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Here we are providing you updated and most relevant Study notes on Contract of Consideration for Law Entrance Exam. These study notes are highly recommendable for all those who aspire to crack  CLAT, DULLB, AILET and other Law Entrance Exam.

DEFINITION OF THE TERM “CONSIDERATION”

Sec. 2 (d) of the Indian Contract Act defines consideration as follows “When at a desire of the promisor, the promisee or any other person has done or abstained from doing, or does or abstains from doing, something, such act or abstinence or promise is called a consideration for the promise.”

Essential elements of Consideration

1. The desire of the promisor

2. It may be furnished by any person

3. A stranger to a contract cannot sue

4. It may be passed, present or future

5. It must be something of value

6. It need not be adequate

Thus consideration consists of

a)      Act            b) Abstinence  c) Promise

Which may be rendered in the

a)      Past           b)Present         c)Future

Example: X agreed to deliver a piece of a sofa set to Y and Y agreed to pay Rs 5,000 on delivery. In this case, the consideration for X is Rs. 5000 and for Y is sofa set.

Essentials of Valid Consideration:

(1) An act done voluntarily by the promisee or at the desire of the third party will not constitute a valid contract.

Example: A voluntarily rescues B’s son from drowning in the river. Here, A cannot claim remuneration from B, because he has not done it at B’s request.

(2) It may be furnished by any person, not necessarily the party to the contract.

Case Law: Chinnaya Vs Rammaya

An old lady transferred a property to her daughter. In return, she wanted her daughter to pay an annuity to her aunt (i.e.) the old lady’s sister. Accordingly, the girl made a deed agreeing to pay a particular sum to her aunt. After a while, she stopped paying the sum. Her contention was that since her aunt had not given her any consideration, she was not obliged to hold on to her promise. The Court, however, held that consideration had moved from her mother.

(3) A stranger to a contract cannot sue.

A person may be a stranger to the consideration but he should not be a stranger to the contract. The beneficiaries are not strangers.

(4) Consideration may be past, present or future.

a. Past Consideration: When something is done or suffered before the date of the agreement, at the desire of the promisor, it is called past consideration.

Shyama Shastri teaches music to Bala Murugan’s son at the latter’s request from January to July. In September, Bala Murugan promises to pay Shyama Shastri a sum of Rs. 5000 for his services. The music lessons given by Shyama Shastri between January and July are past consideration.

b. Present Consideration: Consideration which moves simultaneously with the promise is called present consideration.

Example: Harish sells and delivers a cycle to Rakesh, who promises to pay on the 1st of the next month. The consideration moving from Harish is the present consideration, which is moving simultaneously with the promise of Rakesh.

c. Future Consideration: When the consideration on both sides is said to move at a future date, it is called future consideration.

Example: Satish promises to sell and deliver 10 bags of wheat to Kamesh for Rs. 8000 after a week, upon Kamesh’s promise to pay the agreed price at the time of delivery.

(5) Consideration must be ‘something of value’

Consideration must be real and competent. It should not be

a)     Physically impossible

b)     Legally impossible

c)     Uncertain

d)     Illusory

(6) Consideration Need Not Be Adequate.

The owner has the absolute right to sell his property at the price he likes.

Thus a pen of Rs. 5 can be sold for Rs. 5 lakh, a luxury car of Rs. 1 crore can be sold for Rs. 11000 or less.

CONTRACTS WITHOUT CONSIDERATION

Section 25 of Indian Contract Act 1872, lays down few exceptions, where consideration is not essential for the formation of contract, such contracts also include past voluntary services, gift and it also includes promises to pay time-barred debt or done out of natural love and affection

Generally a contract without consideration is void, however, in certain exceptional cases, a contract may be valid even if it is not supported by consideration.

Following are the exceptions to the general rule “No consideration, No contract”:

a. Agreement made on account of natural love and affection.

An Agreement made without consideration is enforceable if, it is made between parties in near relationships. (Ex: Husband and wife / Brother and sister, parents & children ).

It must comply with following conditions:

·         Out of natural love and affection

·         In writing

·         Also registered

Note: Such agreements must be made in writing and registered under the law for the time being in force.

The inadequacy of consideration does not make the contract void. In cases of the inadequacy of consideration, it is essential that the consent must be a free consent.

Natural love and affection existed between blood relationships and in relationships with husband and wife.

Case Law: Venkataswamy v. Rangaswamy

An older brother on account of natural love and affection promised to pay the debts of his younger brother. The agreement was in writing and registered. Held, the older brother was liable to the creditors.

Case Law: Rajlakhy v. Bhootnath

A man promised to transfer a house property in favour of his wife. He put this agreement in the form of a deed and also registered it. In the deed, there was a mention of their frequent quarrels and arguments and hence they had decided to live separately. Held, that the wife could not enforce the agreement because it was not made out of love and affection.

b. Agreement to compensate for past voluntary service:

A promise made without consideration is valid, if it is a promise to compensate, wholly or in part, a person who has already voluntarily done something which the promisor, was legally compelled to do.

Example: Seema rescued Vishnoo from drowning in the river. Raghu, Vishnu's father, in gratitude for Seema’s service, promises to pay Rs.5000/- to Seema. This contract between Seema and Raghu is valid, although it is not supported by consideration.

c. An agreement to pay time-barred debt:

Where there is an agreement, made in writing and signed by the debtor or by his authorized agent, to pay wholly or in part a debt barred by the law of limitation, the agreement is valid even though it is not supported by any consideration. A time-barred debt cannot be recovered and therefore a promise to repay such a debt is without consideration, hence the importance of the present exception.

What is a time-barred debt?

The limitation Act lays down that if a debt is not recovered within the period of limitation, (generally 3 years in the case of contracts) the debt becomes legally unenforceable. Such a debt is called time-barred debt.

Conditions:

1.     The promisor himself must be liable for the debt.

2.     There must be an ‘express promise to pay.

3.     The promise must be in writing and signed by the debtor or his agent.

d. Gift:

A gift does not require consideration in order to be valid. “As between the donor and the donee, any gift actually made will be valid and binding even though without consideration.” Movables can be gifted without any registered document but for a gift of immovable property, it is essential to get the document written, attested and registered.

Vasant Rajaram Narvekar v. Ankushu(1995)3BomCR196

If the gift deed is duly attested by two witnesses and the duly registered gift is valid.

e. Contribution to Charity:

A promise to contribute to charity, though gratuitous, would be enforceable, if, on the faith of the promised subscription, the promisee takes definite steps in furtherance of the object and undertakes a liability, to the extent of liability incurred, not exceeding the promised amount of subscription.

Case Law: Abdul Aziz Vs. Masum Ali

Donations were invited for the renovation of a mosque. A person promised to donate Rs. 500 towards it. But the mosque authorities took no steps towards the work. Held, that the promisee could not enforce the promise as they had not taken any steps in furtherance of the object.

Some other examples

·         A promises to pay Rs. 1000 to B, without any consideration. The agreement is void.

·         A, out of natural love and affection, promises his son to pay Rs. 20000, to buy a bike, A puts his promise in writing and register it. This is a Contract

·         A founds B’s Documents and gives it to him. B promises to pay A Rs. 100 as the reward. This is a contract.

·         A owes Rs. 10,000 to B but the debt is barred by the limitation act. A promises to pay Rs 6000, on account of the debt and also signs the agreement for the same. This is a contract.

·         A agrees to sell a house worth Rs 1 lakh for Rs. 1. A’s consent to the agreement was freely given. This is a contract, the inadequacy of the consideration does not make’s the agreement void as there is free consent of A.

Study Notes on Contract for Law Entrance Exam - Void Agreements

You can also try the following Practise question.

Practice Exercise

1.  Sec 2(d) of The Indian Contract Act,1872 deals with?

A. Offer/Proposal         

B.  Acceptance

C. Consideration

D. Agency

Ans: C

2. When at a desire of the promisor, the promisee or any other person has done or abstained from doing, or does or abstains from doing, something, such act or abstinence or promise is called

A. Consideration  

B. Promise

C. Acceptance      

D. None of these

Ans: A

3. Consideration consists of

A. Act

B. Abstinence

C. Promise

D. All of the above    

Ans:  D

4. Consideration may be rendered in the

A. Past

B. Present

C. Future  

D. All of the above

Ans: D

5.  A proposes to sell a house to B for 10000 Rs. Is this valid consideration

A. Yes

B. No

C. Maybe

D. None of the above

Ans: A (Consideration need not be adequate)

6. Consideration must be

A. Legally impossible

B. Illusory

C. Physically impossible

D. Real and competent

Ans: D

7. An act done voluntarily by the promisee or at the desire of the third party will __________ a valid contract.

A. Constitute

B. Not constitute

C. Accept

D. None of the above

Ans: B

8. Sec. _______ of Indian Contract Act 1872, lays down few exceptions, where consideration is not essential for the formation of contract

A. 2(d)

B. 21

C. 25

D. None of the above

Ans: C

9. An older brother on account of natural love and affection promised to pay the debts of his younger brother. Will this be valid?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Maybe

D. None of the above

Ans: A

10. Considerations & objects are unlawful where it is

A. forbidden by law or defeat the provision of any law

B. which is fraudulent

C. which is immoral & against the public policy

D. all the above

Ans: D

11. Agreement without consideration is

A. Void    

B. Voidable

C. Valid

D. None of the above

Ans: A

12. A promises to pay Rs. 80000 to B, without any consideration. This agreement is

A. Void    

B. Voidable

C. Valid

D. None of the above

Ans: A

13. A, finds B’s horse and returns it to B. B promises to pay Rs.3000 as the reward. Is this valid?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Maybe

D. none of the above

Ans: A

14. If wants to sell his son for Rs. 2 will it be a valid consideration?

A. No

B. Yes

C. Maybe

D. None of the above

Ans: A

15. Consideration which is Illusory in nature is

A. Void    

B. Voidable

C. Valid

D. None of the above

      Ans: A

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