ICA Section 143: Guarantee obtained by concealment, invalid
Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Chapter 8: Indemnity and Guarantee
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143. Guarantee obtained by concealment invalid . Any guarantee which the creditor has obtained by means of keeping silence as to material circumstances is invalid.
Illustrations
(a) A engages B as clerk to collect money for him. B fails to account for some of his receipts, and A in consequence calls upon him to furnish security for his duly accounting. C gives his guarantee for B's duly accounting. A does not acquaint C with B's previous conduct. B afterwards makes default. The guarantee is invalid.
(b) A guarantees to C payment for iron to be supplied by him to B to the amount of 2,000 tons. B and C have privately agreed that B should pay five rupees per ton beyond the market price, such excess to be applied in liquidation of an old debt. This agreement is concealed from A. A is not liable as a surety.
Official reference: India Code, Legislative Department — checked: 29 September 2026.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 124. "Contract of indemnity" defined
- 125. Rights of indemnity-holder when sued
- 126. "Contract of guarantee", "surety", principal debtor" and "Creditor"
- 127. Consideration for guarantee
- 128. Surety's liability
- 129. "Continuing guarantee"
- 130. Revocation of continuing guarantee
- 131. Revocation of continuing guarantee by surety's death
- 132. Liability of two persons, primarily liable, not affected by arrangement between them that one shall be surety in other's default
- 133. Discharge of surety by variance in terms of contract
- 134. Discharge of surety by release of discharge of principal debtor
- 135. Discharge of surety shen cerditor compounds with, gives time to, or agrees not to sue principal debtor
- 136. Surety not discharged when agreement made with third person to give time to principal debtor
- 137. Creditor's forbearance to sue does not discharge surety
- 138. Release of one co-surety does not discharge others
- 139. Discharge of surety by creditor's act or omission impairing surety's eventual remedy
- 140. Rights of surety on payment or performance
- 141. Surety's right to benefit of creditor's securities
- 142. Guarantee obtaiend by misrepresentation, invalid
- 144. Guarantee on contract that creditor shall not act on it until co-sureties joins
- 145. Implied promise to indemnify surety
- 146. Co-sureties liable to contribute equally
- 147. Liability of co-sureties bound in different sums