Journal of Legal Research

Journal of Legal Research

Examining the Efficacy of the Right of Retention within the Theory of the Hierarchical Order of Remedies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahdi Sajadikia 1
Farid Sahraei 1
Abolghasem Ghorbani 2
1 PhD Student in Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
2 M.A Student in Private Law, Faculty of Law, Farabi School, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran.
10.48300/jlr.2024.436535.2555
Abstract
The legislator of the Iranian legal system, taking into account the views of some jurists, has accepted a hierarchical relationship among remedies and, in case of the obligor’s refusal to perform his obligations, has considered compelling him to perform as taking precedence over the termination (rescission) of the contract. However, in cases where the obligor’s refusal is based on law, specific performance cannot be utilized; in fact, a legitimate refusal based on a legal right falls outside the rule of compelling the obligor to perform his obligations. On the other hand, Article 377 of the Civil Code stipulates the possibility for the parties to a contract to refuse to perform their obligations. The right of retention (Haq-e Habs) under the said article is recognized as an absolute right that can be exercised by either party immediately upon the formation of the contract, and in this manner, according to some views, the performance of the contract is brought to an impasse. In this research, the possibility of compelling the obligor in the event of his refusal based on the right of retention, derived from Article 377 of the Civil Code, is studied using a descriptive-analytical and field research method, while also examining judicial practice. Ultimately, as a finding of the research, it appears that the creation and exercise of the right of retention should be contingent upon cases where the obligor clearly refuses to perform his obligation, or where indicia and circumstances indicate non-performance, in which case compelling him would also be unimpeded.
Keywords
Right of Retention
Performance of Obligation
Right of Termination
Specific Performance
Remedies
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Journal of Legal Research
Volume 24, Issue 64
Winter 2026
Pages 281-308