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Section 133 Contract Act — Discharge of surety by variance in terms of contract

The Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Official PDF page 35

Open in NyayaOfficial PDF, page 35

133.Discharge of surety by variance in terms of contract .—Any variance, made without the surety’s consent, in the terms of the contract between the principal 1[debtor] and the creditor, discharges the surety as to transactions subsequent to the variance.

Illustrations

(a) A becomes surety to C for B ’s conduct as a manager in C ’s bank. Afterwards, B and C contract, without A ’s consent, that B’s salary shall be raised, and that he shall become liable for one -fourth of the losses on overdrafts. B allows a customer to overdraw, and the bank loses a sum of money. A is discharged from his suretyship by the variance made without his c onsent, and is not liable to make good this loss.

(b) A guarantees C against the misconduct of B in an office to which B is appointed by C, and of which the duties are defined by an Act of the Legislature. By a subsequent Act, the nature of the office is m aterially altered. Afterwards, B misconducts himself. A is discharged by the change from future liability under his guarantee, though the misco nduct of B is in respect of a duty not affected by the later Act.

(c) C agrees to appoint B as his clerk to sell goods at a yearly salary, upon A’s becoming surety to C for B’s duly accounting for moneys received by him as such clerk. Afterwards, without A ’s knowledge or consent, C and B agree that B should be paid by a commission on the goods sold by him and not by a fixed salary. A is not liable for subsequent misconduct of B.

(d) A gives to C a continuing guarantee to the extent of 3,000 rupees for any oil supplied by C to B on credit. Afterwards B becomes embarrassed, and, without the knowledge of A, B and C contr act that C shall continue to supply B with oil for ready money, and that the paymen ts shall be applied to the then, existing debts between B and C. A is not liable on his guarantee for any goods supplied after: this new arrangement.

(e) C contracts to lend B 5,000 rupees on the 1st March. A guarantees repayment. C pays the 5,000 rupees to B on the 1st January. A is discharged from his liability, as the contract has been varied, inasmuch as C might sue B for the money before the 1st of March.

Text extracted from the official PDF (India Code source copy; consolidation date not certified). Line breaks and footnote marks may differ; the PDF is the authority.

For research. Check the official gazette and later amendments before citing a section.