The Indian Contract Act of 1872 is a vital piece of legislation that governs contract law in India. It provides a comprehensive framework for enforceable contracts and agreements between parties. The act is divided into seven sections, each with its own set of rules and regulations.
Here is a list of sections 1 to 75 of the Indian Contract Act of 1872, along with a brief overview of each section:
Section 1: Short title
This section simply gives the act its official name – the Indian Contract Act of 1872.
Section 2: Interpretation-clause
This section defines some of the key terms used throughout the act, including contract, agreement, offer, and acceptance.
Section 3: Communication, acceptance, and revocation of proposals
This section outlines the rules for making and accepting contract proposals, and when offers can be revoked.
Section 4: Communication when complete
This section outlines what constitutes a complete communication in relation to contract proposals and acceptances.
Section 5: Revocation of proposals and acceptances
This section outlines when contract proposals and acceptances can be revoked.
Section 6: Contracts, express, and implied
This section explains the difference between express and implied contracts.
Section 7: Offer and acceptance in ignorance, mistake, or fraud
This section deals with the situations where there is a mistake, fraud, or ignorance of a material fact affecting the offer and acceptance.
Section 8: Performance of the contract
This section covers the terms and conditions for performing a contract, including the rights and obligations of the parties involved.
Section 9: Promises binding on the representative
This section explains the liability of the representative to perform the obligations of the contract of his principal.
Section 10: Agreement defined
This section defines the term “agreement” under the Indian Contract Act of 1872.
Section 11: Who are competent to contract
This section outlines the legal conditions for individuals to be considered competent to enter into a contract.
Section 12: What is a sound mind for the purposes of contracting
This section defines what constitutes a “sound mind” for the purposes of being competent to enter into a contract.
Section 13: “Consent” defined
This section defines what “consent” means in the context of contract law.
Section 14: “Free consent” defined
This section explains the concept of “free consent” in relation to contract law.
Section 15: “Coercion” defined
This section explains the meaning of “coercion” and how it can affect a contract.
Section 16: “Undue influence” defined
This section defines what constitutes “undue influence” in the context of contracting.
Section 17: “Fraud” defined
This section outlines the definition of “fraud” and how it can affect a contract.
Section 18: “Misrepresentation” defined
This section outlines what “misrepresentation” means in the context of contract law, and how it can affect a contract.
Section 19: Voidability of agreements without free consent
This section explains how agreements entered into without free consent can be voidable at the option of the aggrieved party.
Section 20: Agreement void where both parties are under mistake as to a matter of fact
This section outlines the conditions where an agreement can be considered void where both parties are under a mistake as to a matter of fact.
Section 21: Effect of mistake as to law
This section explains the importance of understanding the law in relation to entering into a contract.
Section 22: Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact
This section explains how a contract can be affected where one party is under a mistake as to a matter of fact, and the other party is aware of this mistake.
Section 23: What considerations and objects are lawful, and what not
This section explains what constitutes a lawful consideration and object in relation to entering into a contract.
Section 24: Agreements void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part
This section outlines the situations where an agreement can be considered void if the consideration or object is unlawful in part.
Section 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 a limitation law
This section outlines under what circumstances an agreement without consideration can still be enforceable.
Section 26: Agreement in restraint of trade, void
This section explains that agreements that restrain trade or competition are considered void.
Section 27: Agreement in restraint of marriage, void
This section outlines that agreements that restrain marriage are considered void.
Section 28: Agreements in restraint of legal proceedings, void
This section explains that agreements that restrain legal proceedings are considered void.
Section 29: Agreements void for uncertainty
This section outlines that agreements that are uncertain or vague regarding key terms can be considered void.
Section 30: Agreements by way of wager, void
This section explains that agreements made by way of wager are considered void.
Section 31: Privity of contract
This section explains who has rights and obligations under a contract, and who can enforce it.
Section 32: Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening
This section explains how contingent contracts can be enforced.
Section 33: Performance of reciprocal promises
This section explains the legal obligations of parties involved in reciprocal promises.
Section 34: Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance
This section explains what happens when a party refuses to accept the offer of performance of a contract.
Section 35: Obligation of parties to perform their promise
This section outlines the legal obligations of parties involved in a contract to perform their promises.
Section 36: Time and place for performance of promise, where no application is to be made and no time is specified
This section outlines how the time and place of performance is determined in the absence of specific instructions.
Section 37: Obligation of parties to perform promise on certain day
This section outlines the obligations of parties involved in a contract to perform their promises on a certain day.
Section 38: Effect of refusal of party to perform promise wholly
This section explains what happens when a party refuses to perform their promise wholly.
Section 39: Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance where performance is optional
This section outlines what happens when a party refuses to accept the offer of performance of a contract where performance is optional.
Section 40: Person by whom promise is to be performed
This section outlines the responsibility of the person who is to perform the contract.
Section 41: Effect of accepting performance from third person
This section explains what happens when a party accepts performance of a contract from a third person.
Section 42: Devolution of joint rights
This section outlines the rights that joint parties have in a contract.
Section 43: Any one of joint promisors may be compelled to perform
This section explains that any one of the joint promisors may be compelled to perform the contract.
Section 44: Effect of release of one joint promisor
This section outlines the effect of releasing a joint promisor from the contract.
Section 45: Devolution of joint liabilities
This section outlines the liabilities that joint parties have in a contract.
Section 46: Time for performance of promise, where no application to be made and time is specified
This section explains the consequences of failing to complete a contract within a specified time.
Section 47: Time and place for performance of promise, where time is specified and no application to be made
This section outlines how time and place of performance is determined in contracts where time is specified.
Section 48: Application for performance on certain day to be at proper time and place
This section outlines the rules for making applications for performance of a contract on a certain day.
Section 49: Place for performance of promise, where no application to be made and no place fixed for performance
This section explains what happens when no place for the performance of a contract is specified.
Section 50: Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promisee
This section outlines the performance requirements of a contract as prescribed or sanctioned by the promisee.
Section 51: Promisor not bound to perform, unless reciprocal promisee ready and willing to perform
This section explains the conditions under which a promisor is not obliged to perform their promise.
Section 52: Order of performance of reciprocal promises
This section outlines the order in which the reciprocal promises of a contract must be performed.
Section 53: Liability of party preventing event on which contract is to take effect
This section outlines the liability of a party who prevents the event on which the contract is to take effect.
Section 54: Effect of default as to that promise which should be first performed, in contract consisting of reciprocal promises
This section outlines the effect of default on the first performed promise in a contract with reciprocal promises.
Section 55: Effect of failure to perform at the time agreed upon
This section explains the consequences of failing to perform a contract at the agreed upon time.
Section 56: Agreement to do impossible act
This section explains the status of agreements that involve the performance of an impossible act.
Section 57: Reciprocal promise to do things legal, and also other things illegal
This section explains the status of reciprocal promises that involve both legal and illegal actions.
Section 58: Alternative promise, one branch being illegal
This section explains the effect of alternative promises, where one of the branches is illegal.
Section 59: Application of payment where debt to be discharged is indicated
This section outlines the rules for applying payments in contracts where there are multiple debts to be discharged.
Section 60: Application of payment where debt to be discharged is not indicated
This section outlines the rules for applying payments in contracts where the debt to