Indian Contract Act Section 15 — “Coercion” defined

CHAPTER II OF CONTRACTS, VOIDABLE CONTRACTS AND VOID AGREEMENTS

Commercial / Corporate

Summary

Coercion means doing something that the Indian Penal Code forbids, or threatening to do such an act. It also includes unlawfully keeping someone’s property, or threatening to keep it, in a way that harms any person. The purpose of such an act or threat must be to force someone into making an agreement.

The explanation clarifies that it does not matter whether the Indian Penal Code is actually in force in the place where the coercion happens. The definition still applies even if that law is not active there.

Official Text

“Coercion” is the committing, or threatening to commit, any act forbidden by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)or the unlawful detaining, or threatening to detain, any property, to the prejudice of any person whatever, with the intention of causing any person to enter into an agreement. Explanation.—It is immaterial whether the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is or is not in force in the place where the coercion is employed. Illustration 1[