INTRODUCTION

Imagine you are doing a real estate transaction in your city. What if the ownership could be transferred to you immediately without any need for intermediaries? The deal is executed immediately when conditions are met. This setup would eliminate delays, fraud, and disputes. This is not an idealistic situation, but a developing future. Blockchain technology and smart contracts are emerging as groundbreaking innovations that can redefine traditional contract law, which relied on manual processes, intermediaries, and centralised authorities for enforcement and compliance. 

The concept of smart contracts was first proposed by computer scientist Nick Szabo in 1990s. He envisioned self-executing agreements where terms can be embedded into code. His work laid the foundation for legal contracts through digital means, which enhanced security. 

This blog explores how blockchain and smart contracts are transforming contract law in India, the benefits attached, and the challenges they come with. 

UNDERSTANDING BLOCKCHAIN AND SMART CONTRACTS

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralised and immutable digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. All participants can view the transactions in real time. They also enhance security by making the data tamper-proof. It eliminates the need for intermediaries like banks or notaries. 

‘Block’ is a set of information. Every transaction on a network stores some amount of data in each block and when a block is filled, it is closed. New data is then stored in a new block. In this way a chain of blocks is formed which is called a blockchain. 

What are Smart Contracts? 

Smart Contracts are self-executing agreements coded on blockchains such as Ethereum. They automate enforcement using “if/when this, then this” logic. Nick Szabo gave the analogy of a vending machine that “if/when someone inserts money and enters a certain command on the machine, then the product corresponding with the command will automatically be dispensed by the machine, and thus successfully concludes the contract.” 

Key features of smart contracts are:

1. They are automatically executed when conditions are met. 
2. They cannot be altered once they are made
3. They reduce intermediaries and save time. 

In the Indian context, Smart Contracts comply with Indian Contract Act, 1872 as the criteria of offer, acceptance, and consideration are met, but they lack formal legal recognition. 

ADVANTAGES OF SMART CONTRACTS

The integration of contracts and blockchain offers significant benefits. They are as follows:

1. Automation and efficiency: 

Smart Contracts execute actions automatically when the required conditions are met, thus they eliminate the need for manual intervention. The automation speeds up the contract procedure and reduces the possibility of errors, which increases the efficiency of the process

2. Transparency and trust:

Smart contracts operate on blockchain technology and thus provide a transparent and immutable record of all contractual actions. This transparency increases trust among parties, as all stakeholders have access to the same information regarding the contract’s terms and execution.

3.  Cost reduction:

Smart contracts remove the intermediaries and automate the process, and therefore, they reduce the cost involved in the transaction. 

4. Increased security:

Smart contracts use cryptographic techniques and decentralised networks to ensure security and resistance to tampering. The code of smart contracts is immutable and therefore reduce the risk of fraud. 

5. Reduced Disputes: 

The clarity and precision of smart contracts minimize ambiguities in contractual terms, leading to fewer disputes. The automated enforcement of agreed-upon terms ensures that obligations are met as specified, reducing the likelihood of litigation.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SMART CONTRACTS AND TRADITIONAL CONTRACTS

Feature	Traditional Contracts	Smart Contracts
Enforcement	Courts and lawyers are required	Self-executing through codes
Speed	Weeks to months	Minutes to seconds
Cost	High (Court fees, legal fees)	Low (No intermediaries)
Transparency	Limited access to terms	Fully auditable on blockchain

LEGAL CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS

While the benefits of smart contracts cannot be denied but at the same time, there is a need to be aware of the challenges associated with smart contracts. Some challenges associated are listed as follows;

1. Jurisdictional ambiguities: 

Smart contracts often include parties from multiple jurisdictions. The global nature of the same complicates what laws should be applied and which forum is appropriate for dispute resolution. The absence of clear jurisdictional guidelines can lead to uncertainties for the parties. 

2. Enforceability and legal recognition

For a contract to be legally enforceable, it needs to meet certain criteria mandated by the jurisdictional law. Smart contracts are code-based and hence may lack explicit consent, which is mandated in traditional contract law. This raises concerns about whether the party has fully understood the terms encoded in the smart contract. 

3. Immutability

Smart contracts are immutable, that is, they cannot be changed once recorded. While this feature helps in keeping the integrity of the transaction intact, it raises challenges when parties to the contract may wish to change or terminate a clause. One such case could be when the performance of the contract is rendered void because the object of the contract has been declared as illegal by the government, but the contract would still be executed by blockchain technology, as once it is fed, it cannot be changed in line with changing legality. 

4. Liability

If a smart contract malfunctions or reaches an undesirable outcome, determining liability will get complicated. If a coding error leads to financial loss, it will be hard to pin down liability, whether it is the developer who wrote the code or the platform hosting the contract. Since smart contracts are decentralised, there is no central authority to hold liable. 

5. Data privacy

Smart contracts often involve the processing and storage of personal data on public blockchains, which can come into conflict with data protection laws. ‘Right to erasure’ may not be complied with as the blockchain is immutable. 

6. REAL WORLD APPLICATION OF SMART CONTRACTS (CASE STUDIES)

There are many ways in which smart contracts can potentially be used. 

JP Morgan: In the financial sector, smart contracts streamline the contract procedure, such as international payments and insurance claims. JP Morgan uses Quoram which is a version of Ethereum. They use it to streamline their financial operations. 

Santander’s One Pay FX: It is a blockchain-based international payment service. It uses smart contracts for the accuracy of transactions and for the security of the same. Therefore, Santander customers experience faster and cheaper international payments compared to traditional banking methods.

Propy: It is a real estate global platform and utilises blockchain and smart contracts to do its property transactions. By automating the transaction process, Propy ensures transparency, security, and efficiency. Buyers and sellers can complete transactions online without the need for intermediaries, significantly reducing costs and time. 

IBM Food Trust: It uses a blockchain-based platform to increase traceability in the food supply chain. It records every step of the supply chain in blockchains. This ensures the safety of food products. 

OpenLaw: It is a blockchain-based platform that uses smart contracts to automate legal agreements. It creates self-executing contracts. Lawyers can draft, negotiate, and execute contracts on the platform. 

THE FUTURE OF SMART CONTRACTS IN INDIA

Blockchain and smart contracts are shaping the foundations of contract law in India. These contracts offer substantial benefits such as reduced delays, lower transaction costs, and tamper-proof transparency, etc. 

However, the current Indian legal framework does not provide for any specific provisions for blockchain-based agreements, but smart contracts fulfil principles of Contract Act, 1872 such as offer, acceptance, consideration, and free consent. 

The Information Technology Act, 2000 validates electronic contracts and thus offers a way forward for these smart contracts. Section 10A recognizes agreements formed through electronic means. But there is still a gap. Smart contracts rely on cryptographic keys rather than digital signatures as mandated the IT Act. This discrepancy raises questions about their legal standing in Indian courts. 

Despite these indicators, regulatory uncertainty persists. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained a cautious stance toward cryptocurrencies, which are often integral to smart contract execution. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) now covers Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), but its focus on anti-money laundering does little to clarify smart contracts’ contractual validity. Indian regulations have to adapt themselves to accommodate smart contract. 

CONCLUSION

Blockchain technology and smart contracts are changing the landscape of contract law. By automating contract execution, enhancing transparency, and reducing reliance on intermediaries, these technologies offer significant advantages over traditional contractual processes. Various industries benefit from it. 

However, the integration of smart contracts in today’s world comes with its share of challenges as highlighted before. The way forward includes thinking of solutions that combines the strengths of traditional contracts with the efficiency of smart contracts. This will demand collaboration from legal professionals and technologists. As the legal industry adapts to these changes, embracing the potential of blockchain and smart contracts will be essential for fostering innovation and maintaining the integrity of contractual agreements in the digital age.

AUTHOR: SARGUN SINGH

REFERENCES

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