Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Chapter IV: Of the Performance of Contracts · Time and place for performance
Section 50: Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promise
In plain words
A promise can be performed in any manner or at any time that the promisee prescribes or approves.
Example: A asks B to pay a debt into A's account at a bank, and B does so. Even if the bank then fails before A knows of the transfer, B has paid.
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
The performance of any promise may be made in any manner, or at any time which the promisee prescribes or sanctions.
Illustrations
(a) 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.
(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.
(c) A owes B 2,000 rupees. B accepts some of A's goods in reduction of the debt. The delivery of goods operates as a part payment.
(d) 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.
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 50
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.