133Discharge of surety by variance in terms of contract
Any variance, made without the suretys consent, in the terms of the contract between the principal 1 [debtor] and the creditor, discharges the surety as to transactions subsequent to the variance.
Illustrations
(a) A becomes surety to C for B's conduct as a manager in C's bank. Afterwards, B and C contract, without A's consent, that B's salary shall be raised, and that he shall become liable for one-fourth of the losses on overdrafts. B allows a customer to overdraw, and the bank loses a sum of money. A is discharged from his suretyship by the variance made without his consent, and is not liable to make good this loss.
(b) A guarantees C against the misconduct of B in an office to which B is appointed by C, and of which the duties are defined by an Act of the Legislature. By a subsequent Act, the nature of the office is materially altered. Afterwards, B misconducts himself. A is discharged by the change from future liability under his guarantee, though the misconduct of B is in respect of a duty not affected by the later Act.
(c) C agrees to appoint B as his clerk to sell goods at a yearly salary, upon A's becoming surety to C for B's duly accounting for moneys received by him as such clerk. Afterwards, without As knowledge or consent, C and B agree that B should be paid by a commission on the goods sold by him and not by a fixed salary. A is not liable for subsequent misconduct of B.
(d) A gives to C a continuing guarantee to the extent of 3,000 rupees for any oil supplied by C to B on credit. Afterwards B becomes embarrassed, and, without the knowledge of A, B and C contract that C shall continue to supply B with oil for ready money, and that the payments shall be applied to the then, existing debts between B and C. A is not liable on his guarantee for any goods supplied after: this new arrangement.
(e) C contracts to lend B 5,000 rupees on the 1st March. A guarantees repayment. C pays the 5,000 rupees to B on the 1st January. A is discharged from his liability, as the contract has been varied, inasmuch as C might sue B for the money before the 1st of March.
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1. Ins. by Act 24 of 1917, s. 2 and the first Schedule.
- 124 "Contract of indemnity" define
- 125 Rights of indemnity-holder when sued
- 126 "Contract of guarantee", "surety", "principal debtor" and "creditor"
- 127 Consideration for guarantee
- 128 Surety's liability
- 129 "Continuing guarantee"
- 130 Revocation of continuing guarantee
- 131 Revocation of continuing guarantee by surety's death
- 132 Liability of two persons, primarily liable, not affected by arrangement between them that one shall be surety on others default
- 133 Discharge of surety by variance in terms of contract
- 134 Discharge of surety by release or discharge of principal debtor
- 135 Discharge of surety when creditor compounds with, gives time to, or agrees not to sue, principal debtor
- 136 Surety not discharged when agreement made with third person to give time to principal debtor
- 137 Creditor's forbearance to sue does not discharge surety
- 138 Release of one co-surety does not discharge others
- 139 Discharge of surety of creditor's act or omission impairing surety's eventual remedy
- 140 Rights of surety on payment or performance
- 141 Surety's right to benefit of creditor's securities
- 142 Guarantee obtained by misrepresentation invalid
- 143 Guarantee obtained by concealment invalid
- 144 Guarantee on contract that creditor shall not act on it until co-surety joins
- 145 Implied promise to indemnify surety
- 146 Co-sureties liable to contribute equally
- 147 Liability of co-sureties bound in different sums