Dear Readers,
In the last post, we discussed the following four (4) key ingredients of a valid contract. Please click on the link below to read this post again;
A) Offer and Acceptance B) Intention to Create Legal Relationships C) Lawful Consideration D) Lawful Object
http://www.rkstrainings.com/8-essential-elements-of-a-valid-contracts-1/
In view of the above, let us now discuss balance 4 Essential Elements of a Valid Contract:
E) Certainty & Possibility of Performance F) Capacity of the Parties G) Agreement not declared Void H) Free Consent
Essential Elements of a Valid Contract
E) Certainty and Possibility of Performance
E1 – Certainty of Performance
An agreement is ‘certain’ when Scope of Work and Timelines are mentioned specifically rather than generally. Scope means what to do and timelines means when to do. Accordingly, a contract writer must specify the goods or services expressly and clearly. This is necessary so that both parties draw the same understanding out of it. Otherwise, requirements will be subject to multiple interpretation with lot of subjectivity
Accordingly, certainty is important parameter of a valid contract. On the contrary, if the requirements are not definite (i.e. difficult to understand), such contracts become vague & difficult to enforce.
As per section 29 of Indian Contract Act, agreement, the meaning of which is not certain, or capable of being made certain, are void
E2 Possibility of Performance
If it is not possible for a party to fulfil the promises made under the agreement, the contract is invalid. As per section 56 of Indian Contact Act, an agreement to do an act impossible in itself is void. So, If an act is deemed to be impossible, such agreement is void. Similarly, If an act become impossible afterwards, such agreement become void when the act become impossible
F) Capacity of the parties (competency)
As per Section 11 of Indian Contract Act, a party is competent to contract, if;
1) it has attained the age of majority accordingly to applicable law and
2) who is of sound mind and;
3) not disqualified from contracting by any law to which he is subject
In view of the above, all parties should be competent to enter into a contract. Accordingly, entering into a contract with a minor (age less than as stipulated under relevant law) is void
Further, Section 12 of Indian Contract Act says that a person is said to be of sound mind for the purpose of making a contract, if, at the time when he makes it, he is capable of understanding it and of forming a rational judgment as to its effect upon his interest. Moreover, entering into a contract with a person who is disqualified from contracting by any law is void
G) Agreement not declared void
Few agreements are expressly declared as void by the law in force in the country. Consequently, one cannot enter into such agreements with other party. For example, under Indian Contract Act, followings agreements are expressly declared as void;
- Section 26 (Agreement in restraint of marriage) – Every agreement in restrain of marriage of any person, other than a minor, is void
- Section 27 (Agreement in restraint of trade) – Every agreement by which any one is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade or business, is void
- Section 28 (Agreement in restraint of legal proceedings – Every agreement by which any party is restricted from enforcing his right under any contract or which limit the time within which he may enforce his rights are void
D) Free Consent
Parties must enter into a contract freely and with genuine consent. This means the parties accept the terms of the agreement with their own free will rather than under force. Section 13 of Indian Contract Act, says that two or more parties have consent when they agree upon the same thing in the same sense.
As per section 14 of Indian Contract Act, consent is free when it is not caused by any of the followings:
- Coercion – as defined in section 15, or
- Undue influence – as defined in section 16, or
- Fraud – as defined by section 17, or
- Misrepresentation– as defined by section 18
- Mistake subject to provision of section 20, 21 and 22
=======================================================================
Disclaimer Statements: http://www.rkstrainings.com/disclaimer-statements/
Please read and accept disclaimer statements by clicking here: http://www.rkstrainings.com/disclaimer-statements/