The document provides information on partnership under Indian law: - A partnership is formed by an agreement between two or more persons to carry on business together and share profits. - Key characteristics include unlimited liability, joint ownership of property, and that a partner can bind the firm through their actions. - Partnerships can be dissolved by agreement, insolvency, court order for issues like breach of contract, or when the business purpose concludes. - Dissolution of a partnership differs from dissolution of the firm, as the former just changes the relationship between partners while the latter ends the entire firm.

1. Indian Partnership Act,1932
Indian Partnership Act,1932

2. Meaning & Definition
PARTNERSHIP
According to The Indian
Partnership Act 1932
“Partnership
is the relation between
two or more persons who
have agreed to share the
profits of a business
carried on by all of them
or any of them acting for
all”.
Definition
Simply speaking, a
partnership is an
association of persons who
conduct some business
activity and agree to share
profits earned out of it.
Meaning
2
1

3. ‘Partner’ ‘Firm’ and ‘Firm Name
PARTNERS’ are
collectively
‘FIRM
Firm
1
Partner
The name under
which their
business is carried
on is called the
‘FIRM NAME’
Firm Name
Persons who
have agreed into
partnership with
one another are
called individually
PARTNER
3
2
Section 4 of Indian Partnership Act, 1932 provides that

4. The partnership is a result of a contract or an
agreement that is entered into between the partners. It
does not arise from birth, status or inheritance or
succession. The agreement between the partners is maybe
in oral or written , the ore; agreement is known as
Partnership Deed
The contract or agreement between the persons may be oral or
written. But usually, the contract is in writing.
The persons who form a partnership must be
competent or must have the capacity to enter into contract.
Persons who do not have the capacity to enter into contract
such as minors, insolvents, lunatics (persons with unsound
mind) cannot become partners.
Characteristics of a Partnership firm
Competence to
enter into
contract
Nature of
agreement
Agreement

5. To form a partnership at least two persons are
required. The maximum number of partners is
limited to 20, in case of general type of business
and 10, in case of banking business.
The agreement between partners must be to carry on
some business which includes all lawful trade,
occupation or profession. Hence, the presence of a
business is a must and it does not cover any club or
charitable association
The agreement between the partners must be for
making profits and sharing the profits among
themselves.
The partners share the profits in the agreed
proportions.
Characteristics of a Partnership firm
Sharing of
profits
Presence of
business
Number of
partners

6. Each partner acts in two capacities, i.e. he is both a
principal and agent. As an agent, he can bind the other
partners by his acts and as a principal; he is bound by
the acts of other partners.
The partnership business can be carried on by
all the partners or by any one or more acting
for all.
The liability of partners is unlimited. If the firm fails
to satisfy its debt, each partner is liable to repay out
of his personal assets.
Characteristics of a Partnership firm
Unlimited
liability
Management
Principal-
Agent
relationship

7. A partner cannot, without the consent of
other partners, transfer his interest in the
firm to an outsider.
Each partner is a joint owner of the property of the firm and
hence, in the eyes of law the firm and the partners are
considered to be one and the same. Partnership has no
separate existence apart from the partners composing it.
The essence of partnership is based on the spirit of co-
operation. Hence there should be mutual trust and
mutual co-operation among partners.
Characteristics of a Partnership firm
Team
spirit
Joint
ownership
Non-transfer
ability of
interest

8. Kinds of Partners
3
A nominal partner is one who does not have any real interest in the business but lends his name
to the firm, without any capital contributions, and doesn’t share the profits of the business. He
also does not usually have a voice in the management of the business of the firm, but he is liable
to outsiders as an actual partner.
Nominal Partner
A person who takes active interest in the conduct and management of the business of the firm is
known as active or managing partner
Active partner
1
A sleeping partner is a partner who ‘sleeps’, that is, he does not take active part in the
management of the business. Such a partner only contributes to the share capital of the firm
Sleeping partner
2
4
If a person, by his words or conduct, holds out to another that he is a partner, he will be
stopped from denying that he is not a partner. The person who thus becomes liable to third
parties to pay the debts of the firm is known as a holding out partner.
Partner by estoppel or holding out

9. Cont….
3
In partnership firms, several other types of partners are also found, namely, secret partner
who does not want to disclose his relationship with the firm to the general public. Outgoing
partner, who retires voluntarily without causing dissolution of the firm, limited partner who
is liable only up to the value of his capital contributions in the firm
Other Partners
When a partner agrees with the others that he would only share the profits of the
firm and would not be liable for its losses, he is in own as partner in profits only.
Partner in profits only
1
A partnership is created by an agreement. And if a partner is incapable of entering into a
contract, he cannot become a partner. Thus, at the time of creation of a firm a minor (i.e., a
person who has not attained the age of 18 years) cannot be one of the parties to the contract.
Minor as a Partner
2

10. Kinds of Partnership

11. When there is no provision in partnership agreement (known as
partnership Deed, if in writing) for:
– The duration of their partnership, or
– The determination of their partnership,
then the partnership is called ‘Partnership at Will’.
Special feature of ‘Partnership at will’ is that such partnership may be
dissolved by any partner by giving a notice in writing to all other
partners of his intention to dissolve the partnership.
The partnership will be dissolved from that date which is mentioned in
the notice as the date of dissolution and if no date is mentioned then
from the date of communication of notice.
Partnership at Will
[Sec.7 read with Sec.43)]

12. When a partnership is formed for a
• Specific venture or undertaking, or
• Particular period (fixed term)
then such partnership is called a ‘particular partnership’.
Such partnership comes to an end on the completion of the venture or
the expiry of time period.
If such partnership is continued after the expiry of term or completion
of venture, it is deemed to be a partnership at will.
A particular partnership may be dissolved before the expiry of the term
or completion of the venture only by the mutual consent of all the
partners.
Particular Partnership
[sec. 8]

13. Partnership deed
A partnership is formed by an agreement. This agreement
may be in writing or oral. though the law does not expressly
require that the partnership agreement should be in writing, it
is desirable to have it in writing in order to avoid any dispute
with regard to the terms of the partnership. The document
which contains the term of a partnership as agreed among the
partners is called “Partnership deed”.
The Partnership Deed is to be duly stamped as per the
Indian Stamp Act, and duly signed by all the partners.

14. Books of account
Nature of business
Name of the firm
Share of partners in profits and losses
Duration of partnership
Capital
Bank Account firm
A partnership deed may contain any matter relating to the
regulation of partnership but all provisions in the deed should be within
the limits of Indian Partnership Act, 1932.
Contents of Partnership Deed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

15. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Settlement of disputes
Dissolution of firm
Death of partner
Retirement and expulsion of partners
Powers of partners

16. Registration of
Partnership

17. Registration of Partnership
Obtaining prescribed form
Preparing statement in the prescribed form
Signing the statement
Verifying the statement
Submitting the statement with fee
Registration
Issue of certificate of registration

18. Right And Duties of Partners Subject to
Contract
(Between the Partners)

19. Right to prevent admission of a new partner
Right to take part in business
Right to access to books
Right in emergency
Right to be consulted
Right to share the profits
Right as an agent of the firm
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Right not to be expelled

20. To be liable for the act of the firm
To be faithful
To give full information
Duty to share losses
To render true accounts
To indemnify for fraud
To act within authority
16
To carry on business to the greater advantage
15
14
13
12
11
10
9

21. DISSOLUTION OF A FIRM

22. Dissolution of Partnership
and Dissolution of Firm

23. The dissolution of partnership between all the
partners of a firm is called the dissolution of the
firm. [section 39]. Thus, if some partner is
changed/added/ goes out, the ‘relation’ between them
changes and hence ‘partnership’ is dissolved, but the
‘firm’ continues. However, complete breakage
between relations of all partners is termed as
‘dissolution of firm’. After such dissolution, the firm
no more exists.
Cont…

24. Thus, ‘Dissolution of partnership’ is
different from ‘dissolution of firm’.
‘Dissolution of partnership’ is only
reconstruction of firm, while ‘dissolution of
firm’ means the firm no more exists after
dissolution.
Cont…

25. Dissolution of a Firm - A partnership firm is an ‘organization’
and like every ‘organ’ it has to either grow or perish. Thus,
dissolution of a firm is inevitable part in the life of partnership firm
some time or the other.
Cont…

26. Mode of Dissolution of Firm

28. Dissolution without the order of Court (Sec 40-43)
Dissolution by Agreement - [section 40].
Compulsory dissolution in case of insolvency - [section
41]
Dissolution on the happening on certain contingencies
[section 42]
Dissolution by notice of partnership at will [section 43(2)]
Cont…

29. A partner may apply to the court for getting the firm dissolved. On getting such application
by any of the partner the court may proceed to order the dissolution of the firm in the following
circumstances:
1) If any of the partner becomes of unsound mind
2) If a partner, other than the partner filing the suit is guilty of intentionally and persistently
committing a breach of the partnership agreement.
3) If a partner, other than the partner filing the suit has transferred whole of his interest in the firm
to a third party without the consent of the other partners.
4) If a partner, other than the partner filing the suit is guilty of misconduct.
5) If a partner, other than the partner filing the suit has become disabled to perform his duties as a
partner.
6) If the court is satisfied that the business of the firm cannot be carried on except a loss.
7) If the court considers it just and equitable to dissolve the firm due to some other reasons
By the Order of the Court

30. 1) If all the partners are willing and hereby agree to dissolve the
firm.
2) In the following circumstances:
a) On the death of any partner.
b) If any partner becomes insolvent.
c) On the expiry of the duration of the firm.
d) On the completion of the venture.
Without the Intervention of the Court.