Indian Contract Act, 1872 · Chapter IV: Of the Performance of Contracts · Performance of reciprocal promises
Section 52: Order of performance of reciprocal promises
In plain words
Reciprocal promises must be performed in the order the contract fixes, or, if it fixes none, in the order the nature of the transaction requires.
Example: A contracts to build a house for B at a fixed price. A must build the house before B has to pay.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Where the order in which reciprocal promises are to be performed is expressly fixed by the contract, they shall be performed in that order; and where the order is not expressly fixed by the contract, they shall be performed in that order which the nature of the transaction requires.
Illustrations
(a) A and B contract that A shall build a house for B at a fixed price. As promise to build the house must be performed before B's promise to pay for it.
(b) A and B contract that A shall make over his stock-in-trade to B at a fixed price, and B promises to give security for the payment of the money. A's promise need not be performed until the security is given, for the nature of the transaction requires that A should have security before he delivers up his stock.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.