ICA Section 29: Agreements void for uncertainty
Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Chapter 2: Contracts, Voidable Contracts and Void Agreements
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29. Agreements void for uncertainty . Agreements, the meaning of which is not certain, or capable of being made certain, are void.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to sell to B "a hundred tons of oil ". There is nothing whatever to show what kind of oil was intended. The agreement is void for uncertainty.
(b) A agrees to sell to B one hundred tons of oil of a specified' description, known as an article of commerce. There is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(c) A, who is a dealer in cocoanut-oil only, agrees to sell to B "one hundred. tons of oil". The nature of A's trade affords an indication of the meaning of the words, and A has entered into a contract for the sale of one hundred tons of cocoanut-oil.
(d) A agrees to sell to B "all the grain in my granary at Ramnagar". There is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(e) A agrees to sell B "one thousand maunds of rice at a price to be fixed by C ". As the price is capable of being made certain, there is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(f) A agrees to sell to B " my white horse for rupees five hundred or rupees one thousand". 'There I is nothing to show which of the two prices was to be given. The agreement is void.
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
- 10. What agreements are contracts
- 11. Who are competent to contract
- 12. What is a sound mind for the purposes of contracting
- 13. "Consent" defined
- 14. "Free consent" defined
- 15. "Coercion" defined
- 16. "Undue influence" defined
- 17. "Fraud" defined
- 18. "Misrepresentation" defined
- 19. Voidability of agreements without free consent
- 19A. Power to set aside contract induced by undue influence
- 20. Agreement void where both parties are under mistake as to matter of fact
- 21. Effect of mistakes as to law
- 22. Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact
- 23. What considerations and objects are lawful and what not
- 24. Agreement void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part
- 25. Agreement without consideration void, unless it is in writing and registered, or is a promise to compensate for something done, or is a promise to pay a debt barred by limitation law
- 26. Agreement in restraint of marriage void
- 27. Agreement in restraint of trade void
- 28. Agreements in restraint of legal proceedings void
- 30. Agreements by way of wager void