Indian Contract Act Section 57 — Reciprocal promise to do things legal, and also other things illegal
CHAPTER IV OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS — Performance of reciprocal promises
Commercial / Corporate
Summary
Where two people make mutual promises to each other, and part of what they promise is to do things that are legal, while another part, under certain stated conditions, is to do things that are illegal, then the legal part of their arrangement is a valid contract. However, the part involving the illegal promises is not a contract at all—it is a void agreement, meaning it has no legal effect and cannot be enforced.
Official Text
Where persons reciprocally promise, firstly, to do certain things which are legal, and, secondly, under specified circumstances, to do certain other things which are illegal, the first set of promises is a contract, but the second is a void agreement. Illustration