Undue Influence- Section 16 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872

Under Section 16 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, undue influence is defined as:

“A contract is said to be induced by undue influence where the relations subsisting between the parties are such that one party is in a position to dominate the will of the other and uses that position to obtain an unfair advantage over the other.”

 

Key Elements of Undue Influence:

 

1-Existence of a relationship: There must be a relationship between the parties, where one party is in a position to influence the other’s decisions.

2-Domination of the will: One party must be in a position to dominate the will of the other, due to factors like mental incapacity, financial dependency, or authority (e.g., employer-employee, doctor-patient).

3-Unfair advantage: The dominant party uses their position to gain an unfair or unjust advantage.

 
When is a person deemed to dominate the will of another?

A person is deemed to dominate the will of another in the following circumstances:

  • Real or apparent authority: For instance, in relationships such as parent-child, teacher-student, or guardian-ward, one party holds influence over the other due to their authority.
  • Mental distress: When one party’s mental capacity is impaired due to illness, age, or other reasons, the other party may take advantage of this.
  • Financial position: If one party is financially dependent on the other, it can be assumed that the financially stronger party is in a position to dominate.
 
Burden of Proof:
  • If a contract appears to be influenced by undue influence, the burden of proof lies on the party who benefits from the contract to show that there was no undue influence.
 
Effect of Undue Influence:

A contract induced by undue influence is voidable at the option of the party whose consent was so influenced. If undue influence is proven, the party influenced may either rescind the contract or enforce it on terms that are fair.

 
Examples-

 

1. Relationship of Authority: Employer and Employee
  • An employer persuades an employee to sell his land at a price significantly lower than the market rate by threatening to fire him if he doesn’t comply. The employee, fearing job loss, agrees.
  • In this case, the employer is in a position of authority and uses it to dominate the will of the employee, obtaining an unfair advantage. The contract may be set aside due to undue influence.
 
2. Doctor and Patient
  • A doctor convinces a patient suffering from a serious illness to transfer property to him, claiming it would help in the treatment or relieve stress. The patient, vulnerable due to illness and trusting the doctor, agrees.
  • Here, the doctor holds a position of trust and influence over the patient and uses that to get an unfair benefit. This is a classic case of undue influence.
 
3. Parent and Child
  • A father pressures his adult child to sign over the inheritance rights to him, claiming that it is in the family’s best interest. The child, dependent on the father financially and emotionally, signs the agreement unwillingly.
  • In this case, the parent is dominating the child’s will, and the contract could be voidable due to undue influence.
 
4. Guardian and Ward
  • A guardian, who is managing the property of a minor, persuades the minor to sell property to a third party for an unfairly low price. The minor trusts the guardian’s decision due to their dependent relationship.
  • Here, the guardian’s influence over the minor is an example of undue influence. The minor can later seek to void the contract when they reach the age of majority.
 
5. Religious Advisor and Devotee
  • A spiritual advisor convinces a devotee to donate a large sum of money or property to the advisor, implying that such a donation would lead to spiritual benefits. The devotee, under the influence of the advisor’s authority, complies.
  • The spiritual advisor is using his position of influence to gain an unfair benefit, which constitutes undue influence.

In all of these cases, the person in the dominant position exerts undue influence over the weaker party, resulting in unfair contractual terms. If undue influence is proven, the weaker party can either void the contract or modify it to ensure fairness.

 

72 thought on “Undue Influence- Section 16 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872”
  1. Přijetí hypoteční platby může být nebezpečné pokud nemáte
    rádi čekání v dlouhých řadách , vyplnění
    mimořádné formuláře , a odmítnutí úvěru na základě vašeho úvěrového skóre .
    Přijímání hypoteční platby může být problematické,
    pokud nemáte rádi čekání v dlouhých řadách , podávání extrémních formulářů , a odmítnutí
    úvěru na základě vašeho úvěrového skóre .
    Přijímání hypoteční platby může být problematické
    , pokud nemáte rádi čekání v dlouhých řadách , vyplnění extrémních formulářů a odmítnutí úvěrových
    rozhodnutí založených na úvěrových skóre . Nyní můžete svou
    hypotéku zaplatit rychle a efektivně v České republice. https://groups.google.com/g/sheasjkdcdjksaksda/c/HE1G1Kr-fuA

  2. Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my website to rank for some targeted
    keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
    If you know of any please share. Thank you!
    I saw similar article here: Eco wool

  3. Hi, I do think this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return once again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.

  4. Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written much better! Going through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a good read. I appreciate you for sharing!

  5. Hello there! This post could not be written much better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!

  6. Survived by two sons, Robert L and Eugene Draper, both of Wilbur; two brothers, Willis L Draper, Heyburn, Idaho; Ward Draper of Wilbur, WA; one sister, Mrs Mariam Bagley of Govan, WA; 8 grandchildren; four nice grandchildren; quite a few nieces and nephews.

  7. In his unique evaluate of the film, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two-and-a-half stars out of 4. In his 4 years with the club, he made 129 appearances throughout all competitions, scoring one objective.

  8. An interesting discussion will probably be worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to write on this topic, it might not often be a taboo subject but typically everyone is inadequate to communicate on such topics. To another location. Cheers

  9. F*ckin’ remarkable things here. I’m very glad to see your post. Thanks so much and i am taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?

  10. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return yet again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  11. It is rare to discover a specialist in whom you might have some faith. In the world these days, nobody genuinely cares about showing others exactly how in this issue. How fortunate I am to have now found such a wonderful website as this. It is people like you that make a genuine difference currently through the suggestions they discuss.

  12. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read even more things about it!

  13. What your stating is absolutely true. I know that everybody should say the similar matter, but I just think that you set it in a way that absolutely everyone can realize. I also really like the photographs you set in the following. They match so effectively with what youre attempting to say. Im sure youll achieve so quite a few men and women with what youve received to say.

  14. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to come back yet again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  15. If I have writer’s block, I occasionally just create random words, and hopefully some idea will come from that. Take a pencil, or an empty Word document and just begin typing or composing words. Some thing is bound to hit you eventually. I used to just do these exercises where I did nothing but create random sentences without using punctuation. This helped my brain juices to flow, and it allowed me to create some short poems and short, short stories. Occasionally that rare moment when two words fit together perfectly to give you a great concept for a story occurs, and who knows? Maybe those two words can launch a series of books, or a series of plays, or the great American novel.

  16. I absolutely love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my own personal blog and would like to learn where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Many thanks!

  17. I like your website.. great shades & motif. Performed people design and style this fabulous website yourself or even have people rely on someone else to make it work for you personally? Plz interact when I!|m looking to pattern by myself blog site plus would want to find out wherever u received this particular through. thank you

  18. I really love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you create this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to create my very own site and would love to find out where you got this from or what the theme is named. Thanks.

  19. I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Excellent work!

  20. Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you really realize what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also consult with my web site =). We could have a link alternate arrangement between us!

  21. Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for info about this subject for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?

  22. I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am glad to convey that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I most definitely will make certain to do not fail to remember this website and give it a glance regularly.

  23. Great blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally confused .. Any recommendations? Kudos!

  24. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My blog is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thank you!

  25. Im no professional, but I think you just made the best point. You naturally comprehend what youre speaking about, and I can seriously get behind that. Thanks for staying so upfront and so truthful.

  26. It’s appropriate time to have ideas for future years and it is time to be happy. I have discover this kind of publish of course, if I may My partner and i want to give you advice couple of attention-grabbing things or perhaps recommendations. You could possibly can create following content articles referring to this article. My partner and i need to learn even more reasons for it!

  27. I blog frequently and I genuinely thank you for your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to bookmark your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  28. What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other users like its helped me. Good job.

  29. An interesting dialogue is price comment. I feel that you should write extra on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally individuals are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  30. I have mastered some essential things through your blog post post. One other stuff I would like to talk about is that there are lots of games that you can buy which are designed in particular for toddler age little ones. They consist of pattern acceptance, colors, family pets, and shapes. These typically focus on familiarization as opposed to memorization. This keeps little kids occupied without having a sensation like they are learning. Thanks

  31. This web site seems to get a sizable ammount of visitors. How do you obtain visitors to this? It provides a good person twist on issues. I guess having something authentic or considerable to give information on is the most important element.

  32. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  33. Nice post. I discover something tougher on diverse blogs everyday. Most commonly it is stimulating to learn content from other writers and use a little something from their website. I’d would rather apply certain using the content in this little blog regardless of whether you do not mind. Natually I’ll offer you a link in your web weblog. Many thanks for sharing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7 Ways To Help Stop Global Warming