Indian Contract Act, 1872
134. Discharge of surety by release or
discharge of principal debtor
The surety is discharged by any contract between the creditor
and the principal debtor, by which the principal debtor is released, or by any
act or omission of the creditor, the legal consequence of which is the
discharge of the principal debtor.
Illustrations
(a) A gives a guarantee to C for goods to be supplied by C to B.
C supplies goods to B, and afterwards B becomes embarrassed and contracts with
his creditors (including C) to assign to them his property in consideration of
their releasing him from their demands. Here B is released from his debt by the
contracts with C, and A is discharged from his suretyship.
(b) A contracts with B to grow a crop of indigo on A's land and
to deliver to B at a fixed rate, and C guarantees A's performance of this
contract. B diverts a stream of water which is necessary for the irrigation of
A's land , and thereby prevents him from raising the indigo. C is no longer liable
on his guarantee.
(c) A contracts with B for a fixed price to build a house for B
within a stipulated time. B supplying the necessary timber. C guarantees A's
performance of the contracts. B omits to supply the timber. C is discharged
from his' suretyship.