Section 50 Indian Contract Act 1872: Performance in Manner or at Time Prescribed or Sanctioned by Promisee
Section 50 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 deals with a promisee's authority to prescribe or sanction the manner or time in which a promise may be performed. Where the promisee authorizes a particular mode or time of performance, performance in that authorized manner or at that authorized time can satisfy the promise.
Updated: 20 September 2026
Text of Section 50
50. Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promisee.
The performance of any promise may be made in any manner, or at any time which the promisee prescribes or sanctions.
Meaning and Scope of Section 50
Section 50 recognizes that the person entitled to receive performance may authorize how, or when, the promisor is to perform. The provision therefore gives legal effect to a manner or time of performance prescribed or sanctioned by the promisee, even where the authorized method differs from the ordinary method that might otherwise have been expected under the contract.
Key terms
Promisor: Under Section 2(c) of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, the person making the proposal is called the promisor after the proposal is accepted.
Promisee: Under the same provision, the person accepting the proposal is called the promisee.
Prescribes or sanctions: In the context of Section 50, these words refer to the promisee specifying or approving the manner or time in which performance may be made.
Illustrations to Section 50
- B owes A 2,000 rupees. A desires B to pay the amount to A's account with C, a banker. B, who also banks with C, orders the amount to be transferred from his account to A's credit, and this is done by C. Afterwards, and before A knows of the transfer, C fails. There has been a good payment by B.
- A and B are mutually indebted. A and B settle an account by setting off one item against another, and B pays A the balance found to be due from him upon such settlement. This amounts to a payment by A and B, respectively, of the sums which they owed to each other.
- A owes B 2,000 rupees. B accepts some of A's goods in deduction of the debt. The delivery of the goods operates as a part payment.
- A desires B, who owes him Rs. 100, to send him a note for Rs. 100 by post. The debt is discharged as soon as B puts into the post a letter containing the note duly addressed to A.
Practical Effect of Section 50
| Situation | Effect under Section 50 |
|---|---|
| Promisee directs payment to a particular bank account | Payment made in the authorized manner may constitute valid performance. |
| Parties settle mutual debts by set-off | The sanctioned adjustment can operate as payment to the extent of the amounts set off. |
| Promisee accepts goods toward a money debt | The accepted goods may operate as part payment. |
| Promisee authorizes remittance by post | Dispatch in the authorized manner may discharge the obligation as illustrated by the Act. |
How Section 50 Fits with Sections 46 to 49
Sections 46 to 49 contain rules concerning the time and place for performance in different situations. Section 50 complements those provisions by recognizing the manner or time specifically prescribed or sanctioned by the promisee. For the surrounding statutory scheme, see Section 46, Section 47, Section 48, and Section 49.
Related Provisions
After Section 50, the Act deals with performance of reciprocal promises. Relevant provisions include Section 51, Section 52, Section 53, Section 54, and Section 55.