Is Agreement void, if made without consideration? Section 25 of Indian Contract Act 1872
25. An agreement made without consideration is void, unless-
(1) Agreement without consideration, void, unless it is in writing and registered.-It is expressed in writing and registered under the law for the time being in force for the registration of documents, and is made on account of natural love and affection between parties standing in a near relation to each other; or unless.
(2) Or is a promise to compensate for something done.-It is a promise to compensate, wholly or in part, a person who has already voluntarily done something for the promisor, or something which the promisor was legally compellable to do; or unless.
(3) Or is a promise to pay a debt barred by limitation law.-It is a promise, made in writing and signed by the person to be charged therewith, or by his agent generally or specially authorized in that behalf, to pay wholly or in part a debt of which the creditor might have enforced payment but for the law for the limitation of suits.
In any of these cases, such an agreement is a contract.
Explanation 1.-Nothing in this section shall affect the
validity, as between the donor and donee, of any gift actually
made.
Explanation 2.-An agreement to which the consent of the promiser is freely given is not void merely because the consideration is inadequate; but the inadequacy of the consideration may be taken into account by the Court in determining the question whether the consent of the promiser was freely given.
Illustrations
(a) A promises, for no consideration, to give to B Rs. 1,000.
This is a void agreement.
(b) A, for natural love and affection, promises to give his son, B, Rs. 1,000. A puts his promise to B into writing and registers it. This is a contract.
(c) A finds B's purse and gives it to him. B promises to give A Rs. 50. This is a contract.
(d) A supports B's infant son. B promises to pay A's expenses in so doing. This is a contract.
(e) A owes B Rs. 1,000, but the debt is barred by the Limitation Act. A signs a written promise to pay B Rs. 500 on account of the debt. This is a contract.
(f) A agrees to sell a horse worth Rs. 1,000 for Rs. 10. A's consent to the agreement was freely given. The agreement is a contract notwithstanding the inadequacy of the consideration.
(g) A agrees to sell a horse worth Rs. 1,000 for Rs. 10. A denies that his consent to the agreement was freely given. The inadequacy of the consideration is a fact which the Court should take into account in considering whether or not A's consent was freely given.
Section 21 - Effect of mistakes as to law
Section 22 - Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact
Section 23 - What considerations and objects are lawful and what not
Section 24 - Agreements void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part
Section 25 - Agreement void, if made without consideration
Section 26 - Agreement in restraint of marriage void
Section 27 - Agreement in restraint of trade void
Section 28 - Agreements in restraint of legal proceedings void
Section 29 - Agreements void for uncertainty
Section 30 - Agreements by way of wager void
CHAPTER III CONTINGENT CONTRACTS
Section 31 - Contingent contract defined
Section 32 - Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening
Section 33 - Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening
Section 36 - Agreements contingent on impossible events void
CHAPTER IV THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS
Section 37 - Obligation of parties to contracts
Section 38 - Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance
Section 39 - Effect of refusal of party to perform promise wholly
By whom contracts must be performed