Can a minor open TD account with senior?

Yes. There are no restrictions as to who can open a Term Deposit account. Let's say you want to deposit $10000/- towards your sons college funds, you can visit your nearby bank branch and open a TD as a joint account between you and your son.

A minor is a person who has not completed the age of 18 years. As such according to Section 11, of the Indian Contract Act of 1872, a minor is not competent to contracat. Therefore, any contract entered into by a n\minor except those fjor the necessaries of life supplied to him, is void ab initio, and are therefore unenforceable.

However, a banker can open a savings bank accout in the name of a minor and he runs no risk, as long the account is in credit.

Similarly, a banker can also open a Term Deposit account in the name of a minor provided he doesn't give loans to the minor. This is because a banker will have to face risks when he gives a loan to a minor because he cannot recover the loan amount from the minor, who is not competent to contract.

In case a banker decides to grant a loan to a minor for the necessaries of life for him, it is necessary to satisfy himself that the minor has got sufficient property. This is because a minor's property can be made liable, but a minor cannot be personally made liable for the loan.

In the eyes of law, a minor is a pampered child. Hence, a minor can become a major problem.

M.J. SUBRAMANYAM, XCHANGING, BANGALORE