Agreements void for uncertainty

Q: When did Section 29 of the Indian Contract Act come into force?

Section 29 of the Indian Contract Act, cited as Contract Act 29, 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.

In force From 01 Sep 1872 Act 9 of 1872 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 9 of 1872 Ministry Law and Justice Enacted 25 Apr 1872 In force 01 Sep 1872

Section 29 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 deals with agreements void for uncertainty. Agreements, the meaning of which is not certain, or capable of being made certain, are void. The Act came into force on 01 Sep 1872.

Agreements, the meaning of which is not certain, or capable of being made certain, are void.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to sell to B "a hundred tons of oil". There is nothing whatever to show what kind of oil was intended. The agreement is void for uncertainty.
(b) A agrees to sell to B one hundred tons of oil of a specified description, known as an article of commerce. There is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(c) A, who is a dealer in cocoanut-oil only, agrees to sell to B "one hundred tons of oil. The nature of A"s trade affords an indication of the meaning of the words, and A has entered into a contract for the sale of one hundred tons of cocoanut-oil.
(d) A agrees to sell to B "all the grain in my granary at Ramnagar". There is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(e) A agrees to sell B "one thousand maunds of rice at a price to be fixed by C". As the price is capable of being made certain, there is no uncertainty here to make the agreement void.
(f) A agrees to sell to B "my white horse for rupees five hundred or rupees one thousand". There is nothing to show which of the two prices was to be given. The agreement is void.
Section 29, The Indian Contract Act, 1872 (Act 9 of 1872).

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.

Vimlesh Kumari Kulshrestha v. Sambhajirao

Supreme Court of India 05 Feb 2008 Binding (Supreme Court) Reportable (2008) 5 SCC 58

Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

Judgment of Main Case order-9.pdf 2008-02-05 DATE VERIFIED. CA 2976/2004. Sinha/Bedi. An agreement of sale with no plan and an inadequate property description is uncertain and cannot be specifically performed. Isolates Contract Act s.29. Do not map O.23 R.1 (not a numbered section). Do not pad SRA 10/16.

On this section: An agreement of sale that does not identify the property with reasonable certainty is void for uncertainty under s.29 and cannot be specifically performed (Vimlesh Kumari).

Read the full order on eCourts India

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 29

What have the courts held on Section 29 of the Indian Contract Act?

Vimlesh Kumari Kulshrestha v. Sambhajirao (05 Feb 2008) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: An agreement of sale that does not identify the property with reasonable certainty is void for uncertainty under s.29 and cannot be specifically performed (Vimlesh Kumari).

How do I find court cases under Section 29 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 29, section 29 Contract Act, section 29 of the Indian Contract Act. People searching for it also type section 29 of contract act. 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 Vimlesh Kumari Kulshrestha v. Sambhajirao (05 Feb 2008).

When did Section 29 of the Indian Contract Act come into force?

Section 29 of the Indian Contract Act, cited as Contract Act 29, 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

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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.