2. DISCHARGE OF CONTRACTS The cases in which a contract is discharged may be classified as follows: A. By performance or tender. B. By mutual consent. C. By impossibility of performance. D. By operation of law. E. By lapse of time F. By breach of Contract
3. A. By performance or tender: Actual Performance When both the parties perform their promises. (b) Attempted Performance or tender Only an offer to perform the obligation under the contract.
4. B. Discharge by mutual consent or agreement: The termination of contract by further agreement or consent. Ways to do so: Novation Rescission
7. When a new contract is substituted for an existing one between one of the parties and a third party.
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10. Discharge by mutual consent or agreement Waiver When parties to the contract agree that they shall no longer be bound to the contract Merger When inferior right accruing to a party under contract merges into a superior right accruing to the same party.
11. C. BY IMPOSSIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE Inherent impossibility Known to the parties Unknown to the parties (b) Subsequent impossibility
12. Cases of Subsequent impossibility Destruction of subject matter of contract [Case: Taylor v. Caldwel ] A music hall was agreed to be let out on certain dates, but before those dates it wasdestroyed by fire. Held, that the owner was absolved from liability to let the building aspromised
13. (ii) Non-existence or non-occurrence of a particular state of things [Krell v. Henry] A contract was to hire a flat for viewing the coronation procession of the king. Theprocession had to be cancelled on account of king’s illness. In a suit for therecovery of the rent, it was held that the contract became impossible of performanceand that the hirer need not pay the rent
14. (iii) By the death or disablement of the parties (iv) Subsequent illegality (v) Declaration of war
15. Impossibility of performance not an excuse Difficulty of performance [ KeshavLal v. DewanChand] D agreed to supply coal with certain time. Due to Govt restrictions on the transport of coal from collieries there was a failure of delivery in time. But since coal was available in the market from where D could have purchased it. D will not be discharged on the ground of supervening impossibility
16. 2. Commercial impossibility Example: X promised to send certain goods from Bombay to Antwerp in September, In August warbroke out and shipping space was not available except at very high rates. Held : The increase of freight rates did not excuse performance
17. 3. Impossibility due to failure of a third person 4. Strikes, lockouts and civil disturbances [Case: Jacobs v. Credit Lyonnais ] A agreed to supply B certain goods to be produced in Algeria. The goods could not beproduced because of riots and civil disturbances in that country. Held : There was no excuse for non-performance of the contract
18. 5. Failure of one of the objects [Herne Bay Steamboat Co. v. Hutton K.B.] A agreed to let a boat to H to (i) view the naval review at the coronation and (ii) to cruise round fleet. Owing to the king’s illness, the naval review was cancelled, but thefleet was assembled and the boat could have been used to cruise round the fleet. Held : The contract was not discharged
19. Effects of Supervening Impossibility (i) Contract becomes void (ii) Compensation for the loss suffered (iii) Restore the benefit
20. D. BY OPERATION OF LAW 1. By death 2. By insolvency 3. By merger 4. By the unauthorised alteration of terms of a written document
21. E. By lapse of time F. By breach Actual Breach of Contract Anticipatory Breach of Contract
