What is Section 142 of the Indian Contract Act?

Asked by: Duncan Cummings  |  Last update: April 13, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (22 votes)

Section 142 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, declares a contract of guarantee invalid if it was obtained through misrepresentation made by the creditor, or with their knowledge and consent, regarding any material part of the transaction, ensuring the surety's consent is genuine and not based on falsehoods. This protects the surety from exploitation by requiring the creditor to be truthful about significant details, making such guarantees void.

What is Section 142 of the contract Act?

142. Guarantee obtained by misrepresentation invalid. 143. Guarantee obtained by concealment invalid. 144. Guarantee on contract that creditor shall not act on it until co-surety joins.

What is section 142 in India?

Whoever, being aware of facts which render any assembly an unlawful assembly, intentionally joins that assembly, or continues in it, is said to be a member of an unlawful assembly.

What is an example of possibility of performance?

Possibility of Performance (Section 56)

Contracts which require the performance of acts impossible to perform are void. Example: A contract to deliver goods to a place that has been destroyed by a natural disaster is void for the impossibility of performance.

What is Section 142 of the Indian Patent Act?

Section 142 of The Patents Act, 1970, PA : Section 142: Fees

(1) There shall be paid in respect of the grant of patents and applications therefor, and in respect of other matters in relation to the grant of patents under this Act, such fees as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

SECTION 142-145 OF THE INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872 | CONTRACT OF GUARANTEE.

28 related questions found

What is Section 142 of the Indian Evidence Act?

Section 142 – When they must not be asked

Leading questions must not, if objected to by the adverse party, be asked in an examination-in-chief, or in a re-examination, except with the permission of the Court.

Who can file a revocation petition?

A patent can be revoked on petition of any person interested or of the Central Government or on a counter claim in a suit for infringement of the patent by the High Court.

What voids a contract?

The contract can also be considered void if an unlawful object or consideration is involved in the agreement. This can include the promise of sex, an illicit substance, or anything else causing one or both parties to break the law.

What are the three types of performance of contracts?

Three types of performance could occur in your contract: actual, substantial, and perfect. Actual Performance: An actual performance is one where both parties have fulfilled their obligations as set out in the contract. It usually occurs when goods or services are delivered following the terms agreed upon.

What are common contract mistakes?

Common mistakes when drafting contractual terms include: Using vague or ambiguous language that can create multiple interpretations; Failing to specify important details such as payment terms, delivery schedules, or performance standards; or. Including contradictory or confusing provisions that create uncertainty.

What is the significance of Section 142?

Section 142(1) notice of the Income Tax Act grants the Income Tax Department the authority to issue notices to taxpayers for various reasons, primarily when they fail to file their Income Tax Returns (ITR) or fail to respond to earlier notices.

What is the time limit for Section 142?

Time limit for notice under section 142(1) of income tax act

The tax department can send this notice even after the relevant assessment year has ended. While there is no time limit for the tax department to issue an income tax notice section 142(1), you typically have 30 days to respond once you receive it.

What is the burden of proof in Section 142 cases?

Burden of Proof. (a) General: The burden of proof shall be upon the petitioner, except as otherwise provided by statute or determined by the Court; and except that, in respect of any new matter, increases in deficiency, and affirmative defenses, pleaded in the answer, it shall be upon the respondent.

What is Section 142 of the contract Act 1950?

According to S142 Contract Act 1950, an agency may arise by necessity or in an emergency. Agency of necessity means a person may become the agent of another without being appointed as such under certain circumstances.

What is a mistake under the Indian Contract Act?

The section states, “Where both the parties to an agreement are under a mistake as to a matter of fact essential to the agreement, the agreement is void.” Unilateral Mistake (Section 22): This arises when only one party is mistaken. Generally, a unilateral mistake does not render a contract void.

What is the Article 142 of the Constitution of India?

Article 142 is a unique provision. It grants the Supreme Court the power to pass any order necessary to secure complete justice. Its draft, Article 118, was adopted by the Constituent Assembly without any debate.

What are the 3 P's of a contract?

The Statute of Frauds and Canadian jurisprudence require that for any contract of real property to be enforceable, it must contain an agreement with respect to three essential elements knowns as the 3 P's: parties, property and price.

What makes a contract legally binding?

To make a contract legally binding, it needs to include several key elements: Offer and acceptance — One party needs to offer something (money, services, rights, etc.), and the other party needs to accept the offer. Consideration — The benefit that both parties receive.

What are common excuses for non-performance?

Contracts -Excuse of Nonperformance

  • excuse because of other guy's nonperformance.
  • anticipatory repudiation.
  • Insecurity on part of the other party.
  • Excuse because of improper performance.
  • nonoccurrence of an express condition.
  • excuse by reason of a later contract.

What are four types of mistakes that can invalidate a contract?

Four types of mistakes that can invalidate a contract, making it void or voidable, include Mutual Mistake (both parties share the same fundamental error), Unilateral Mistake (one party is mistaken, and the other knows or should know), Common Mistake (a shared error about the existence or quality of the subject matter, often rendering the contract void), and mistakes involving Misrepresentation or Fraud, where one party is misled by false statements about essential facts, though technically not just a "mistake" but a vitiating factor often grouped with them. 

Is a verbal agreement legally binding?

Yes, verbal agreements (oral contracts) are often legally binding and enforceable, just like written ones, if they contain the essential elements of a contract (offer, acceptance, consideration) and don't fall under specific legal exceptions, like those covered by the Statute of Frauds (e.g., real estate, agreements over a year). However, proving them in court is much harder due to the lack of written evidence, making written contracts always preferable to avoid disputes.
 

What are three things that can cause a contract to be void?

Now that you have a grasp of what makes a contract valid, let's delve into what can make one void.

  • Lack of Capacity.
  • Illegality of Contract's Purpose.
  • Absence of Mutual Assent.

What are the grounds of revocation?

Section 64: Grounds for Revocation

1. Invention is obvious and lacks an inventive step or utility. 2. Invention isn't new and has been publicly used or published in India before the priority date.

What are the remedies for infringement?

4. What are the remedies for infringement?

  • damages (monetary compensation and surrender of profits);
  • injunction (a court order to stop the infringer from infringing your trade mark); and.
  • delivery up or disposal of infringing articles or removal of an infringing mark.

What is Section 47 of the Indian Patent Act?

A patent granted under the provisions of the Patents Act, 1970 (the Act), confers an exclusive right of the patentee to exploit their invention and to produce, sell or import the patented product or process for the duration of the patent.