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CHAPTER IV OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS · Performance of reciprocal promises

Section 58: Alternative promise, one branch being illegal

The Indian Contract Act, 1872

In the case of an alternative promise, one branch of which is legal and the other illegal, the legal branch alone can be enforced.

Illustration

A and B agree that A shall pay B 1,000 rupees, for which B shall afterwards deliver to A either rice or smuggled opium.

This is a valid contract to deliver rice, and a void agreement as to the opium.

Questions on this section

1 question in 2 of our papers cite Section 58.

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