Indian Contract Act Section 32 — Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening

Summary

A contract that depends on an uncertain future event happening cannot be enforced in court until that event actually occurs. If the event becomes impossible to happen, the contract becomes void and cannot be enforced at all.

Official Text

Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if an uncertain future event happens cannot be enforced by law unless and until that event has happened. If the event becomes impossible, such contracts become void. Illustrations

Related Judgments

• The Hon’ble Justice Sugato Majumdar; CS-COM/175/2024; [OLD NO. CS/6/20 vs PULINAT ETTAN THOMAS, For the Plaintiff, :, Mr. Aritra Basu, Adv., Mr — Calcutta High Court (Kolkata Principal Seat) (2025)
• ENERGY WATCHDOG vs CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ORS. ETC — Supreme Court of India (2017)
• HPA INTERNATIONAL vs BHAGWANDAS FATEH CHAND DASWANI AND ORS — Supreme Court of India (2004)
• NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE MARKETING FEDERATION OF INDIA vs ALIMENTA S.A — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• GANGA SARAN vs RAM CHARAN RAM GOPAL — Supreme Court of India (1951)
• U. P. RAJKIYA NIRMAN NIGAM LTD. vs INDURE PVT. LTD. AND OTHERS — Supreme Court of India (1996)