Contracts and Agreements : Unilateral Contracts and the Legal Principles

Contracts and Agreements : Unilateral Contracts and the Legal Principles 

The decision of Alka Bose v. Parmatma Devi [2008] GCtR 5672 (SC) states : "Unilateral contract refers to a gratuitous promise where only party makes a promise without a return promise." 

Unilateral contract is explained thus by John D. Calamari & Joseph M. Perillo in The Law of Contracts (4th Edition Para 2-10(a) at pages 64-65):

“If A says to B, ‘If you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge I will pay you $ 100,’ A has made a promise but has not asked B for a return promise. A has asked B to perform, not a commitment to perform. A has thus made an offer looking to a unilateral contract. B cannot accept this offer by promising to walk the bridge. B must accept, if at all, by performing the act. Because no return promise is requested, at no point is B bound to perform. If B does perform, a contract involving two parties is created, but the contract is classified as unilateral because only one party is ever under an obligation.”