Doubts Clarification Of Void And Unlawful Agreements
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1. The document discusses various provisions of Indian contract law regarding the legality of contract objects and considerations. 2. It provides examples of lawful and unlawful considerations, such as a promise to sell goods being lawful while a promise to engage in fraud being unlawful. 3. Contingent contracts can become void if the specified uncertain event does not occur within the fixed time period, or if the event was impossible to begin with.
![21. Effect of mistakes as to law – A contract is not voidable because it was caused by a mistake as to any law in force in [India]; but a mistake as to a law not in force in [India] has the same effect as a mistake of fact. Illustration A and B make a contract grounded on the erroneous belief that a particular debt is barred by the Indian Law of Limitation: the contract is not voidable. 22. Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact – A contract is not voidable merely because it was caused by one of the parties to it being under a mistake as to a matter of fact. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/doubtsclarificationofvoidandunlawfulagreements-12532436769875-phpapp03/85/Doubts-Clarification-Of-Void-And-Unlawful-Agreements-4-320.jpg)
Doubts Clarification Of Void And Unlawful Agreements
- 1. Legality of objects and considerations 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 2. 1. Mistake of fact and mistake of law. Sec. 20,21,22 --Void Legality of Object and Consideration ( a. What considerations and objects are lawful and what not Sec. 23, b. Agreement void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part sec. 24 ). 3. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed time –Sec.35 4. Agreements contingent on impossible event void Sec.36 5. Agreement to do an impossible act void Sec 56 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 3. 20. Agreement void where both parties are under mistake as to matter of fact. Where both the parties to an agreement are under a mistake as to a matter of fact essential to the agreement, the agreement is void. Explanation.- An erroneous opinion as to the value of the thing which forms the subject-matter of the agreement is not to be deemed a mistake as to a matter of fact. Illustrations a) A agrees to sell to B a specific cargo of goods supposed to be on its way from England to Bombay. It turns out that, before the day of the bargain, the ship conveying the cargo had been cast away and the goods lost. Neither party was aware of the facts. The agreement is void. b) A agrees to buy from B a certain horse. It turns out that the horse was dead at the time of the bargain, though neither party was aware of the fact. The agreement is void. c) A, being entitled to an estate for the life of B, agrees to sell it to C. B was dead at the time of the agreement, but both parties were ignorant of the fact. The agreement is void. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 4. 21. Effect of mistakes as to law – A contract is not voidable because it was caused by a mistake as to any law in force in [India]; but a mistake as to a law not in force in [India] has the same effect as a mistake of fact. Illustration A and B make a contract grounded on the erroneous belief that a particular debt is barred by the Indian Law of Limitation: the contract is not voidable. 22. Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact – A contract is not voidable merely because it was caused by one of the parties to it being under a mistake as to a matter of fact. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 5. 23.What considerations and objects are lawful and what not – The consideration or object of an agreement is lawful, unless- it is forbidden by law; or is of such a nature that, if permitted, it would defeat the Provisions of any law; or is fraudulent; or involves or implies injury to the person or property of another or; the Court regards it as immoral, or opposed to public policy. In each of these cases, the consideration or object of an agreement is said to be unlawful. Every agreement of which the object or consideration is unlawful is void. Illustrations a) A agrees to sell his house to B for 10,000 rupees. Here B's promise to pay the sum of 10,000 rupees is the consideration for A's promise to sell the house, and A's promise to sell the house is the consideration for B's promise to pay the 10,000 rupees. These are lawful considerations. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 6. b) A promises to pay B 1,000 rupees at the end of six months, if C, who owes that sum to B, fails to pay it. B promises to grant time to C accordingly. Here the promise of each party is the consideration for the promise of the other party and they are lawful considerations. c) A promises, for a certain sum paid to him by B, to make good to B the value of his ship if it is wrecked on a certain voyage. Here A's promise is the consideration for B's payment and B's payment is the consideration for A's promise and these are lawful considerations. d) A promises to maintain B's child and B promises to pay A 1,000 rupees yearly for the purpose. Here the promise of each party is the consideration for the promise of the 'other party. They are lawful considerations. e) A, B and C enter into an agreement for the division among them of gains acquired, or- to be acquired, by them by fraud. The agreement is void, as its object is unlawful. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 7. f) A promises to obtain for B an employment in the public service, and B promises to pay 1,000 rupees to A. The agreement is void, as the consideration for it is unlawful. g) A, being agent for a landed proprietor, agrees for money, without the knowledge of his principal, to obtain for B a lease of land belonging to his principal. The agreement between A and B is void. as it implies a fraud by concealment, by A, on his principal. h) A promises B to drop a prosecution which he has instituted against B for robbery, and B promises to restore the value of the things taken. The agreement is void, as its object is unlawful. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 8. i) A's estate is sold for arrears of revenue under the provisions of an Act of the Legislature, by which the defaulter is prohibited from purchasing, the estate. B, upon an understanding with A, becomes the purchaser, and agrees to convey the estate to A upon receiving from him the price which B has paid. The agreement is void, as it renders the transaction, in effect a purchase by the defaulter, and would so defeat the object of the law. j) A, who is B's mukhtar promises to exercise his influence, as such, with B in favour of C, and C promises to pay 1,000 rupees to A. The agreement is void, because it is immoral. k) A agrees to let her daughter to hire to B for concubinage. The agreement is void, because it is immoral, though the letting may not be punishable under the Indian Penal Code. (45 of 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 9. 24. Agreement void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part - If any part of a single consideration for one or more objects, or any one or any part of any one of several considerations for a single object, is unlawful, the agreement is void. Illustration A promise to superintend, on behalf of B, a legal manufacture of indigo, and an illegal traffic in other articles. B promises to pay to A salary of 10,000 rupees a year. The agreement is void, the object of A's promise, and the consideration for B's promise, being in part unlawful. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 10. 35. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed time – Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if a specified uncertain event happens within a fixed time become void if, at the expiration of the time fixed, such event has not happened, or if, before the time fixed, such vent becomes impossible. When contracts may be enforced which are contingent on specified event not happening within fixed time.-Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if a specified uncertain event does not happen within a fixed time may be enforced by law when the time fixed has expired and such event has not happened or, before the time fixed has expired, if it becomes certain that such event will not happen. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 11. Illustrations a) A promises to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship returns within a year. The contract may be enforced if the ship returns within the year, 'and becomes void if the ship is burnt within the year. b) A promises to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship does not return within a year. The contract may be enforced if the ship does not return within the year, or is burnt within the year. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 12. 36. Agreement contingent on impossible events void – Contingent agreements to do or not to do anything, if an impossible event happens, are void, whether the impossibility of the event is known or not to the parties to the agreement at the time when it is made. Illustrations a) A agrees to pay B 1,000 rupees if two straight lines should enclose a space. The agreement is void. b) A agrees to pay B 1,000 rupees if B will marry A's daughter C. C was dead at the time of the agreement. The agreement is void. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 13. 55. Effect of failure to perform at fixed time, in contract in which time is essential – When a party to a contract promises to do a certain thing at or before a specified time or certain things at or before specified times, and fails to do any such thing at or before the specified time, the contract, or so much of it as has not been performed, becomes voidable at the option of the promisee, if the intention of the parties was that time should be of the essence of the contract. Effect of such failure when time is not essential - If it was not the intention of the parties that time should be of the essence of the contract, the contract does not become voidable by the failure to do such thing at or before the specified time ; but the promisee is entitled to compensation from the promisor for any loss occasioned to him by such failure. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 14. Effect of acceptance of performance at time other than that agreed upon. If, in case of a contract voidable on account of the promisor's failure to perform his promise at the time greed the promisee accepts performance of such promise at any time other than that agreed, the promisee cannot claim compensation for any loss occasioned by the non-performance of the promise at the time agreed, unless, at the time of such acceptance he gives notice to the promisor of his intention to do so.1* 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 15. 56. Agreement to do impossible act. An agreement to do an act impossible in itself is void. Contract to do act afterwards becoming impossible or unlawful – A contract to do an act which, after the contract is made, becomes impossible, or, by reason of some event which the Promisor could not prevent, unlawful, becomes void when the act becomes impossible or unlawful.2* Compensation for loss through non-performance of act known to be impossible or unlawful.-Where one person has promised to do something which he knew, or, with reasonable diligence, might have known, and which the promisee did not know, to be impossible or unlawful, such promisor must make compensation to such promisee for any loss which such promisee sustains through the non-performance of the promise. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.
- 16. Illustrations a) A agrees with B to discover treasure by magic. The agreement is void, b) A and B contract to marry each other. Before the time fixed for the marriage, A goes mad. The contract becomes void. c) A contracts to marry B, being already married to C, and being forbidden by the law to Which he is subject to Practice polygamy, A must make compensation to B for the loss caused to her by the non-performance of his promise. d)A contracts to take in cargo for B at a foreign port. A's Government afterwards declares war against the country in which the port is situated. The contract becomes void when war is declared. e) A contracts to act at a theatre for six months in consideration of a sum paid in advance by B. On several occasions A is too ill to act. The contract to act on those occasions becomes void. 09/18/09 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT, BBSR.