Amendments to the Specific Relief Act, 1963: Getting stalled projects going

Besides the "substituted performance", the Act provides for "specific performance" where the aggrieved party can seek court direction for execution of contractual obligation by the other party

Non-resolution of contractual disputes between a government body and a contractor or between two private contractors come in the way of completion projects many a time, making stalled projects a chronic problem in the country, especially in the infrastructure sector.

Though the mother legislation governing contracts is the Indian Contract Act, 1872, the Specific Relief Act of 1963 provides a mechanism to move on when disputes arise. This Act, which gives remedies for resolution of disputes, has been amended to widen the options available for seeking execution of contracts. For instance, Section 20 of the Specific Relief Act has been