Indian Contract Act, 1872
Indian Contract Act, 1872
IV · Section 57

Reciprocal promise to do things legal, and also other things illegal.

Synced on 13 Aug 2026Text as per India Code

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

A and B agree that A shall sell B a house for 10,000 rupees, but that, if B uses it as a gambling house, he shall pay A 50,000

rupees for it.

The first set of reciprocal promises, namely, to sell the house and to pay 10,000 rupees for it, is a contract.

The second set is for an unlawful object, namely, that B may use the house as a gambling house, and is a void agreement.

Judgments on Section 57