ABSTRACT
The concept of absurd, or ridiculous, contracts (contracts so outrageous or unrealistic, such as the sale of a soul, that their enforceability strains the most fundamental principles of contract law) are explored in respect to their legal, philosophical, and ethical aspects in the present paper. Through doctrinal, case law interpretation, and comparative Indian, UK, and US jurisprudential perspective, the paper addresses the limitations of private autonomy before public policy, morality, and rationality. In it, he has explored the legal provision of the Indian Contract Act specifically Section 10, 23, 25, and 56, and examined the manner in which courts differ between jest and serious intentions. The paper also explains the doctrines such as unconscionability, impossibility and public policy which the courts apply to indicate the absurd contracts and preserve the economy of the courts as well as the faith of the people in the court system. The research focuses on the reunion of law with satire, symbolism, and social customs by using the legal theory, cultural metaphors, and pop culture references. Finally, it suggests that even though the contractual freedom is a fundamental principle of the private law, the legal order should place principled restrictions on it to avoid the corruption of justice and to respect human dignity.
Bali, Aasmi, Can You Sell Your Soul? – The Enforceability of Ridiculous Contracts (June 12, 2025).
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