Questions and Answers
What must be true for an agreement to be enforceable under the principle of certainty of meaning?
Which of the following statements about agreements lacking certainty of meaning is correct?
In what scenario would a contract regarding the sale of a car likely be considered void due to uncertainty?
Which of the following best describes a valid contract?
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Which of the following is NOT a basis upon which contracts can be classified?
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What would be the consequence of an agreement that cannot be made certain?
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Which legal formality is essential for a contract to be enforceable?
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In an agreement where A offers to sell one of his five cars to B without indicating which car, this agreement is deemed:
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What is the status of a contract when it becomes unenforceable due to technical defects?
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Which circumstance can render a contract void under Section 56?
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What defines a voidable contract according to Section 2 (i)?
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What happens to a contingent contract when the specified event becomes impossible?
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What occurs when a party to a voidable contract repudiates it?
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Under which condition does a contract become void due to the death of a party?
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What happens to a contract if it is under stamped?
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Which of the following does not constitute a reason for a contract to be void?
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What does certainty of meaning in a contract imply?
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Which of the following is NOT a requirement of certainty of meaning in contracts?
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How does certainty of meaning affect the enforceability of a contract?
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What may happen if a contract lacks certainty of meaning?
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Which scenario indicates a violation of certainty of meaning in a contract?
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Which of the following enhances certainty of meaning in a contract?
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What role do written contracts play in ensuring certainty of meaning?
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If a contract states that goods will be delivered 'at a convenient time', what issue does this present?
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Study Notes
Presumption of Legal Relationship
- Courts presume no intention to create legal relationships in familial agreements; highlighted by a mother seeking possession from her daughter who refused to comply.
Agreements Between Friends
- Case: Coward v Motor Insurance Bureau (1963) involves Mr. Coward, a passenger on a friend's motorcycle who contributed to petrol costs.
- Court ruled no enforceable contract existed due to lack of intention to create a legal relationship; thus, Mr. Coward's injury claim was invalid as no contract of hire for carriage existed.
Certainty of Meaning
- Agreements must be certain and unambiguous; vague terms render them void.
- Example: An intention to sell a specific car without identifying which among several results in an uncertain agreement, thus void.
Legal Formalities
- Contracts must comply with specific legal formalities (writing, registration, stamping) to be enforceable.
Classification of Contracts
- Contracts can be classified by enforceability, mode of creation, and execution.
Valid Contract Essentials (Indian Contract Act, 1872)
- Must demonstrate intention to create a legal relationship, lawful consideration, and capacity of parties.
- Requires legal formalities, not declared void, and must be possible and certain with a lawful object.
- Free consent and clear offer and acceptance are also essential.
Offer and Acceptance
- Agreements result from lawful offers and acceptances, indicating mutual consent.
Consensus ad Idem
- Valid agreements require complete mutual understanding (identity of minds) concerning the subject matter.
Free Consent
- Consent must be given freely, without coercion, undue influence, fraud, misrepresentation, or mistakes.
Capacity of Parties
- Contracting parties must possess the mental and intellectual capacity to comprehend and agree to the terms.
- Incompetent individuals (minors, intoxicated, mentally incapacitated) create legally null agreements.
Lawful Consideration
- Contracts need lawful consideration; agreements not supported by consideration are termed nudum pactum.
- Both parties must give and receive something for enforcement to apply.
Lawful Object
- The purpose of the agreement must comply with legal standards; agreements deemed illegal, immoral, or fraudulent are void.
Non-void Declaration
- Agreements must not be expressly declared void by existing laws in India for them to be enforceable.
Void Contracts
- Defined as those ceasing to be enforceable by law upon specific conditions (e.g., supervening impossibility, illegality).
- Example: A promise to pay B after a set period becomes void upon A’s death before the term.
Voidable Contracts
- Enforceable at the discretion of one party, while the other may nullify it if consent is not free.
Unenforceable Contracts
- Valid but unenforceable contracts due to technical issues (e.g., lack of proof, expired enforceability).
- Example: Contracts requiring essential documentation (like stamps) become enforceable upon rectification if permissible.
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Description
This quiz explores important legal principles surrounding familial agreements and their enforceability, focusing on key cases such as the mother-daughter dispute over possession and Coward v Motor Insurance Bureau. Understand the implications of intention in legal relationships through illustrative examples.