Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Legal Studies

Chapter

Topics of Law

Question:

Read the passage about facts of a decided case and answer the questions that follow.

A husband and wife went on leave to England and the wife fell ill in England. The doctor who treated the wife advised her to take full bed rest and remain in England in order to continue the treatment. The wife stayed in England. When the leave was over, the husband went to Ceylone where he was employed and promised to send a sum of $30 to the wife every month for her stay in England. He sent the amount for some time and later on due to differences and misunderstanding between them, the husband stopped sending the amount. The wife initiated action to recover the arrears due to her. The court dismissed it.

The sum of $30, promised by the husband to the wife for her stay in England will be considered _____________.

Options:

A contract as he is going back to Ceylone

An agreement as he promised to take care of his wife

A moral obligation only

An understanding between husband and wife

Correct Answer:

A moral obligation only

Explanation:

In a leading case Balfour v. Balfour (1919, 5 KB 571), the validity of an agreement entered between a husband and wife was in question. The husband and wife went on leave to England and the wife fell ill in England. The doctors who treated the wife advised her to take full bed rest and remain in England in order to continue the treatment. The wife stayed in England. When the leave was over, the husband went to Ceylone where he was employed and promised to send a sum of …30 to the wife every month for her stay in England. He sent the amount for some time and later on due to differences and misunderstanding between them, the husband stopped sending the amount. The wife initiated action to recover the arrears due to her. The Court dismissed it on the ground that the agreement entered into between the husband and wife was not a contract. The arrangement between the husband and wife was only a moral obligation and the parties never intended to create any legal relationship.