Most Important Indian Contract Act , 1872 Cases :

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 01, Jan 2021

Contract Cases

1. Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. – General Offer.
2. Mohori Bibi v. Dharmodas Ghosh – Contract by Minor.
3. Hadley v. Baxendale – Compensation/ Damages for Breach of Contract.
4. Satyabrata Ghosh v. Mungneeram – Doctrine of Frustration.
5. Lalman Shukla v. Gauri Dutt – Communication of Offer.
6. Balfour v. Balfour – Intention to Contract.
7. Harvey v. Facey – The Principle given, that an information supplied to an enquiry is an invitation to treat.
8. M/s. Bhagwandas v. M/s. Girdhari Lal – Communication of proposal and acceptance. (Place of Acceptance where Heard).
9. Tinn v. Hoffman & Co. – Cross Offers.
10. Fisher v. Bell – Quotation of Price.
11. Dunlop Tyre Co. v. Selfridge & Co. – Privity of Contract.
12. Hyde v. Wrench – Acceptance must be absolute.
13. Philips Brook – Error of identity of person.
14. Dutton v. Poole – Leading case of Privity of Contract.
15. Twiddle v. Atkinson – Privity of Contract.
16. Kedar Nath v. Gorie Mohammad – Promissory Estoppel.
17. Smt. Asha Qureshi v. Afag Qureshi – Fraud.
18. Darry v. Peek – Fraud.
19. Ward v. Hobbs – Fraud.
20. Kamal Kant v. Prakash Devi – Fraud.
21. State of Rajasthan v. Basant Nahata – Public Policy Minor’s Contract.
22. Burn & Co. v. Mc Donald – Employer was entitled to an injunction against the servant, who had left service during the term of the contract.
23. Jamnadas v. Ram Avtar – Privity of Contract.
24. Jamal v. Mulla Dawood Sons & Co. Damages.
25. Hoch ester v. De La Tour – Anticipatory Breach of Contract.
26. Taylor v. Caldwell – Doctrine of Frustration.
27. Scarf v. Jardine – Novation of Contract.
28. Damodar Mudaliar v. Secy. of State – Quasi Contract.
29. Moses v. Macferlan – Quasi Contract.
30. Trilok Chand Moti Chand v. Commissioner of Sales Tax – Mistake under Section 72.
31. Madras Railway Co.v. Govind Rao – Damages for Breach. 
32. Dominion of India v. All India Reporter Ltd. – Damages.
33. Adomsen v. Jarvis – Contract of Indemnity.
34. ONGC Ltd. v. Saw Pipes Ltd. – In case of breach of contract, the proof of loss not necessary when genuine pre-estimated loss is stipulated in contract.Somaiya Organics Ltd. v. State of U.P. – Unjust Enrichment.
35. A.K. Lakshmipathi v. R.S. Pannalal – Time as Essence of Contract.
36. Food Corporation of India v. Chandu Construction – If arbitrator acts in disregard of the contract and without jurisdiction then he commits legal misconduct.
37. State of Kerala v. M.A. Mathai – Notice to the intentions of promisee to the promisor in case to delay in performance.
38. Federal Bank Ltd. v. State of Kerala – Charge/Pledge by way of sale.
39. Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services v. Vijay V Prabhu – “Liability of guarantor is coextensive with that of Principal debtors.”  
40. E.R. Kaliban v. I.G. of Registration Channai – “Deed of cancellation of control amounts to rescission of contract & any rescission must be only bilateral.
41.  
42. Premier Explosives Ltd. v. Chairman & Managing Director, Singareni Colleries Co. Ltd.
    • “Contract cannot be declared to have been frustrated because its performance had become more onerous on account of unforeseen circumstances.” ❖ Hyde v. Wrench – Counter Proposal.
43. Spencer v. Harding – Tender is Invitation to Proposal.