Specific Relief Act, 1877 — section 35

35. When rescission may be adjudged. Any person interested in a contract in writing 1may sue to have it rescinded, and such rescission may be adjudged by the Court in any of the following cases, namely:

(a)where the contract is voidable or terminable by the plaintiff ;

(b)where the contract is unlawful for causes not apparent on its face, and the defendant is more to blame than the plaintiff ;

(c)where a decree for specific performance of a contract of sale, or of a contract to take a lease, has been made, and the purchaser or lessee makes default in payment of the purchase-money or other sums which the Court has ordered him to pay. When the purchaser or lessee is in possession of the subject-matter, and the Court finds that such possession is wrongful, the Court may also order him to pay to the vendor or lessor the rents and profits, if any, received by him as such possessor. In the same case, the Court may, by order in the suit in which the decree has been made and not complied with, rescind the contract, either so far as regards the party in default, or altogether as the justice of the case may require. Illustrations to (a) A sells a field to B. There is a right of way over the field of which A has direct personal knowledge, but which he conceals from B. B is entitled to have the contract rescinded. to (b) A, an attorney, induces his client B, a Hindu widow, to transfer property to him, for the purpose of defrauding B’s creditors. Here the parties are not equally in fault, and B is entitled to have the instrument of transfer rescinded. 1 The words “in writing” are rep. wherever the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882), is in force, see ss. 1 and 2 of that Act.