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Mohori Bibee v. Dharmodas Ghose

(1903) ILR 30 Cal 539 (PC) · Privy Council · Contract law

At a glance

Citation: (1903) ILR 30 Cal 539 (PC)
Court: Privy Council
Area of law: Contract law
In one line: A minor's agreement is void ab initio. The minor need not repay the money advanced.

1 Facts

A minor mortgaged his property to a moneylender. The minor later sued to cancel the mortgage.

2 Issue

Is a contract with a minor valid?

3 What the court decided

A minor's agreement is void ab initio. The minor need not repay the money advanced.

4 Why it matters

It remains the foundation of the law on minors' contracts in India.

5 Think about it

How does this rule balance protecting minors against fairness to the other party?

6 Analyse it yourself

Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.

7 More cases on Contract law

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Central Inland Water Transport Corporation v. Brojo Nath Ganguly (1986) 3 SCC 156
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Fateh Chand v. Balkishan Dass AIR 1963 SC 1405
Felthouse v. Bindley (1862) 11 CB (NS) 869

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