Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Contingent Contracts

Section 34: Future Conduct of a Living Person

Updated 10 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Section 34 covers events depending on a living person's future conduct. Such an event is deemed impossible when that person does anything which renders it impossible that the event should happen within any definite time, or otherwise than on further contingencies. The contract then becomes void (Section 32) or enforceable (Section 33), depending on its framing.

Understand Future Conduct of a Living Person (Section 34)

A contingent contract is a contract to do or not do something if some uncertain event, collateral to the contract, does or does not happen. Sometimes that event depends on what a person will do. Example: Ravi promises to pay Meena ₹50,000 if Suresh marries Anita.

Section 34 answers one question: when can we say such an event will never happen? The rule is this. If the event depends on the future conduct of a living person, it is deemed impossible when that person does anything which renders it impossible that the event should happen within any definite time, or otherwise than on further contingencies.

In simple words, the person has acted in a way that closes the door. Now the event can happen only if something more, which is itself uncertain, takes place. The law treats such an event as impossible.

The result depends on how the contract is framed:

If the contract is contingent on the event happening, it becomes void under Section 32 when the event becomes impossible. It was valid when made and became void later.
If the contract is contingent on the event not happening, it becomes enforceable under Section 33 when the event becomes impossible.

The classic illustration: A agrees to pay B ₹1,000 if B marries C. C marries D. B's marrying C is now deemed impossible, even though D may die and C may then marry B. The reason is that it would happen only on a further contingency (D's death). A's contract is contingent on the event happening, so it becomes void.

Note the key words: living person, future conduct, definite time and further contingencies. Exam questions test whether you spot them.

Key formulas to remember

Rule of Section 34: Event depends on a living person's future conduct + that person does anything which renders it impossible that the event should happen within any definite time, or otherwise than on further contingencies → event deemed impossible; Once the event is deemed impossible, the contract contingent on its happening becomes void under Section 32.
Test of further contingencies: Act renders it impossible that the event should happen within any definite time, or otherwise than on further contingencies → deemed impossible; The rule has two alternative limbs. In the marriage illustration, the event could now happen only on a further uncertain event, so it does not stay alive.
Classic illustration: A pays B if B marries C; C marries D → B marrying C deemed impossible → contract void; Remember it even if D later dies, the event stays deemed impossible.

How to solve Future Conduct of a Living Person (Section 34) questions

Use this method for any question on Section 34.

1Identify the contingent contract and write down the uncertain event on which it depends.
2Check whether that event depends on the future conduct of a living person.
3Find the act the person has done after the contract.
4Ask: does this act render the event impossible within any definite time, or possible only on a further contingency?
5If yes, conclude that the event is deemed impossible under Section 34.
6Check how the promise is framed. If the contract is contingent on the event happening, it becomes void under Section 32.
7If the contract is contingent on the event not happening, it becomes enforceable under Section 33.
8If the person's act leaves the event possible without any further contingency, say the event is not yet deemed impossible.

Quickest way: Door-closed test

When to use it: Use it for MCQs that give a short scenario with a promise, a person and an act.

Underline the event in the promise.
Check that a living person's conduct controls it.
Ask whether the person's act closed the door, so only a new uncertain event could reopen it.
If the door is closed, the event is deemed impossible. Then check the promise: if it depends on the event happening, pick void; if it depends on the event not happening, pick enforceable.
Reject options that say the event becomes impossible only on the person's death, or that a contract contingent on the event happening stays valid and enforceable.

Common mistakes in Future Conduct of a Living Person (Section 34)

Saying the event is possible because the person may still change their mind or another event may occur later.
Students think in real-life probabilities instead of the legal test.
Fix: Remember the words 'further contingencies'. If the event can happen only on one, it is deemed impossible.
Confusing Section 34 with Section 32 or Section 33.
All three deal with contingent contracts and the sections are close together.
Fix: Section 32: contract contingent on an event happening. Section 33: contract contingent on an event not happening. Section 34: when an event depending on a living person's future conduct is deemed impossible. It applies to both kinds of contract. The result is void under Section 32 if the contract depends on the event happening, and enforceable under Section 33 if it depends on the event not happening.
Ignoring the words 'living person'.
Students skim the rule and focus on the example.
Fix: Read the rule again. It applies to a living person's conduct, not to natural events.
Saying the contract is void at the time it was made.
Students mix this with agreements contingent on impossible events.
Fix: The contract was valid when made. For a contract contingent on the event happening, it becomes void under Section 32 once the event is deemed impossible. It was valid at first and became void later.
Missing the 'definite time' element.
Students remember only the marriage illustration.
Fix: Note that the act must render the event impossible within any definite time, or otherwise than on further contingencies.
Writing that the contract is only unenforceable after the event is deemed impossible.
Students treat Section 34 as a rule on enforcement and forget Sections 32 and 33.
Fix: Say what the framing of the promise requires. Contingent on the event happening: the contract becomes void under Section 32. Contingent on the event not happening: it becomes enforceable under Section 33. Section 34 only fixes when the event is deemed impossible.
Saying every contract becomes void once the event is deemed impossible.
Students remember only the marriage illustration, where the promise depends on the event happening.
Fix: Check whether the promise depends on the event happening or not happening. Only the first becomes void under Section 32. The second becomes enforceable under Section 33.

Worked examples

Example 1

Anil promises to pay Bhavna ₹2,00,000 if Chetan marries Deepa. Deepa marries Farhan. Is the event deemed impossible under Section 34, and what happens to the contract?

Show the solution

The contract is contingent on Chetan marrying Deepa.
Deepa is a living person and the event depends on her future conduct.
Her act of marrying Farhan closes the door. Chetan can marry her only on a further contingency, such as Farhan's death or the end of that marriage.
So the event is deemed impossible.
Under Section 32, a contract contingent on an event happening becomes void when the event becomes impossible.

Answer: Yes. Under Section 34, Chetan marrying Deepa is deemed impossible, so Anil's contingent promise becomes void under Section 32. It was valid when made.

Example 2

Choose the correct option. Rohan agrees to pay Seema ₹5,000 if Tarun marries Uma. Uma marries Vikram. Under Section 34, the event of Tarun marrying Uma is: (a) valid and possible (b) deemed impossible (c) possible only after one year (d) deemed certain

Show the solution

The event depends on the future conduct of a living person, Uma.
Uma marries Vikram, so she has done an act that closes the door.
Tarun could marry Uma only if a further contingency happens, such as Vikram's death.
Therefore the event is deemed impossible.
Rohan's contract is contingent on the event happening, so it becomes void under Section 32.

Answer: (b) deemed impossible

Example 3

Kiran promises to pay Lata ₹10,000 if Mohan does not marry Nisha. Nisha marries Omkar. What is the position of the contract?

Show the solution

The contract is contingent on Mohan not marrying Nisha, so it depends on an event not happening.
The event, Mohan marrying Nisha, depends on the future conduct of a living person, Nisha.
Her marriage to Omkar closes the door. Mohan could marry her only on a further contingency, such as Omkar's death.
So under Section 34 the event of Mohan marrying Nisha is deemed impossible.
Under Section 33, a contract contingent on an event not happening can be enforced when that event becomes impossible.

Answer: The event is deemed impossible under Section 34, so Kiran's promise becomes enforceable under Section 33. It does not become void.

Exam tips

Learn the marriage illustration word by word. Most MCQs are variations of it.
Look for options that use the phrase 'deemed impossible'. It is the correct term in this topic.
Check that the event depends on a living person before applying the rule.
Do not pick options that talk about the person's death. The rule is about acts, not death.
Read how the promise is framed. If it depends on the event happening, the contract becomes void under Section 32. If it depends on the event not happening, it becomes enforceable under Section 33. Eliminate options that give the wrong result for the framing.

Practice questions from Contingent Contracts

Future Conduct of a Living Person (Section 34) in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

Actuarial Core Principles (IAI)Future Lifetime Distributions for Two Lives

Future Conduct of a Living Person (Section 34): frequently asked questions

What does Section 34 of the Indian Contract Act say?

It says that if a contract is contingent on how a living person will act, the event is deemed impossible when that person does anything which renders it impossible that the event should happen within any definite time, or otherwise than on further contingencies. If the contract depends on the event happening, it then becomes void under Section 32. If it depends on the event not happening, it becomes enforceable under Section 33.

What does deemed impossible mean in Section 34?

It means the law treats the event as impossible even though it is not physically impossible. If the event can now happen only on a further uncertain event, it does not stay alive.

What is the standard illustration of Section 34?

A agrees to pay B ₹1,000 if B marries C. C marries D. B's marriage to C is deemed impossible, even though D may die and C may then marry B.

How is Section 34 different from Sections 32 and 33?

Section 32 covers contracts contingent on an event happening, and says they become void if the event becomes impossible. Section 33 covers contracts contingent on an event not happening, and says they can be enforced when the event becomes impossible. Section 34 explains when an event depending on a living person's conduct is deemed impossible because of what that person has done, and it applies to both kinds of contract.