(ACT IX OF 1932)
(Passed by the Indian Legislature)
RECEIVED THE ASSENT OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ON
8TH APRIL 1932
CHAPTER I
PRELINIMARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement - (1) This Act may be called the Partnership Act, 1932.
[(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.]
(3) It shall come into force on the 1st day of October, 1932, except section 69 which shall come into force on the 1st day of October 1933.
1. Definitions - In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
a) an "act of a firm" means any act or omission by all the partners or by any partner or agent of the firm which gives rise to a right enforceable by or against the firm,
a) "business" includes every trade, occupation and profession;
a) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
a) "third party" used in relation to a firm or to a partner therein means any person who is not a partner in the firm; and
a) expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Contract Act (IX of 1872) shall have the meanings assigned to them in that Act.
CHAPTER II
THE NATURE OF PARTNERSHIP
4. Definition of "partnership", "partner", "firm" and "firm name" - "Partnership" is the relation between persons who have agreed to share the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all.
Persons who have entered into partnership with one another called individually "partners" and collectively "a firm" and the name under which their business is carried on is called the "firm name".
5. Partnership not created by status - The relation of partnership arises from contract and not from status;
and in particular the members of a Hindu undivided family carrying on a family business as such, or a Burmese Buddhist husband and wife carrying on business as such are not partners in such business.
6. Mode of determining existence of partnership - In determining whether a group of persons is or is not a firm or whether a person is or is not a partner in a firm regard shall be had to the real relation between the parties as shown by all relevant facts taken together.
Explanation 1 - The sharing of profits or of gross returns arising from property by persons holding a joint or common interest in that property does not of itself make such persons partners.
Explanation 2 - The receipt by a person of a share of the profits of a business or of a payment contingent upon the earning of profits or varying with the profits earned by a business does not of itself make him a partner with the persons carrying on the business;
And in particular the receipt of such share of payment -
a) by a lender of money to persons engaged or about to engage in any business,
a) by a servant or agent as remuneration,
a) by the widow or child of a deceased partner as annuity or
a) by a previous owner or part owner of the business as consideration for the sale of the goodwill or share thereof,
does not of itself make the receiver a partner with the persons carrying on the business.
7. Partnership at will- Where no provision is made by contract between the partners for the duration of their partnership or for the determination of their partnership the partnership is "partnership at will".
8. Particular partnership - A person may become a partner with another person in particular adventures or undertakings.
