---
title: "Void vs voidable contract; general conditions"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:void-voidable-general-conditions"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/void-voidable-general-conditions
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Void vs voidable contract; general conditions

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 4: Contract Management

- Asked in: 2069 Bhadra, 2+3 marks
- Video: [Indian Contract Act | Part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t96A1DrsZTw) — Priya Jain
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/void-voidable-general-conditions
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-4

## Question

Elaborate the differences between void and voidable contract. Explain briefly about general conditions of contract and its essential contents.

## Short answer

A void contract is unenforceable from the start due to illegality or no lawful consideration, and neither party can enforce it. A voidable contract is valid until the injured party cancels it for coercion, fraud or misrepresentation. General conditions are standard terms covering definitions, duties, securities, time, payment, quality, force majeure, termination and dispute resolution.

## Answer

#### Void vs voidable contract
| Basis | Void contract | Voidable contract |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Not enforceable by law from the start (or becomes so) | Valid until one party cancels it |
| Cause | Illegal object, no lawful consideration, incompetent party, impossibility | Consent obtained by coercion, fraud, undue influence, misrepresentation |
| Who can act | Neither party can enforce | Only the injured party can cancel it |
| Legal effect | No legal rights or duties | Valid if the party does not cancel or ratifies |
| Example | Contract to smuggle goods | Contract signed under threat |

#### General conditions of contract (GCC)
The **General Conditions of Contract** are the standard terms and conditions that apply to all contracts of a given type (for example, works). They are fixed in advance in the standard bidding documents (PPMO standard documents in Nepal; FIDIC-type), and are modified for a particular project by the **Particular (Special) Conditions**.

#### Essential contents
1. Definitions and interpretation; contract documents and priority.
2. Rights and duties of employer, contractor and engineer.
3. Securities (performance security), insurance and indemnity.
4. Time for completion, extension of time, delay and liquidated damages.
5. Payment, price adjustment, retention, variation orders.
6. Quality, testing, defects liability period.
7. Force majeure.
8. Suspension, termination and default.
9. Dispute resolution (engineer's decision, adjudication, arbitration), governing law, notices.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. A void contract is:
   A. Valid until cancelled
   B. Enforceable by one party
   C. Always written
   D. Not enforceable by law from the start
   Answer: D. Example: contract to smuggle goods. (Key point: Void)

2. A voidable contract can be cancelled by:
   A. The injured party whose consent was defective
   B. Either party
   C. Neither
   D. The court only
   Answer: A. It is valid until cancelled. (Key point: Voidable)

3. How are GCC modified for a project?
   A. By the bidder alone
   B. By Particular (Special) Conditions
   C. By verbal order
   D. They cannot
   Answer: B. GCC are standard terms fixed in standard bidding documents. (Key point: GCC)

## Related in Engineering Professional Practice

- [Contract and its essential elements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acontract-valid-essential-elements) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Short note: General condition of contract](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Ashort-note-general-condition-contract) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 4
- [Contract, tendering process, agreement](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acontract-tendering-agreement-elements) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 4
- [Tender purpose and tender notice contents](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Atender-purpose-notice-info) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 4

## Related in other subjects

- [Contract, essential elements and importance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acontract-elements-importance) — Construction Management, chapter 5
- [Essential and natural boundary conditions](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ffinite_element_method%3Aessential-natural-boundary-conditions) — Finite Element Method, chapter 2
- [General vs one-class CF](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ageneral-vs-one-class-cf) — Information System, chapter 7
- [Binomial vs negative binomial differences](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fprobability_and_statistics%3Anb-vs-binomial-diff-similarities) — Probability and Statistics, chapter 2, asked 4×