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Friday, 13 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Specific Relief Act, 1963 · Chapter II: Specific Performance Of Contracts

Section 24 Specific Relief Act: Bar of suit for compensation for breach after dismissal of suit for specific performance

Bare Act text

24. Bar of suit for compensation for breach after dismissal of suit for specific performance.—The dismissal of a suit for specific performance of a contract or part thereof shall bar the plaintiff’s right to sue for compensation for the breach of such contract or part, as the case may be, but shall not bar his right to sue for any other relief to which he may be entitled, by reason of such breach. ENFORCEMENT OF AWARDS AND DIRECTIONS TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENTS

Text of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 (Act No. 47 of 1963), as amended up to the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Dismissal of a suit for specific performance of a contract, or part of it, bars a suit for compensation. The bar covers breach of that contract or part. It does not bar a suit for any other relief the plaintiff is entitled to because of the breach. So the bar is limited to compensation.

Chapter II: Specific Performance Of Contracts

  1. 9 Defences respecting suits for relief based on contract
  2. 10 Specific performance in respect of contracts
  3. 11 Cases in which specific performance of contracts connected with trusts enforceable
  4. 12 Specific performance of part of contract
  5. 13 Rights of purchaser or lessee against person with no title or imperfect title
  6. 14 Contracts not specifically enforceable
  7. 14A Power of court to engage experts
  8. 15 Who may obtain specific performance
  9. 16 Personal bars to relief
  10. 17 Contract to sell or let property by one who has no title, not specifically enforceable
  11. 18 Non-enforcement except with variation
  12. 19 Relief against parties and persons claiming under them by subsequent title
  13. 20 Substituted performance of contract
  14. 20A Special provisions for contract relating to infrastructure project
  15. 20B Special Courts
  16. 20C Expeditious disposal of suits
  17. 21 Power to award compensation in certain cases
  18. 22 Power to grant relief for possession, partition, refund of earnest money, etc
  19. 23 Liquidation of damages not a bar to specific performance
  20. 24 Bar of suit for compensation for breach after dismissal of suit for specific performance
  21. 25 Application of preceding sections to certain awards and testamentary directions to execute settlements