Legal Principle: A contract procured by coercion is bad under Indian Contract Act. Coercion is defined as committing or threatening to commit any act forbidden by Indian Penal Code. Attempt to commit suicide is an offence under Indian Penal Code. Factual Situation: A girl of 13, lost her husband and her husband’s relatives refused to have the husband’s corpse removed unless she adopted one child of their choice. It was held that the adoption was not binding on her as her consent was obtained under coercion within the meaning of Section 15 since any person who obstructed a dead body from being removed would be guilty of an offence under Section 297 of the Indian Penal Code. Issue: Is the adoption valid? Decision: