Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Chapter III: Of Contingent Contracts
Section 33: Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening
In plain words
A contract that depends on an uncertain future event not happening can be enforced once that event becomes impossible, and not before.
Example: A agrees to pay B if a certain ship does not return. The contract can be enforced when the ship sinks.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if an uncertain future event does not happen can be enforced when the happening of that event becomes impossible, and not before.
Illustration
A agrees to pay B a sum of money if a certain ship does not return. The ship is sunk. The contract can be enforced when the ship sinks.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.