History of the Doctrine of Consideration

It is the presence of consideration which distinguishes a contract from a bare agreement. In fact the doctrine of consideration has been incorporated in Section 25 of the Indian Contract Act. Section 2(d) of the Act reads : " When at the desire of the promisor , the promisee or any other person has done or abstained from doing or promised to do or abstain from doing anything , such act or abstinance or promise is called a consideration for the promise."
The doctrine of course has its roots in the early common law. A study of its history would reveal that the personal actions of covenant a…