Meaning of Acceptance
Any offer or proposal is put with the intention that the acceptance could be received as per its object or aim.
The ‘acceptance’ establishes the legal relations between the proposer and the acceptor. According to Sec. 2(b) of the Indian Contract Act, “When the person to whom the proposal is made, signifies his assent thereto, the proposal isnsaid to have been accepted.” The acceptance could be givennonly by that person before whom the proposal has beennmade. After the acceptance, the proposal becomes the ‘contract’. The person who proposes is known as the ‘proposer’ and the person accepting the same is known as the ‘acceptor’.
Example: ‘A’ offers to sell his book to ‘B’ for Rs. 200. ‘B’ accepted to purchase the book for Rs. 200. This is acceptance.
Who can Accept?
Acceptance can be made only by the
the offer is made or by his authorised agent. If it is made to a particular person, it can be accepted only by him and nobody else. If offer is made by ‘A’ to ‘B’, ‘C’ can not accept it. But if the offer is made to the public in general, any person can accept it, provided he has knowledge of the offer.
How acceptance is made?
The acceptance can be made expressly or impliedly.
When the acceptance is given by words, spoken or, written, it is called an express acceptance’. On the other hand, if the acceptance is given by performance of some act, it is called “implied acceptance”. When a person goes to a hotel and eats some food, it is implied that he will pay for it.