Section 85

Section 85 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, deals with the concept of estoppel in relation to the acceptor of a bill of exchange, a bailee, or an agent. Estoppel is a legal principle that prevents a party from denying or asserting something that is contrary to what they have previously stated or done, when such a statement or action has been relied upon by another party to their detriment. The section states that an acceptor of a bill of exchange, a bailee, or an agent who has done any act or made any admission which, but for such act or admission, the other party might have performed something which would have put the first party into a better position than they are in as a result of the act or admission, shall not be allowed to deny or assert the contrary. This provision aims to prevent parties from taking advantage of their own wrongs or inconsistencies and to ensure fairness and good faith in commercial transactions.