Legal World

Section 237 Contract Act — Liability of principal inducing belief that agent ’s unauthoriz ed acts were authorized

The Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Official PDF page 51

Open in NyayaOfficial PDF, page 51

237.Liability of principal inducing belief that agent ’s unauthoriz ed acts were authorized .— When an agent has, without authority, done acts or incurred obligations to third persons on behalf of his principal, the principal is bound by such acts or obligations, if he has by his words or conduct induced such third persons to believe that such acts and obligations were within the scope of the agent’s authority.

Illustrations

(a) A consig ns goods to B for sale, and gives him instructions not to sell under a fixed price. C, being ignorant of B ’s instructions, enters into a contract with B to buy the goods at a price lower than the reserved price. A is bound by the contract.

(b) A entrusts B with negotiable instruments endorsed in blank. B sells them to C in violation of private orders from A. The sale is good.

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.