Undertaking
Also called: undertaking letter
A written promise to do or not do something, given to a court, an authority or another party. Breaking an undertaking given to a court can be punished as contempt.
An undertaking is a formal promise. An employee may undertake to return company property; a parent may undertake that a child will follow college rules; a party to a case may undertake to the court not to sell a property until the case is decided.
Undertakings to a court
An undertaking given to a court, in writing or recorded in an order, is treated like an order. Wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court is civil contempt under Section 2(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and can lead to a fine or imprisonment.
Undertakings to others
An undertaking to an employer, a college or a bank is a promise that may be enforced like any other contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872, if it meets the requirements of a valid contract, or may simply be a condition for getting something (admission, a loan, a duplicate document).
- Say exactly what you promise, and by when.
- Avoid promising what is outside your control.
- Keep a copy, and ask for a receipt when you submit it.
Think before you promise
Do not give an undertaking to a court casually to get an adjournment or interim relief. If you cannot keep it, you face contempt proceedings.
Draft an undertaking letter; for statements of fact, an affidavit is used instead.
Checked against the sources below on 7 November 2026 IST. General information about Indian law, not legal advice for your case.