"Coercion" defined
Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 deals with "Coercion" defined. "Coercion" is the committing, or threatening to commit, any act forbidden by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or the unlawful detaining, or threatening to detain, any property, to the prejudice of any person whatever, with the intention of causing any person to enter into an agreement. The Act came into force on 01 Sep 1872.
"Coercion" is the committing, or threatening to commit, any act forbidden by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or the unlawful detaining, or threatening to detain, any property, to the prejudice of any person whatever, with the intention of causing any person to enter into an agreement.
Explanation.—It is immaterial whether the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is or is not in force in the place where the coercion is employed.
Illustration
A, on board an English ship on the high seas, causes B to enter into an agreement by an act amounting to criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code. (45 of 1860).
A afterwards sues B for breach of contract at Calcutta.
A has employed coercion, although his act is not an offence by the law of England, and although section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) was not in force at the time when or place where the act was done.
Section 15, The Indian Contract Act, 1872 (Act 9 of 1872).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Kajal Paul v. Sajal Paul
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Final Order order-10.pdf 2016-06-09 DATE VERIFIED. RSA 19 of 2012. S. Talapatra J. reportable. Isolates Contract 15 coercion (defines 15/16/17): a will-challenge alleging coercion/fraud/undue influence needs O6 R4 particulars; a mere allegation has no force and does not shift the burden. Map contract-act 15 cited only. Do not pad 16/17 (already filled) or CPC 100 (already filled).
On this section: Coercion under Contract 15 must be particularised; a bare plea that a registered will was obtained by coercion has no force (Kajal Paul).
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 15
What have the courts held on Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act?
Kajal Paul v. Sajal Paul (09 Jun 2016) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Coercion under Contract 15 must be particularised; a bare plea that a registered will was obtained by coercion has no force (Kajal Paul).
How do I find court cases under Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Contract Act 15, section 15 Contract Act, section 15 of the Indian Contract Act. People searching for it also type indian contract act 15. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Kajal Paul v. Sajal Paul (09 Jun 2016).
What should I read with Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on Indian Penal Code 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.
When did Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act come into force?
Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act, cited as Contract Act 15, came into force on 01 Sep 1872, having been enacted on 25 Apr 1872. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 73. Compensation for loss or damage caused by breach of contract1822 words
- 23. What considerations and objects are lawful, and what not596 words
- 74. Compensation for breach of contract where penalty stipulated for577 words
- 28. Agreements in restraint of legal proceeding void512 words
- 25. Agreement without consideration, void, unless it is in writing and registered, or is a promise to compensate for something done, or is a promise to pay a debt barred by limitation law423 words
- 16. "Undue influence" defined397 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.