THE INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872
____________
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
____________
SECTIONS
PREAMBLE
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title.
Extent.
Commencement.
Saving.
2. Interpretation-clause.
CHAPTER I
OF THE COMMUNICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND
REVOCATION OF PROPOSALS
3. Communication, acceptance and revocation of proposals.
4. Communication when complete.
5. Revocation of proposals and acceptances.
6. Revocation how made.
7. Acceptance must be absolute.
8. Acceptance by performing conditions, or receiving consideration.
9. Promises, express and implied.
CHAPTER II
OF CONTRACTS, VOIDABLE CONTRACTS AND VOID
AGREEMENTS
10. What agreements are contracts.
11. Who are competent to contract.
12. What is a sound mind for the purposes of contracting.
13. “Consent” defined.
14. “Free consent” defined.
15. “Coercion” defined.
16. “Undue influence” defined.
17. “Fraud” defined.
18. “Misrepresentation” defined.
19. Voidability of agreements without free consent.
19A. Power to set aside contract induced by undue influence.
20. Agreement void where both parties are under mistake as to matter of fact.
21. Effect of mistakes as to law.
22. Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact.
1
,SECTIONS
23. What considerations and objects are lawful, and what not.
Void agreements
24. Agreement void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part.
25. Agreement without consideration, void, unless it is in writing and registered, or is a promise to
compensate for something done, or is a promise to pay a debt barred by limitation law.
26. Agreement in restraint of marriage, void.
27. Agreement in restraint of trade, void.
Saving of agreement not to carry on business of which good-will is sold.
28. Agreements in restraint of legal proceeding void.
Saving of contract to refer to arbitration dispute that may arise.
Saving of contract to refer questions that have already arisen.
Saving of a guarantee agreement of a bank or a financial institution.
29. Agreements void for uncertainty.
30. Agreements by way of wager, void.
Exception in favour of certain prizes for horse-racing.
Section 294A of the Indian Penal Code not affected.
CHAPTER III
OF CONTINGENT CONTRACTS
31. “Contingent contract” defined.
32. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening.
33. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening.
34. When event on which contract is contingent to be deemed impossible, if it is the future conduct of
a living person.
35. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed
time.
When contracts may be enforced, which are contingent on specified event not happening within
fixed time.
36. Agreement contingent on impossible events void.
CHAPTER IV
OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS
Contracts which must be performed
37. Obligation of parties to contracts.
38. Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance.
39. Effect of refusal of party to perform promise wholly.
By whom contracts must be performed
40. Person by whom promise is to be performed.
41. Effect of accepting performance from third person.
2
,SECTIONS
42. Devolution of joint liabilities.
43. Any one of joint promisors may be compelled to perform.
Each promisor may compel contribution.
Sharing of loss by default in contribution.
44. Effect of release of one joint promisor.
45. Devolution of joint rights.
Time and place for performance
46. Time for performance of promise, when no application is to be made and no time is specified.
47. Time and place for performance of promise, where time is specified and no application to be
made.
48. Application for performance on certain day to be at proper time and place.
49. Place for performance of promise, where no application to be made and no place fixed for
performance.
50. Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promisee.
Performance of reciprocal promises
51. Promisor not bound to perform, unless reciprocal promisee ready and willing to perform.
52. Order of performance of reciprocal promises.
53. Liability of party preventing event on which the contract is to take effect.
54. Effect of default as to that promise which should be first performed, in contract consisting of
reciprocal promises.
55. Effect of failure to perform at fixed time, in contract in which time is essential.
Effect of such failure when time is not essential.
Effect of acceptance of performance at time other than that agreed upon.
56. Agreement to do impossible act.
Contract to do an act afterwards becoming impossible or unlawful.
Compensation for loss through non-performance of act known to be impossible or unlawful.
57. Reciprocal promise to do things legal, and also other things illegal.
58. Alternative promise, one branch being illegal.
Appropriation of payments
59. Application of payment where debt to be discharged is indicated.
60. Application of payment where debt to be discharged is not indicated.
61. Application of payment where neither party appropriates.
Contracts which need not be performed
62. Effect of novation, rescission, and alteration of contract.
63. Promisee may dispense with or remit performance of promise.
64. Consequences of rescission of voidable contract.
65. Obligation of person who has received advantage under void agreement, or contract that becomes
void.
66. Mode of communicating or revoking rescission of voidable contract.
67. Effect of neglect of promisee to afford promisor reasonable facilities for performance.
3
, CHAPTER V
OF CERTAIN RELATIONS RESEMBLING THOSE CREATED BY CONTRACT
SECTIONS
68. Claim for necessaries supplied to person incapable of contracting, or on his account.
69. Reimbursement of person paying money due by another, in payment of which he is interested.
70. Obligation of person enjoying benefit of non-gratuitous act.
71. Responsibility of finder of goods.
72. Liability of person to whom money is paid, or thing delivered, by mistake or under coercion.
CHAPTER VI
OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF BREACH OF CONTRACT
73. Compensation for loss or damage caused by breach of contract.
Compensation for failure to discharge obligation resembling those created by contract.
74. Compensation for breach of contract where penalty stipulated for.
75. Party rightfully rescinding contract, entitled to compensation.
[CHAPTER VII SALE OF GOODS.][Repealed.].
76. [Repealed.].
77. [Repealed.].
78. [Repealed.].
79. [Repealed.].
80. [Repealed.].
81. [Repealed.].
82. [Repealed.].
83. [Repealed.].
84. [Repealed.].
85. [Repealed.].
86. [Repealed.].
87. [Repealed.].
88. [Repealed.].
89. [Repealed.].
[DELIVERY.][Repealed.].
90. Repealed.].
91. [Repealed.].
92. [Repealed.].
93. [Repealed.].
94. [Repealed.]
[SELLER’S LIEN.][Repealed.].
95. [Repealed.].
96. [Repealed.].
97. [Repealed.].
98. [Repealed.]
[STOPPAGE IN TRANSIT.][Repealed.].
99. [Repealed.].
100. [Repealed.].
101. [Repealed.].
4
____________
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
____________
SECTIONS
PREAMBLE
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title.
Extent.
Commencement.
Saving.
2. Interpretation-clause.
CHAPTER I
OF THE COMMUNICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND
REVOCATION OF PROPOSALS
3. Communication, acceptance and revocation of proposals.
4. Communication when complete.
5. Revocation of proposals and acceptances.
6. Revocation how made.
7. Acceptance must be absolute.
8. Acceptance by performing conditions, or receiving consideration.
9. Promises, express and implied.
CHAPTER II
OF CONTRACTS, VOIDABLE CONTRACTS AND VOID
AGREEMENTS
10. What agreements are contracts.
11. Who are competent to contract.
12. What is a sound mind for the purposes of contracting.
13. “Consent” defined.
14. “Free consent” defined.
15. “Coercion” defined.
16. “Undue influence” defined.
17. “Fraud” defined.
18. “Misrepresentation” defined.
19. Voidability of agreements without free consent.
19A. Power to set aside contract induced by undue influence.
20. Agreement void where both parties are under mistake as to matter of fact.
21. Effect of mistakes as to law.
22. Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact.
1
,SECTIONS
23. What considerations and objects are lawful, and what not.
Void agreements
24. Agreement void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part.
25. Agreement without consideration, void, unless it is in writing and registered, or is a promise to
compensate for something done, or is a promise to pay a debt barred by limitation law.
26. Agreement in restraint of marriage, void.
27. Agreement in restraint of trade, void.
Saving of agreement not to carry on business of which good-will is sold.
28. Agreements in restraint of legal proceeding void.
Saving of contract to refer to arbitration dispute that may arise.
Saving of contract to refer questions that have already arisen.
Saving of a guarantee agreement of a bank or a financial institution.
29. Agreements void for uncertainty.
30. Agreements by way of wager, void.
Exception in favour of certain prizes for horse-racing.
Section 294A of the Indian Penal Code not affected.
CHAPTER III
OF CONTINGENT CONTRACTS
31. “Contingent contract” defined.
32. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening.
33. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening.
34. When event on which contract is contingent to be deemed impossible, if it is the future conduct of
a living person.
35. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed
time.
When contracts may be enforced, which are contingent on specified event not happening within
fixed time.
36. Agreement contingent on impossible events void.
CHAPTER IV
OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS
Contracts which must be performed
37. Obligation of parties to contracts.
38. Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance.
39. Effect of refusal of party to perform promise wholly.
By whom contracts must be performed
40. Person by whom promise is to be performed.
41. Effect of accepting performance from third person.
2
,SECTIONS
42. Devolution of joint liabilities.
43. Any one of joint promisors may be compelled to perform.
Each promisor may compel contribution.
Sharing of loss by default in contribution.
44. Effect of release of one joint promisor.
45. Devolution of joint rights.
Time and place for performance
46. Time for performance of promise, when no application is to be made and no time is specified.
47. Time and place for performance of promise, where time is specified and no application to be
made.
48. Application for performance on certain day to be at proper time and place.
49. Place for performance of promise, where no application to be made and no place fixed for
performance.
50. Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promisee.
Performance of reciprocal promises
51. Promisor not bound to perform, unless reciprocal promisee ready and willing to perform.
52. Order of performance of reciprocal promises.
53. Liability of party preventing event on which the contract is to take effect.
54. Effect of default as to that promise which should be first performed, in contract consisting of
reciprocal promises.
55. Effect of failure to perform at fixed time, in contract in which time is essential.
Effect of such failure when time is not essential.
Effect of acceptance of performance at time other than that agreed upon.
56. Agreement to do impossible act.
Contract to do an act afterwards becoming impossible or unlawful.
Compensation for loss through non-performance of act known to be impossible or unlawful.
57. Reciprocal promise to do things legal, and also other things illegal.
58. Alternative promise, one branch being illegal.
Appropriation of payments
59. Application of payment where debt to be discharged is indicated.
60. Application of payment where debt to be discharged is not indicated.
61. Application of payment where neither party appropriates.
Contracts which need not be performed
62. Effect of novation, rescission, and alteration of contract.
63. Promisee may dispense with or remit performance of promise.
64. Consequences of rescission of voidable contract.
65. Obligation of person who has received advantage under void agreement, or contract that becomes
void.
66. Mode of communicating or revoking rescission of voidable contract.
67. Effect of neglect of promisee to afford promisor reasonable facilities for performance.
3
, CHAPTER V
OF CERTAIN RELATIONS RESEMBLING THOSE CREATED BY CONTRACT
SECTIONS
68. Claim for necessaries supplied to person incapable of contracting, or on his account.
69. Reimbursement of person paying money due by another, in payment of which he is interested.
70. Obligation of person enjoying benefit of non-gratuitous act.
71. Responsibility of finder of goods.
72. Liability of person to whom money is paid, or thing delivered, by mistake or under coercion.
CHAPTER VI
OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF BREACH OF CONTRACT
73. Compensation for loss or damage caused by breach of contract.
Compensation for failure to discharge obligation resembling those created by contract.
74. Compensation for breach of contract where penalty stipulated for.
75. Party rightfully rescinding contract, entitled to compensation.
[CHAPTER VII SALE OF GOODS.][Repealed.].
76. [Repealed.].
77. [Repealed.].
78. [Repealed.].
79. [Repealed.].
80. [Repealed.].
81. [Repealed.].
82. [Repealed.].
83. [Repealed.].
84. [Repealed.].
85. [Repealed.].
86. [Repealed.].
87. [Repealed.].
88. [Repealed.].
89. [Repealed.].
[DELIVERY.][Repealed.].
90. Repealed.].
91. [Repealed.].
92. [Repealed.].
93. [Repealed.].
94. [Repealed.]
[SELLER’S LIEN.][Repealed.].
95. [Repealed.].
96. [Repealed.].
97. [Repealed.].
98. [Repealed.]
[STOPPAGE IN TRANSIT.][Repealed.].
99. [Repealed.].
100. [Repealed.].
101. [Repealed.].
4
