Civil Law (I)

LAHORE HIGH COURT, LAHORE Competitive Examination for the Post of Civil Judges-cum-Magistrates - Spring 2026 PAPER-I CIVIL LAW (I) [Subjective-Questions] TIME ALLOWED: 02 hours 30 minutes MARKS: 75 Instructions: • Subjective question paper comprises of Part-II & Part-III. • Part-II contains six questions and only three must be attempted – each question has 20 marks. • Part-III contains two questions and only one must be attempted – each question has 15 marks. Part-II 1. A makes an advertisement in newspaper 'the DAWN' offering that he will pay Rs.5,000/- to anyone who returns his lost passport. C finds the passport and returns it to A, but he was unaware of the advertisement at that point in time. C later discovers about advertisement and claims reward. Discuss and cite relevant provisions of Contract Act to support answers, where required: a) Whether a valid and enforceable contract exists between A and C? b) Can C successfully claim the reward? c) What if C had read the advertisement but returned the passport without intending to accept the offer? 2. A promises to pay his old employee, B, a monthly pension after employee's retirement, in recognition of B's 30 years of service. After paying pension for two months, A's legal heirs refuse further payment after A's death, arguing that there was no valid consideration for the promise, i.e., payment of monthly pension. Discuss and cite case law to substantiate answers: a) Is there a valid and enforceable contract that obligates the heirs of A? b) Does past service constitutes a valid consideration under the Contract Act? c) Examine any applicable exceptions under section 25 of the Contract Act. 3. In January 2025, A, the builder, contracts to construct a commercial building, complete in all respects, for a client, by December 2025. In July 2025, the builder clearly communicates that he will not be able to complete the construction work. The Client immediately sues for damages in August 2025, even though the deadline has not yet passed. Answer following question(s) in the context of aforesaid scenario: a) Can the client rescind the contract immediately? b) Is the suit premature in the context of accrual of cause of action? c) What are the rights of the promisee in case of anticipatory breach? d) What should be the terminus a qua for the purposes of determining damages; is it July, when breach was communicated or December when performance was due? 4. A classical musician contracts to perform at a private concert hall on a specific date for a fee of Rs.500,000. Two weeks before the event, the concert hall is destroyed as a consequence of an accidental fire. The hall owner, who had sold tickets for the event, demands compensation for the loss of the event, while musician claims automatic discharge from the contract. a) Discuss doctrine of supervening impossibility under section 56 of the Contract Act. b) Is the contract void or merely suspended? c) Whether ticket purchasers are entitled to reimbursement and if so, who, of the two, bears liability for the loss? d) How do courts distinguish between absolute and practical impossibility.