receipts exceed any interest due, in reduction or discharge of the mortgage-money; the
surplus, if any, shall be paid to the mortgagor;
(i) when the mortgagor tenders, or deposits in manner hereinafter provided, the amount for the
time being due on the mortgage, the mortgagee must, notwithstanding the provisions in the other
clauses .of this section, account for his 4*** receipts from the mortgaged property from the date of
the tender or from the earliest time when he could take such amount out of Court, as the case may be
'and shall not be entitled to deduct any amount therefrom on account of any expenses incurred after
such date or time in connection with the mortgaged property.
Loss occasioned by his default.-- If the mortgagee fail to perform any of the duties imposed
upon him by this section, he may, when accounts are taken in pursuance of a decree made
under this Chapter, be debited with the loss, if any, occasioned by such failure.
Notes:
1. Ins. by s. 40, ibid.
2. Ins. by Act 20 of 1929, s. 40.
3. The words "on the mortgage-money" omitted by s. 40, ibid.
4. The word "gross" omitted by s. 40, ibid.