Home > Topics > Business Laws > Agreement vs Contract

Agreement vs Contract 📜

Scenario:

  • Raj invites Simran to dinner. Simran accepts.
  • Raj doesn't show up. Can Simran sue him? No. (Social Agreement).
  • Raj offers to sell his car to Simran for â‚đ5 Lakhs. Simran accepts.
  • Raj refuses to sell. Can Simran sue him? Yes. (Legal Contract).

The Golden Rule: "All Contracts are Agreements, but all Agreements are NOT Contracts."


Definitions 📖

  1. Agreement (Section 2(e)): "Every promise and every set of promises, forming the consideration for each other."

    • Formula: Offer + Acceptance = Agreement.
  2. Contract (Section 2(h)): "An agreement enforceable by law."

    • Formula: Agreement + Legal Enforceability = Contract.

Essentials of a Valid Contract (Section 10) 🌟

For an agreement to become a contract, it must have:

  1. Offer and Acceptance: Two parties agreeing on the same thing in the same sense (Consensus ad idem).
  2. Intention to create Legal Relations: (Balfour vs Balfour case).
  3. Lawful Consideration: Something in return (Quid pro quo).
  4. Capacity of Parties: Age of majority, sound mind, not disqualified.
  5. Free Consent: Not caused by coercion, undue influence, fraud, etc.
  6. Lawful Object: Not illegal or opposed to public policy.
  7. Certainty: Meaning must be clear.
  8. Possibility of Performance: Cannot promise to discover treasure by magic.
1. Offer"A proposes to B."
↓
2. Acceptance"B agrees."
↓
3. Agreement"Offer + Acceptance."
↓
4. Enforceability"Legal Obligation."
↓
5. Contract"The Final Result."

Quiz Time! ðŸŽŊ

Test Your Knowledge

Question 1 of 5

1. Which section of the Indian Contract Act defines 'Contract'?

Section 2(a)
Section 2(e)
Section 2(h)
Section 10

ðŸ’Ą Final Wisdom: "A contract is the bridge between a 'Promise' and the 'Law'. Without that bridge, a promise is just words." 🌉

Next up: Types of Contracts - Valid, Void, and Voidable! ðŸšĶ