Civil law ka ek subtle but powerful principle hai – restitution aur unjust enrichment. Simple bhaasha me, agar aap kisi aur ke kharche pe unfair benefit le lete ho, toh law aapse keh sakta hai: “jo galat fayda liya, wapas karo.”
Unjust enrichment ka classic structure kuch aisa hota hai:
- Defendant ko koi benefit mila,
- Woh benefit claimant ke kharche pe aaya,
- Usko rakhna “unjust” hoga, kyunki koi valid legal justification nahi hai.
Examples bohot practical hain. Bank galti se extra paisa transfer kar de, contractor ko double payment ho jaye, document ke confusion se kisi ko rent milta rahe jo uska haq hi nahi – in sab situations me restitution ka claim possible hai. Court ka aim kisi ko punish karna nahi, balki “correct balance” restore karna hota hai.
Restitution faqat paisa tak limited nahi; kabhi-kabhi property, goods, ya traceable assets bhi wapas karne pad sakte hain. Agar exact item wapas nahi diya ja sakta, toh uski money equivalent award ho sakti hai.
Important nuance: har enrichment unjust nahi hota. Gift, contract ke under milne wale fayde, ya statutory benefits usually allowed hote hain. Dispute tab banta hai jab kisi ki galti, misrepresentation, ya technical loophole se aapko paisa ya advantage mil jaye jo morally-aur-legally dono awkward lage.
Is doctrine ka message seedha hai – “windfall profit” jo clear galti ya imbalance pe based ho, wo civil law tolerate nahi karta.
