Indian Contract Act Smart Notes and MCQ
Indian Contract Act Smart Notes and MCQ
Chapter 1
Acceptance
12 INTRODUCTION TO ACCEPTANCE (Sec. 2 (b))
Definition of When the person to whom the proposal is made
acceptance Signifies is assent
Thereto
The proposal is said to be accepted.
Promise In case of a specific offer In case of a general offer
Only that particular person/group Any person if –
of persons to whom the specific - He has the knowledge of the
offer has been made and none else. offer; and
- He fulfils the terms and conditions
of the offer.
Mode of acceptance (a) Express acceptance
(b) Implied acceptance
CAPACITY OF PARTIES
20 EFFECTS OF MINOR’S AGREEMENT
Agreement is void ab A minor is incompetent to enter into any contract. Therefore, any agreement
initio, i.e., without made by a minor is void ab initio, i.e., it is without any legal effect.
any legal effect. Mohori Bibi v Dharmodas Ghose (IMP.)
A minor entered into an agreement for mortgage of his property.
He was paid a certain amount for mortgaging the property.
Afterwards, the mortgagee filed a suit against the minor for recovery of
money paid to the minor.
It was held that the money was paid to the minor under a void agreement,
and therefore the mortgage was not valid.
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Void Agreements
32 AGREEMENTS IN RESTRAINT OF MARRIAGE (Sec. 26)
Every agreement in restraint of the marriage of any person is void.
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Contingent Contracts
36 INTRODUCTION TO CONTINGENT CONTRACTS (Sec. 31)
Meaning of A ‗contingent contract‘ is a contract to do or not to do something,
contingent contract If some event, collateral to such contract, does or does not happen.
Essentials features of (a) It is a contract to do or not to do something.
a contingent contract (b) This contract is dependent on happening or non-happening of an
event.
(c) Such an event is a collateral event, i.e., it is collateral to the contract,
i.e., the event must not depend upon the mere will of a party.
(d) The event is uncertain.
37 INTRODUCTION TO CONTINGENT CONTRACTS (Sec. 31)
Contract contingent When can it be enforced? When does it become void?
upon
Happening of an When such event has happened. When the happening of such event
event becomes impossible.
Non- happening of a When the happening of such event When such event has happened.
future event becomes impossible.
Happening of an When such event has happened within When the happening of such event
event within a the specified time. becomes impossible before the
specified time expiry of specified time.
When such event has not happened
within the specified time.
Non-happening of an When the happening of such event When such event has happened
event within a fixed becomes impossible before the expiry within the specified time.
time. of specified time.
When such event has not happened
within the specified time.
Future conduct of a When such person acts in the manner When such person does anything
living person. as desired in the contract. which makes the desired future
conduct of such person –
(a) Impossible; or
(b) Dependent upon certain
contingency.
Impossible events Such an agreement cannot be enforced since it is void. Whether the
impossibility of the event was known to the parties or not is immaterial.
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Quasi Contracts
38 INTRODUCTION TO QUASI CONTRACTS
It means a contract which lacks one or more of the essentials of a
Meaning of a quasi contract
contract.
Basis of quasi contract Quasi contracts are declared by law as valid contracts on the basis of
principles of equity, i.e., no person shall be allowed to enrich himself at
the expense of another.
Legal effect of a quasi The legal obligations of parties remain same in case of a quasi contacts
contract. also, i.e., the parties will have same obligations and rights as if such
quasi contract fulfils all the essentials of a contact.
39 SUPPLY OF NECESSARIES TO PERSONS INCOMPETENT (Sec. 68)
TO CONTRACT
A person who is incompetent to contact is made liable u/s. 68.
Who is made liable u/s. 68?
Conditions of Sec. 68 The liability of an incompetent person arises if necessities are supplied
to –
Such person (.e., incompetent person); or
Any other person who is dependent on such incompetent person.
Liability of incompetent The person who supplies necessities to the incompetent person is
person entitled to be reimbursed from the property of such incompetent
person.
However, the incompetent person is not personally liable.
Meaning of necessities ‗Necessities‘ means necessaries suitable to the conditions in life of
the person to whom such necessities are supplied.
40 PAYMENT BY A PERSON WHO IS INTERESTED IN A (Sec. 69)
TRANSACTION
Conditions of Sec. 69 One person is legally bound to make a payment.
Some other person makes such payment.
The person making such payment is not legally bound to make such
payment.
The person making such payment is interested in paying such
amount.
Legal effect of Sec. 69 If all the conditions of Sec. 69 are satisfied, the person who is
interested in paying such amount shall be entitled to recover the
payment made by him.
41 OBLIGATION OF PERSON ENJOYING BENEFIT OF (Sec. 70)
NON-GRATUITOUS ACT
Conditions of Sec. 70 A person has lawfully-
o Done something for another person; or
o Delivered something to another person.
Such person must have acted-
o Voluntarily; and
o Non-gratuitously
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Performance of a Contract
44 OBLIGATIONS OF PARTIES TO CONTRACTS ( Sec. 37 & 38)
Actual performance Promisor makes an offer of performance to the promisee.
The offer has been accepted by the promisee.
Offer to perform/ Tender / Promisor makes an offer of performance to the promisee.
Attempted performance The offer has not been accepted by the promisee.
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Discharge of a contract
50 MEANING OF DISCHARGE OF A CONTRAT
Discharge of contract means termination of contractual relations between the parties to a
contract.
51 MODES OF DISCHARGE OF A CONTRACT
1. Discharge by performance
2. Discharge by impossibility of performance.
3. Discharge by mutual agreement.
4. Discharge by lapse of time.
5. Discharge by operation of law
6. Discharge by breach of contract.
52 DISCHARGE BY PERFORMANCE (Sec. 37 to 38)
Actual performance When both the parties perform their respective obligations in
accordance with the terms of the contract, the contract is discharge.
Attempted perform-ance Where a valid tender is not accepted by the other party, the promisor
or tender is discharged.
53 DISCHARGE BY IMPOSSIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE (Sec. 56)
Meaning of supervening No impossibility existed at the time of making of the contract.
impossibility The impossibility arises subsequently to the formation of the contract.
The impossibility arises because of-
(i) Change in circumstances beyond the contemplation of parties; or
(j) Change in law.
The impossibility is of such a nature that it makes the performance of
a contract impossible or illegal.
If particular state of things, which forms the basis of a contract, ceases
to exist or occur, the contract is discharged.
Krell v Henry
X hired a room from Y for viewing the coronation process of Kind
Edward.
The procession was cancelled because of Kind‘s illness.
Since the ultimate and only purpose of the contract was defeated, the
contract was discharged.
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OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
(I) NATURE OF CONTRACTS
Q.1. P agrees to pay a certain sum to Q, if Q brings on earth a star from sky. This is a :
(a) Valid contract (b) Void contract (c) Voidable contract (d) Enforceable contract
Q.2. Indian Contract Act, 1872 is passed by :
(a) Indian Parliament (b) British Parliament (c) U. S. Congress (d) None of these
Q.3. In an auction sale, ‗X‘ is the highest bidder. The auctioneer accept the offer by not speaking but
striking the hammer on the table this amounts to :
(a) Express acceptance (b) Implied acceptance (c) Future acceptance (d) No acceptance
Q.4. A enquires from B, ―will you purchase my cow for $ 100?‖ B replies, ―I shall purchase your cow
for $ 100 provided you purchase my parrot for $ 120.‖ In this case :
(a) B has accepted the offer of A (b) B has made a counter offer to A
(c) A is bound by the actions of B (d) B cannot make such an offer
Q.5. Which one of the following promises is enforceable?
(a) X promises to pay Rs. 5,000/- to Y who saved him from drowning
(b) X promises to pay Rs. 5,000/- to his son
(c) X promises to donate Rs. 5,000/- to an Officer‘s Club
(d) X promises to pay Rs. 5,000/- as additional fees to his advocate for winning a suit
Q.6. Which of the following is false? An offer to be valid must:
(a) Contain a term the non-compliance of which would amount to acceptance
(b) Intend to create legal relations
(c) Have certain and unambiguous terms
(d) Be communicated to the person to whom it is made.
Q.7. A agrees to sell to B a horse for Ra. 25,000 if it wins a race and for Rs. 15,000 if does not. The
horse wins the race. The agreement is:
(a) Valid and enforceable (b) Void and enforceable
(c) Void and wagering (d) Voidable and wagering
Q.8. The Indian Contract Act, 1872 extends to :
(a) Whole of Indian (b) Whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir
(c) North India only (d) South India only
Q.9. On the 5th of a month X makes an offer to Y, by a letter, which reaches Y on 6th. On the 7th , Y
posts his letter of acceptance.
Meanwhile, on the 6th X posts a letter to Y revoking the offer. On seeing it Y sends a telegram to
X on 8th confirming the acceptance given through his letter of the 7th. Discuss the legal effects of
three letters and the telegram:
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(II) Consideration
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LIST I LIST II
A. Contract opposed to public policy 1. Contracts of insurance
B. Agreement where object is uncertain 2. Agreements hostile to friendly states
C. Intention to create legal obligation 3. Void and Unenforceable
D. Contracts of utmost good faith 4. Essential element for valid contract
CODES :
A B C D
(a) 1 4 3 2
(b) 4 2 1 3
(c) 2 1 3 4
(d) 2 3 4 1
Q.62. N threatens L‘s wife that their son M would be abducted if L did not lease but their land to him
(N). This is a case of :
(a) Undue influence (b) Coercion (c) Fraud (d) Misrepresentation
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Q.78. A lets out a theatre to B for a series of drama for certain days. The theatre was completely
destroyed by fire before the scheduled dates. In the case :
(a) The contract is discharged by impossibility of performance
(b) The contract is void ab initio
(c) The contract is voidable at the option of B
(d) A cannot be discharged of the contract
Q.79. A, B and C jointly promise to pay D a sum of Rs.90,000. C is compelled to pay the whole of the
amount to D. Can he recovers anything form A and B when both A and B were solvent?
(a) Yes, C can recover Rs.60,000 from A
(b) Yes, C can recover Rs.90,000 from A
(c) Yes, C can recover Rs.30,000 each from A and B
(d) No C cant recover anything from A and B
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Q.126. U leaves his goods at V‘s place who consumes them. V is bound to pay the price. V‘s act of
consumption of goods constitutes an implied promise to pay, under the principal of :
(a) Deemed Contractual Obligations (b) Semi Contractual Obligations
(c) Contractual Obligations (d) Quasi – Contractual Obligations
Q.127. Which one of the following is correct?
(a) Indian Contract Act, 1882 (b) Indian Contract Act, 1972
(c) Indian Contract Act, 1872 (d) Indian Contract Act, 1888.
Q.128. The Indian Contract Act, 1872 extends to –
(a) Whole of India (b) Whole of India excluding Jammu and Kashmir
(c) North India only (d) South India only
Q.129. Contractual rights and duties are created by –
(a) State (b) Statute (c) Parties (d) Custom or Usage
Q.130. Every contract is an agreement but every agreement is not a contract. This statement is –
(a) Wrong (b) Correct (c) Correct subject to certain exceptions (d) Partially correct
Q.131. As per Section 2(e) of the Indian Contract Act, ―Every promise and every set of promise forming
the consideration for each other is a / an –
(a) Contract (b) Agreement (c) Offer (d) Acceptance.
Q.132. An Agreement is –
(a) Offer (b) Offer + Acceptance
(c) Offer + Acceptance + Consideration (d) Contract.
Q.133. A contract is –
(a) An agreement enforceable by third parties (b) An agreement by competent people
(c) An agreement enforceable by law (d) Not an agreement at all.
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