The statement highlights a fundamental aspect of the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, concerning the rights of an unpaid seller. An 'unpaid seller' is defined under Section 45 of the Act as a seller to whom the whole of the price has not been paid or tendered, or when a bill of exchange or other negotiable instrument has been received as conditional payment, and the condition on which it was received has not been fulfilled by reason of the dishonour of the instrument or otherwise.

The core of the statement is that the rights conferred upon an unpaid seller are statutory rights, meaning they are granted by the law itself, irrespective of whether the parties have explicitly agreed upon them in their contract. These rights are implied by law to protect the seller's interest when the buyer defaults on payment, ensuring that the seller is not left without recourse.

These rights can be broadly categorized into two types:

I. Rights Against the Goods (Section 46): These rights allow the unpaid seller to retain control over the goods or recover them, even if ownership has passed to the buyer, until the price is paid. These are proprietary rights and are available even if the buyer becomes insolvent.

1. Right of Lien (Sections 47-49): The unpaid seller has a right to retain possession of the goods until payment of the price in the following cases:

   • Where the goods have been sold without any stipulation as to credit.
   • Where the goods have been sold on credit, but the term of credit has expired.
   • Where the buyer becomes insolvent. This right is lost when the seller delivers the goods to a carrier without reserving the right of disposal, or when the buyer or his agent lawfully obtains possession of the goods, or by waiver thereof. This right ensures that the seller is not compelled to part with possession without receiving payment.

2. Right of Stoppage in Transit (Sections 50-52): When the buyer becomes insolvent, the unpaid seller who has parted with the possession of the goods has the right to stop them in transit and resume possession as long as the goods are in the course of transit. This right allows the seller to prevent the goods from reaching an insolvent buyer, thereby mitigating potential losses. Once stopped, the seller regains the lien over the goods.

3. Right of Resale (Section 54): The unpaid seller can resell the goods under certain circumstances:

   • If the goods are of a perishable nature.
   • If the seller gives notice to the buyer of his intention to resell, and the buyer does not pay or tender the price within a reasonable time.
   • Where the seller expressly reserves a right of resale in case the buyer should make default. This right allows the seller to minimize losses by disposing of the goods to another buyer, and to recover any deficit from the defaulting buyer, or keep any surplus if the resale price is higher.

II. Rights Against the Buyer Personally: These are contractual rights that allow the unpaid seller to sue the buyer for the price or for damages.

1. Suit for Price (Section 55): Where under a contract of sale the property in the goods has passed to the buyer and the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to pay for the goods, the seller may sue him for the price of the goods. Also, where the price is payable on a certain day irrespective of delivery, and the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to pay, the seller may sue for the price, even if the property in the goods has not passed.

2. Suit for Damages for Non-Acceptance (Section 56): Where the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to accept and pay for the goods, the seller may sue him for damages for non-acceptance. The measure of damages is the estimated loss directly and naturally resulting, in the ordinary course of events, from the buyer's breach of contract.

3. Suit for Interest (Section 61): The seller may recover interest on the price from the date of tender of the goods or from the date on which the price was payable.

In conclusion, the rights of an unpaid seller are not contingent on specific clauses in the sale contract. They are inherent legal entitlements provided by the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, to ensure that a seller who has not received payment for goods is adequately protected. These statutory rights serve as a crucial safety net, allowing the seller to either retain control over the goods or seek monetary compensation from the defaulting buyer, thereby upholding the principles of fairness and commercial justice.