Are Agreements contingent on impossible events void? Section 36 of Indian Contract Act 1872
36. Contingent agreements to do or not to do anything, if an impossible event happens, are void, whether the impossibility of the event is known or not to the parties to the agreement at the time when it is made.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees to pay B 1,000 rupees if two straight lines should
enclose a space. The agreement is void.
(b) A agrees to pay B 1,000 rupees if B will marry A's daughter C. C was dead at the time of the agreement. The agreement is void.
Section 21 - Effect of mistakes as to law
Section 22 - Contract caused by mistake of one party as to matter of fact
Section 23 - What considerations and objects are lawful and what not
Section 24 - Agreements void, if considerations and objects unlawful in part
Section 25 - Agreement void, if made without consideration
Section 26 - Agreement in restraint of marriage void
Section 27 - Agreement in restraint of trade void
Section 28 - Agreements in restraint of legal proceedings void
Section 29 - Agreements void for uncertainty
Section 30 - Agreements by way of wager void
CHAPTER III CONTINGENT CONTRACTS
Section 31 - Contingent contract defined
Section 32 - Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event happening
Section 33 - Enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening
Section 36 - Agreements contingent on impossible events void
CHAPTER IV THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS
Section 37 - Obligation of parties to contracts
Section 38 - Effect of refusal to accept offer of performance
Section 39 - Effect of refusal of party to perform promise wholly
By whom contracts must be performed