Home > Topics > Business Laws > Acceptance

Acceptance ✅

Definition (Section 2(b)): "When the person to whom the proposal is made signifies his assent thereto, the proposal is said to be accepted."

Effect: An accepted proposal becomes a Promise. Analogy: "Acceptance is to an Offer what a lighted match is to a train of gunpowder." (Once lit, it cannot be undone).


Legal Rules for Valid Acceptance 📜

  1. Absolute & Unqualified: Must be a complete "Yes". No "Yes, but...".
    • Example: A offers car for ₹1 Lakh. B says "I will take it for ₹80k". This is NOT acceptance. It is a Counter Offer.
  2. Communicated: Mental acceptance is no acceptance. You must tell the offeror. (Brogden vs Metropolitan Railway Co.).
  3. Mode: Must be in the prescribed mode (e.g., "Reply by Email"). If no mode prescribed, then reasonable mode.
  4. Time: Within specified or reasonable time.
  5. By Whom: Only by the person to whom offer was made (Specific) or anyone (General).
  6. Before Revocation: Must accept before the offer is withdrawn.
Silence is NOT Acceptance

You cannot force someone to speak. If they don't reply, it means NO. Exception: Previous conduct or specific agreement.


Quiz Time! 🎯

Test Your Knowledge

Question 1 of 5

1. Acceptance must be:

Conditional
Absolute and Unqualified
Partial
Tentative

💡 Final Wisdom: "Acceptance must be a mirror image of the Offer. If you change even one pixel, the mirror breaks (Counter Offer)." 🪞

Next up: Communication & Revocation - When is it complete? 📬