Consensus ad idem: Definition and Meaning


Consensus ad idem has occasionally generated controversy. When signing contracts, many people don't read them well and don't comprehend the ideas they're agreeing to. These people can claim that because they weren't fully informed about the agreement before signing it, they are not responsible for any violations. It is also assumed in the legal community that signing a contract signifies that the signer has read, understood, and renegotiated any disadvantageous conditions; therefore, this defense might not be recognized.

What is Consensus ad idem?

The Latin phrase consensus ad idem translates to agreement. It is a phrase frequently used in contract law. In the end, it denotes that all contracting parties have reached a "meeting of the minds." Meeting of the minds primarily denotes a shared understanding of the terms of the contract. It says that parties must be aware of and accept the conditions of the contract.

  • As a result, the contract will not be enforceable if its terms are inherently ambiguous or confusing.

Consensus ad idem Under Contract Act

This phrase is very useful in Indian Contract Act for valid agreements because without valid agreement contract can not be formed so according so some provisions of contract act:

  • According to section 13 of Indian Contract Act: Section 13 of the Indian Contract Act deals with the parties' permission when making a contract. According to this provision, parties are considered to have consented to anything "when they agree upon the same thing in the same sense." The agreement shall be null and void if there is no consent at all. At the discretion of either party, it is not enforceable.

Case Laws

There are some important case laws as given below:

  • In Household Fire and Carriage Accident Insurance Co Ltd v. Grant (1879) 4 Ex D 216: According to Lord Justice Thesiger, "the thoughts of the parties should be brought together at one and the same moment for a legal contract to exist.

  • Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Company [1893] 1 QB 256: According to Bowen LJ, in order for two brains to cooperate, a person making an offer should be informed when it is accepted.

Conclusion

Consensus ad idem, or "meeting of the minds," is a common law principle that calls for full comprehension and acceptance of the obligations and conditions set forth in the contract by both parties. Coercion, undue influence, fraud, deception, and mistake all void consent in accordance with the Contracts Act of 1950. According to Shariah, the primary component of a contract is consent, or redha. Depending on how severely the permission of the contracting parties has been vitiated, a contract signed without their consent is either void or can be declared invalid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an example of a consensus ad idem?

Ans: The Latin phrase "consensus ad idem" denotes a consensus of opinion or an agreement between parties on a subject. Consensus in idem, placitum et conventio, and other variations of these names are also used to refer to it. For instance, two parties have formed a consensus ad idem when they decide to buy and sell an automobile at a particular price.

Q: What is consensus ad idem and free consent?

Ans: Consensus−ad−idem, or "meeting of minds," is the underlying idea behind the concept of free consent. When two parties have the same understanding and agree on the same issue, this is known as consensus ad idem.

Q: What is consensus vs consent?

Ans: While "consent" only denotes that no one is actively against the decision, "consensus" indicates that everyone is in favor of it.

Updated on: 14-Nov-2023

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