In Brief
The State of Madhya Pradesh contracted with a printer to supply booklets with strict time limits: half by 8 February 2008 and the rest by 25 February 2008, with an extension to 31 March 2008. The printer failed to meet these deadlines. On 22 May 2008, an official communication suggested acceptance of additional booklets, but this was cancelled on 30 January 2009. The High Court had ordered acceptance and payment. The Supreme Court set aside this judgment, holding that time was essential to the contract; once the deadline passed without performance, the order was automatically cancelled. The 22 May communication was palpably illegal and could be validly revoked. However, the Court ordered immediate payment for booklets that were actually supplied by the deadline.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.