Contingent Contract :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT Contingent Contract Sec 1 to 36 of the Indian Contract Act 1872


Enforcement of the contingent contracts :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT Enforcement of the contingent contracts The following are the rules governing the enforcement of the various kinds of contingent contracts. Contracts contingent on an event happening Contracts contingent on the event not happening Contracts contingent on the future conduct of a living person Contracts contingent on happening of specified event within fixed time Contracts contingent on not happening of specified event within a fixed time Agreements contingent on impossible event


31. "Contingent contract" defined – :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 31. "Contingent contract" defined – A "contingent contract" is a contract to do or not to do something, if some event, collateral to such contract, does or does not happen. Illustration A contracts to pay B Rs. 10,000 if B's house is burnt. This is a contingent contract.


32. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening. :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 32. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening. Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if an uncertain future event appends cannot be enforced by law unless and until that event has happened. If the event becomes impossible, such contracts become void. Illustrations a) A makes a contract with B to buy B's horse if A survives C. This contract cannot be enforced by law unless and until C dies in A's lifetime. b) A makes a contract with B to sell a horse to B at a specified price, if C, to whom the horse has been offered, refuses to buy him. The contract cannot be enforced by law unless and until C refuses to buy the horse. c) A contracts to pay B a sum of money when B marries C. C dies without being married to B. The contract becomes void.


33. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 33. Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if an uncertain future event does not happen can be enforced when the happening of that event becomes impossible, and not before. Illustration A agrees to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship does not return. The ship is sunk. The contract can be enforced when the ship sinks.


34. When event on which contract is contingent to be deemed impossible, if it is the future conduct of a living person :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 34. When event on which contract is contingent to be deemed impossible, if it is the future conduct of a living person If the future event on which a contract is contingent is the way in which a person will act at an unspecified time, the event shall be considered to become impossible when such person does anything which renders it impossible that he should so act within any definite time, or otherwise than under further contingencies. Illustration A agrees to pay B a sum of money if B marries C. C marries D. The marriage of B to C must now be considered impossible, although it is possible that D may die and that C may afterwards marry B.


35. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed time :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 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 event 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.


35. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed time :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 35. When contracts become void which are contingent on happening of specified event within fixed time Illustrations 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.


36. Agreement contingent on impossible events void – :10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT 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.


Slide 10:10/15/2009 Dr. Tabrez Ahmad, KLS, KIIT Thanks, we will continue…….