DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

SUBJECT: PROJECT ON INDIAN CONTRACT ACT

TOPIC: NATURE AND EXTENT OF SURETY’S LIABILITIES

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Ms. Vishalakshi Vegesena Ajay khedar

Assistant Professor Roll No: 10 Sec. A

(Contract Law) 3rd Semester (2018)

Table Of Contents

Definition of surety………………………………………..……………

Distinction between a surety and a guarantor…………………………..

Sections talking about surety……………………………………….…...

Definition of surety contracts……………………………………………

Role of surety……………………………………………………………

Nature of liability of surety……………………………………………...

Degree of liability of surety…………………………………………….

Discharge of surety………………………………………………………
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I owe a great many thanks to a great many people who helped and supported me
during writing this project.

Words are inadequate in expressing my deep sense of gratitude to my professor for

his precious guidance.

With his enthusiasm, his inspiration and his great efforts to explain things clearly
and simply, he helped me throughout my analysis of work with lots of
encouragement, sound advice and good innovation.

I would also like to thank the librarians of Dr. Madhu Limaye library who extended
their assistance to me by helping me out consulting out relevant books.

I know that Despite my best efforts some discrepancies might have crept in which I
believe my humble professor would forgive.

THANKING YOU

------Ajay Khedar
SURETY

Person or firm (such as a bank, bonding company, insurance company) that agrees
to be primarily liable for the conduct, obligation, or performance of another. Surety
who pays the debt of a borrower-in-default, in general, automatically acquires an
assignment of a creditor's legal right to recover the amount paid from the borrower1.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN A SURETY AND A GUARANTOR

Although a surety and a guarantor are both parties who make an express agreement
to bind themselves for the performance of an act or the fulfillment of an obligation
or duty of another, the distinctions between the contract of two persons, and the
obligations assumed under their contract can be sharply made. A surety, as a general
rule, is party to the original contract of the principal; he signs his name to the original
agreement at the same time the principal signs, and the consideration for the
principal’s contract is the consideration for the agreement of the surety’s. The surety
is therefore bound on his contract from the very beginning, and he is bound also to
inform himself of the defaults of the principal debtor, and he is not in any part
relieved from his obligations under the contract by the creditor's failure to inform
him of the principal's default in the contract, for which contract the surety has
become the security for. A guarantor, on the other hand, usually does not make his
agreement to answer for the principal's debt or default, contemporaneously with the
principal or by the same agreement, but his obligation is entered into subsequently
to the making of the original agreement, and his agreement is not the contract that
the principal makes, and hence a new consideration is required to support it. The

1
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/surety.html
contract of the principal's, not being the one the guarantor makes, he is not bound to
inform himself of default, or failure of principal to perform his contract2.

SECTIONS TALKING ABOUT SURETY

CHAPTER VIII

OF INDEMNITY AND GUARANTEE

"Contract of guarantee", "surety", "principal debtor" and "creditor"

126. A "contract of guarantee" is a contract to perform the promise, or discharge

the liability, of a third person in case of his default. The person who gives the
guarantee is called the "surety": the person in respect of whose default the guarantee
is given is called the "principal debtor", and the person to whom the guarantee is
given is called the "creditor". A guarantee may be either oral or written3.

SURETY CONTRACTS

A surety contract is a legally binding agreement that the signee will accept
responsibility for another individual's contractual obligations, usually the payment
of a loan if the principal borrower falls behind or defaults. The person who signs this
type of contract is more commonly referred to as a cosigner. While common law
historically has distinguished cosigners (those who sign surety contracts)
from guarantors, U.S. law makes the two terms virtually identical.

Someone may sign a surety contract to help their child obtain a car loan, to start a
business, or some other transaction considered by the lender to be relatively high-

2
ALBERT H PUTNEY, POPULAR LAW LIBRARY, PUTNEY, (9th edn, FORGOTTEN BOOKS 2016).
3
Indian Contracts Act, 1872
risk. In many lending situations, it is a requirement for getting the loan or,
alternatively, can help the borrower get a better rate4.

SURETY CONTRACTS AND RISKS

Surety contracts are intended to minimize the risk to the lender, who would rather
not spend money on collection agencies or lawyers to secure the repayment of a loan
if the borrower defaults. But, anyone who is asked to cosign a loan should fully
understand their risk, should the loan go unpaid. Nearly three out of four cosigners
end up repaying the principal borrower's loan, according to research cited by the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Here's another way of looking at it: The reason a borrower asks a friend or a parent
to cosign a loan is because the lender would not otherwise give this person the loan5.

ROLE OF SURETY

Section 126 of the Indian Contract Act states about contract of guarantee, surety,
principal debtor and creditor. The person who gives the guarantee is called the surety
and on whose default the guarantee is given is called the principal debtor and the
person to whom the guarantee is given is called the creditor. If a promise is made for
the benefit of principal debtor is sufficient consideration to surety for giving
guarantee to him/her. Surety is the person who promises to the creditor that in case
the debtor makes a default in making payment surety will make the payment to
creditor here surety is undertaking the promise that he will pay the money defaulted
and fulfill the promise. If someone requests for surety only it is given, i.e. a debtor’s

4
https://consumer.findlaw.com/credit-banking-finance/what-are-surety-contracts.html
5
Ibid
request surety is given to the creditor. Surety of a minor cannot be considered for a
simple reason that he/she is not competent to contract6.

NATURE OF SURETY’S LIABILITY

Where the parties do not specifically agree as to the extent of he liability or the surety
does not put up any limit on his ability at the time of entering into the contract, the
liability of the surety will be co-extensive with that of the principal debtor. In other
words, whatever amount of money a creditor can legally realise from the principal
debtor including interest, cost of litigation, damages etc., the same amount he can
recover from the surety.

Example: A guarantees to B the payment of a bill of exchange by C, the acceptor.

The bill is dishonoured by C. A will be liable not only for the amount of the bill also
for any interest and charges which have become due on it.

The liability of the surety arises immeidiately on the default of the principal debtor
but the creditor is not bound to give any notice of the default of the principal debtor
to the surety or it exhaust all the remedies open to him as against the debtor before
proceeding against the surety. Besides that, creditor is free to release the debt when
it becomes due to either from the debtor or the surety. It is not necessary for him to
proceed against the debtor first. He may sue the surety without suing the principal
debtor. It is surety’s duty to see that the principal debtor pays or performs his
obligation.

Rights of the Security

Rights of the surety can be classified under three heads:

(i) Against the principal debtor.

6
https://lawyerslaw.org/what-is-the-role-of-surety-and-the-extent-of-his-liability/
(ii) Against the creditor.

(iii) Against the co-sureties.

1. Rights of the surety against the principal debtor

(a) Rights to be subrogated: When the principal debtor had committed the default
and the surety pays the debt to the creditor, surety will stand in the shoes of the
creditor and will be invested with all the rights which the creditor had against the
debtor (Sec. 140).

(b) Right to claim indemnity: In every contract of guarantee, there is an implied

promise by the principal debtor to indemnify the surety and the surety is to recover
from the principal debtor whatever sum he has rightfully paid under the guarantee
but no sums which he has paid wrongfully, e.g., cost of fruitless litigation (Sec. 145).

Examples : (i) B is indebted to C, and A is surety for the debt. C demands payments
from A, and on his refusal sues him for the amount. A defends the suit, having
reasonable grounds for doing so, but is compelled to pay the amount of the debt with
costs. He can recover from B the amount paid by him for costs, as well as the
principal debt.

(ii) A guarantees to C, to the extent of 2000 rupees, payment for rice to be supplied
by C to B. C supplies rice to a less amount than 2000 rupees, but obtains from A
payment of the sum of 2,000 rupees in respect of the rice supplied. A cannot recover
from B more than the price of the rice actually supplied.

2. Rights of the surety against the creditor

A surety is entitled to the benefit of every security which the creditor has against the
debtor at the time when the contract of suretyship is entered into, whether the surety
knows of the existence of such security or not and if the creditor loses or without the
consent of the surety parts with such security, the surety is discharged to the extent
of the value of the security (Sec. 141). But a surety, however, cannot claim the
benefit of the securities only on the payment of a part of the debt.

3. Right against co-sureties

When two or more persons stand as sureties for the same debt or obligation they are
termed as co-sureties. The position of co-sureties is as follows.

Co-sureties liable to contribute equally (Sec. 146):

Where two or more persons are co-sureties for the same debt or duty, either jointly
or severally, and whether under the same or different contract, and whether with or
without the knowledge of each other, the co-sureties in the absence of any contract
to the contrary, are liable, as between themselves, to pay each an equal share of the
whole debt, or of that part of it which remains unpaid by the principal debtor.

Example: A, B and C are sureties to D for the sum of 3,000 rupees lent to E.E makes
default in payment. A, B and C are liable, as between themselves, to pay 1,000
rupees each.

Liability of co-sureties bound in different sums (Sec. 147)

Co-sureties who are bound in different sums are liable to pay equally as far as the
limits to their respective obligations permit.

Example: (i) A, B and C, as sureties for D, enter into three several bonds, each in a
different penalty, namely, A in the penalty of 10,000 rupees, B in that of 20,000
rupees, C in that of 40,000 rupees, conditoned for D’s duly accounting to E. D makes
default to the extent of 30,000 rupees. A, B and care each liable to pay 10,000 rupees.
(ii) A, B and C, as sureties for D, enter into three several bonds, each in a different
penalty, namely, A in the penalty of 10,000 rupees, B in that 20,000 rupees and C in
that of 40,000 rupees, conditioned for D’s duly accounting to E, D makes default to
the extent of 40,000 rupees. A is liable to pay 10,000 rupees, and B and C 15,000
rupees each7.

DEGREE OF LIABILITY OF SURETY

Section 128 of the Act states the liability of the surety. In Industrial Finance
Corporation of India Ltd. v. Cannonore Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd8, (12 April,
2002) states that contract of guarantee does not provide any contra note regarding
the liability of the surety which can create an exception within the meaning of
Section 128.

Section 141 of the Indian Contract Act states that when a contract of suretyship is
entered surety is entitled to benefit every security that the creditor has against the
principal debtor. Surety will be liable even though the principal’s contract is void.
Liability of sureties and principal debtor is co-extensive. A continuing guarantee can
be revoked by the surety in relation to future transactions by notice to the creditor.
Revocation can also occur with the death of surety. It is explained under Section
130, 131 of the Act. If there is any changes that happens to the original contract
between the principal debtor and creditor then surety is automatically discharged.
The surety is also discharged if the principal debtor is released. If one co-surety is
discharged it does not discharge/set free the other surety from his responsibility.

7
https://sol.du.ac.in/mod/book/view.php?id=644&chapterid=372
8
In Industrial Finance Corporation of India Ltd. v. Cannonore Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd Civil Appeal No. 3239 of
1995
Surety is entitled to recover from principal debtor the sums that he has rightfully
paid under the guarantee but not entitled to sums that he has paid wrongly9.

The degree of surety’s liability can be further described as:

Co – extensive: section 128 of the Indian contract act, 1872 deals with the nature
of the liability of the surety. According to this section, “the liability of surety is
coextensive with that of the principal debtor, unless it is otherwise provided in the
contract.” The expression co-extensive shows the maximum extent of surety’s
liability. Surety is liable for whole of the amount for which the principal debtor is
liable. So, in extent, surety’s liability is at par with principal debtor’s liability. It is
neither more or less.

Surety’s right to limit his liability: although, the liability of the surety is co-
extensive with that of principal debtor, he may limit his liability. He may expressly
declare his guarantee to be limited to a fixed amount. In other words the liability of
a surety can be made less by a special contract but his liability cannot be made
greater than that of the principal debtor.

Surety’s liability arises immediately on the default of the principal debtor:

surety’s liability is secondary and not primary. The surety’s liability arises
immediately on default of the principal debtor. He cannot be called upon to pay
unless the principal debtor has committed the default but in case of default by the
principal debtor the creditor is not required to give a notice of default to surety.
Creditor is not bound to proceed first against the principal debtor before suing the
surety unless the contract so provides.

Surety’s liability where the original contract between the creditor and the
principal debtor is void or voidable: the contract between the surety and the

9
Supra note 6
creditor is an independent contract. Thus where the original contract between the
creditor and principal debtor is void the surety will be liable as if he is the principal
debtor. Similarly, where the contract between the creditor and the principal is
voidable, the surety may not be discharged from liability.10

DISCHARGE OF SURETY:

Surety will be discharged from his liability in the following cases:

1. By notice or death (Secs. 130 & 131):

A contract of continuing gurantee may be terminated at any time by notice to the

creditor. The death of the surety brings an end to continuing gurantee. No notice of
death need to given to the creditor. The surety will not be responsible for acts done
after his death.

2. Variations in terms of the original contract between the principal debtor and the
creditor (Sec. 133):

If the contract between the creditor and the principal debtor is materially altered
without the consent of the surety, the surety is discharged as to transactions
subsequent for the alteration.

Example (i): A becomes surety to C for B’s conduct as a manager in C’s bank.
Afterwards, B and C contract, without A’s consent that B’s salary shall be raised,
and that he shall become liable for one-fourth of the losses on overdrafts B. allows
a customer to overdraw, and the bank loses a sum of money. A is discharged from

10
https://www.owlgen.com/question/what-is-the-extent-and-nature-of-suretys-liability
his suretyship by the variance made without the consent, and is not liable to make
good this loss.

(ii) C contracts to lend B Rs. 5,000 on first March. A guarantees repayment. C pays
the amount to B on first January. A is discharged from the liability, as the contract
has been varied in as much as C might sue B for the money before the 1st March.

3. By release or discharge of the principal debtor (Sec. 134).

The surety is discharged by any contract between in creditor and the principal debtor,
by which the principal debtor is released or by any act or omission of the creditor,
the legal consequence of which is the discharge of a surety on one agreement will
not release the other surety bound for the same debtor by a separate agreement from
his engagement, unless the effect of such release is to adversly affect the others right
to contribution.

Example (i) : A gives a gurantee to C for goods to be supplied by C to B. C supplies

goods to B, and afterwards B becomes embrassed and contracts with his credtiors
(including C) to assign to them his property in consideration of their releasing him
from their demands. Here B is released from his debt by the contract with C, and A
is discharged from his suretyship.

(ii) A contracts with B fro to grow crop of indigo on his (A’s) land and to deliver it
to B at a fixed rate. C guarantees A’s performance of his contract. B diverts a stream
of water which is necessary for irrigation of A’s land and thereby prevents him from
raising the indigo. C is no longer liable on his guarantee.
4. Compounding by creditor with the principal debtor (Sec. 135).

A contract between the creditor and the principal debtor by which the creditor makes
a composition with, or promise to give time to, or not sue to the principal debtor
discharges the surety unless the surety assents to such contract.

But where a contract to give time to the principal debtor is made by the creditor with
a third person, and not with the principal debtor, the surety is not discharged (Sec.
136).

Example: C, the holder of an overdue bill of exchange drawn by as surety for & and
accepted by B, contracts with A to give time to B, is not discharged.

Similarly, mere forbearance on the part of the creditor to sue the principal debtor
within the limitation period or to enforce any other remedy against him does not in
the absence of any provision in the guarantee to the contrary discharge the surety
(Sec. 137).

Example: B, owes to C a debt guaranteed by A. The debt becomes payable. C does

not sue

B for a year after the debt has become payable. A is not discharged from the
suretyship.

Where there are co-sureties a release by the creditor of one of them does not
discharge the other;

neither does it free the surety so released from his responsibility to other sureties
(Sec. 138).
5. Creditor’s act or omission imparing surety’s eventual remedy (Sec. 139).

If the creditor does any act which is inconsistent with the rights of the surety, or
omits to do any act which his duty to the surety requires him to do, any the eventual
remedy of the surety himself against the principal debtor is thereby impaired, the
security is discharged.

Example: (i) B contracts to build a ship for C for a given sum to be paid by
instalments as the work reaches certain stages. A becomes surety to C for B’s
performance of the contract. C without the knowledge of A, prepays to B the last
two instalments. A is discharged by his pre-payments.

(ii) A puts M as apprentice to B, and gives a guarantee to B for M’s fidelity. B

promises on his part that he will, at least once a month, see M to make up the cash.
B omits to see M as promised, and M embezzles. A is not liable to B on his guarantee.

6. Loss of security (Sec. 141).

If the creditor losses on, without the consent of the surety, parts with any security
given to him at the time of the contract of guarantee, the surety is discharged from
liability to the extent of the value of security.

Example: C advances to B, his tenant rs. 2,000 on the guarantee of A. C has also
further a security of rs. 2,000 by a mortgage of B’s furniture. C cancels the mortgage.
B becomes insolvent, and C sues A on his guarantee. A is discharged from his
liability to the amount of the value of the furniture.
7. By invalidation of the contract of guarantee (Secs. 142, 143 and 144).

A contract of guarantee becomes invalid if guarantee was obtained by fraud or

concealment etc. about meterial facts as discussed before. Surety in such a case will
be discharged from his liability.