Which of the following best describes the meaning of ‘discharge of a contract by novation’?

Solution

A contract can be discharged either by agreement or by a breach. Novation is one way to discharge a contract by agreement and section 62 of the India Contract, 1872 Act gives expression to the doctrine of Novation. The substitution or replacement of an old contract with a new one is termed as Novation. It takes place with the consent and agreement of both the parties to a contract thus with the creation of new contractual obligations, the old ones are discharged. The doctrine of Novation exists to give expression to the concept that parties to a contract should be competent to add, subtract or vary the terms of the contract before its breach with the help of a new contract.