Denial of contract
Full Text
Where a contract is alleged in any pleading, a bare denial of the same by the opposite party shall be construed only as a denial in fact of the express contract alleged or of the matters of fact from which the same may be implied, and not as a denial of the legality or sufficiency in law of such contract.
Plain English Summary
Restricts a simple or bare denial of a contract in pleadings to a denial of its factual existence, requiring specific pleadings if its legality, validity, or enforceability is challenged.
Key Legal Elements
- Fact vs. Legality: Bare denial attacks only the factual execution of the contract.
- Mandatory Specific Defense: Objections regarding invalidity, illegality, lack of registration, or Statute of Frauds must be pleaded specifically.
- Read with Order VIII Rules 2 & 3: Evasive and general denials are construed against the defendant.
Practical Note
Drafting Written Statement on Contracts: Never write merely: 'Contents of paragraph regarding agreement to sell are denied'. If the contract is unstamped, unregistered, void under Section 23 Contract Act, or obtained by coercion, each specific legal ground must be distinctly pleaded under Order VI Rule 8 read with Order VIII Rule 2.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां किसी अभिवचन में किसी संविदा का अभिकथन किया गया है वहां विरोधी पक्षकार द्वारा उसके कोरे इनकार (Bare denial) का अर्थ केवल अभिकथित अभिव्यक्त संविदा के या उन तथ्यात्मक विषयों के, जिनसे वह विवक्षित हो सके, तथ्यात्मक इनकार (Denial in fact) के रूप में ही लगाया जाएगा, न कि ऐसी संविदा की वैधता या विधि में उसकी पर्याप्तता के इनकार के रूप में।