Section 34: When event on which contract is contingent to be deemed impossible, if it is the future conduct of a living person

In plain words

If the event depends on how a living person will act at an unspecified time, it is treated as impossible once that person does something that makes it impossible for them to act that way within any definite time, or except under further contingencies.

Example: A agrees to pay B if B marries C. C marries D. B's marriage to C is now treated as impossible, even though D might die and C might later marry B.

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

If the future event on which a contract is contingent is the way in which a person will act at an unspecified time, the event shall be considered to become impossible when such person does anything which renders it impossible that he should so act within any definite time, or otherwise than under further contingencies.

Illustration

A agrees to pay B a sum of money if B marries C. C marries D. The marriage of B to C must now be considered impossible, although it is possible that D may die and that C may afterwards marry B.

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.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 34

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.