Property of any kind may be transferred, except as otherwise provided by this Act or by any other law for the time being in force:
(a) The chance of an heir-apparent succeeding to an estate, the chance of a relation obtaining a legacy on the death of a kinsman, or any other mere possibility of a like nature, cannot be transferred.
(b) A mere right of re-entry for breach of a condition subsequent cannot be transferred to any one except the owner of the property affected thereby.
(c) An easement cannot be transferred apart from the dominant heritage.
(d) An interest in property restricted in its enjoyment to the owner personally cannot be transferred by him.
(dd) A right to future maintenance, in whatsoever manner arising, secured or determined, cannot be transferred.
(e) A mere right to sue cannot be transferred.
(f) A public office cannot be transferred, nor can the salary of a public officer, whether before or after it has become payable.
(g) Stipends allowed to military, naval, air-force and civil pensioners of the Government and political pensions cannot be transferred.
(h) No transfer can be made (1) in so far as it is opposed to the nature of the interest affected thereby, or (2) for an unlawful object or consideration within the meaning of section 23 of the Indian Contract Act (9 of 1872), or (3) to a person legally disqualified to be transferee.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorise a tenant having an untransferable right of occupancy, the farmer of an estate in respect of which default has been made in paying revenue, or the lessee of an estate under the management of a Court of Wards, to assign his interest as such tenant, farmer or lessee.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 6
Alienability is the cardinal incident of ownership, establishing the statutory rule that property of any kind may be transferred unless expressly prohibited by statute or fundamental public policy.
Similarly, a mere right of re-entry for condition broken cannot be transferred apart from the estate, easements cannot be detached from dominant heritage, personal maintenance rights cannot be alienated, a mere right to sue in tort or contract cannot be assigned as it invites champerty and maintenance, and public offices, salaries, or political pensions are shielded from alienation to protect sovereign governance.
Section 6(a) invalidates agreements by prospective heirs to sell properties they expect to inherit from living parents or relatives. Even if the heir executes a formal agreement to sell and accepts consideration, the contract is void ab initio under Section 6(a), and estoppel cannot be pleaded against the statute.