Question:medium

Acceptance sent through post:

Updated On: Jul 13, 2026
  • can be revoked at any time
  • cannot be revoked at all
  • can be revoked before it comes to the knowledge of the offeror
  • can be revoked only if it does not reach the offeror
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Postal communication in the Indian Contract Act runs on two different clocks, one for the offeror and one for the acceptor, and mixing them up is what makes this kind of question tricky. Section 4 fixes both clocks precisely.

  1. Can be revoked at any time: the acceptor's right to revoke has a clear cut-off, once the offeror actually learns of the acceptance, the deal is sealed, so at any time overstates the rule.
  2. Cannot be revoked at all: this treats posting the acceptance as final and irreversible for the acceptor too, but the Act only makes it final for the offeror, not for the acceptor.
  3. Can be revoked before it comes to the knowledge of the offeror: for the offeror, the acceptance is binding the moment it is posted, but for the acceptor, it only becomes binding once the offeror comes to know of it, so between posting and the offeror's knowledge, the acceptor still holds the power to pull it back.
  4. Can be revoked only if it does not reach the offeror: this wrongly ties revocation to whether the letter physically arrives. The real trigger under Section 4 is the offeror's knowledge, which is why a faster telegram of revocation reaching before the acceptance letter is opened works, even if the acceptance letter arrives later.

Keeping the two clocks straight, posting completes it for the offeror, knowledge completes it for the acceptor, shows that revocation stays open only until the offeror's knowledge.

The correct answer is can be revoked before it comes to the knowledge of the offeror.

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