Indian Contract Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide
Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1872
Section 15 of Indian Contract Act: 'Coercion' defined
Official Bare Act Text
Override / Mandate Mens Rea (Intent) Actus Reus (Conduct) Punishment Limitation Monetary
" Coercion " is the committing, or threatening to commit, any act forbidden by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or the unlawful detaining, or threatening to detain, any property, to the prejudice of any person whatever, with the intention of causing any person to enter into an agreement.
Explanation. — It is immaterial whether the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is or is not in force in the place where the coercion is employed.
Statutory Defined Terms in this Section:(Click any term for official legal definition)
Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 defines 'coercion' as committing or threatening to commit any act forbidden by the Indian Penal Code, or unlawfully detaining property to compel consent.
Core Legal Standard: It is immaterial whether the IPC is or is not in force in the place where the coercion is employed.
Operational Mechanism & Scope: Any agreement extracted under coercion is voidable under Section 19 at the option of the coerced party.
This statutory framework establishes clear operational guidelines, balancing legal compliance with procedural safeguards.
Key Landmark Precedents:
Chikkam Ammiraju v. Chikkam Seshamma (ILR 41 Mad 33): The Madras High Court held that a husband's threat to commit suicide unless his wife and son executed a release deed in favor of his brother amounted to coercion under Section 15, as suicide is an act forbidden by the IPC.
Kishan Lal Kalra v. NDMC (AIR 2001 Del 402): The Delhi High Court affirmed that economic coercion and forcible dispossession under threat of administrative destruction of property constitutes coercion, entitling the victim to rescission and damages.
Legal Commentary:
Coercion requires proof that the unlawful threat was the effective cause that induced consent. Threats to institute legitimate civil proceedings or prosecute bona fide criminal complaints do not constitute coercion under Section 15, as lawful legal recourse is not an act forbidden by the IPC.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 15
Section 15 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 defines 'coercion' as committing or threatening to commit any act forbidden by the Indian Penal Code, or unlawfully detaining property to compel consent.
This statutory framework establishes clear operational guidelines, balancing legal compliance with procedural safeguards.
Coercion requires proof that the unlawful threat was the effective cause that induced consent. Threats to institute legitimate civil proceedings or prosecute bona fide criminal complaints do not constitute coercion under Section 15, as lawful legal recourse is not an act forbidden by the IPC.