AGREEMENTS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE, EMPLOYMENT AND PROFESSION
Section 27 of INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872, declares agreements by which any one is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade or business of any kind as void.
An exception is provided while selling of goodwill of a business. Accordingly one who sells the good-will of a business may agree with the buyer to refrain from carrying on a similar business, within specified local limits; so long as the buyer, or any person deriving title to the good-will from him, carries on a like business therein, provided that such limits appear to the Court reasonable, regard being had to the nature of the business.
The Supreme court has in Superintendence Company of India ( P ) Ltd . vs . Sh . Krishan Murgai reported in AIR 1980 SC 1717, held that post service restraints are void under section 27 of the Indian Contract Act. In the given case there was a negative covenant not to serve anywhere else or enter into competitive business in similar lines. Supreme Court held that restriction contained is restraint of trade and therefore illegal and unenforceable under Section 27.
In Niranjan Shankar Golikari vs. The Century Spinning and Mfg . Co . Ltd , reported in AIR 1967 SC 1098, Supreme court has held that negative covenants which are operative during period of contract do not fall under Section 27.
In VV Sivaram and Ors . vs . Foseco India Limited reported in 2006(1)Kar LJ 386, Karnataka high court held that disclosure of confidential information after cessation of employment by an employee can be restrained and the same is not hit by section 27 of the Indian Contract Act..