--- title: "State-Wise Applicability of ‘Force Majeure’ Clauses in India Amidst Outbreak of Covid-19" date: 2020-03-29 author: "Abhishek Bagga" url: https://ksandk.com/corporate/india-force-majeure-state-wise/ --- # State-Wise Applicability of ‘Force Majeure’ Clauses in India Amidst Outbreak of Covid-19 Posted On - 29 March, 2020 • By - Abhishek Bagga ![India Force Majeure State Wise](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/Force-majeure-clauses-abhishek-Gaurav-e1585298600277.jpg) ### India Force Majeure State Wise Non-performing parties in a contract may rely on the applicable provision of *‘Force Majeure’*(a French phrase that literally translates to “superior force”) and/or the common law doctrine of frustration to avoid liability for what would otherwise amount to a breach of contract. This legal update lists down the date of applicability of such clauses in India amidst the outbreak of COVID-19. Given the unprecedented nature of the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 and/or the response of the governments across the globe, it is highly probable that COVID-19 would constitute a *force majeure* event under many contracts having such clauses. In India, several State Governments and the Central Government have imposed travel restrictions, mandated quarantines, and/or has closed borders and business operations, in order to contain/restrict further spread. These orders/circulars/notifications will come in effect from a specific date which differs from state to state. The said dates specify the applicability of such *‘Force Majeure’*clauses which comes in effect from the same date of the enforcement of such orders/circulars/notifications. In the light of the recent announcement dated 24-03-2020 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India declaring three-week nationwide lockdown starting midnight of 24-03-2020 and the subsequent order dated 24-03-2020 vide No.40-3/2020-Dm-I(A) passed by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, we are receiving several queries pertaining to the enforceability of *‘Force majeure’* clauses in contracts and the specific date of their applicability. In response to the same, we have prepared a list of dates in all the States and Union Territories pertaining to the applicability of the *‘Force Majeure’* clauses in India.  **STATE-WISE LIST AND DATES ALONG WITH NOTIFICATION/ORDER/OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE** | **S.NO.** | **STATE** | **ORDER/CIRCULAR/NOTIFICATION** | **DATE OF APPLICABILITY** **(with effect from)** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **1.   ** | Andhra Pradesh | Government Order dated 24-03-2020 vide Roc No.3390411/2020-M3 | 24-03-2020 | | **2.    ** | Arunachal Pradesh | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No. Secy (H&FW)/5/1/2020 | 23-03-2020 | | **3.     ** | Assam | Government Order dated 23-03-2020 vide No. HLA/248/2020/35 | 24-03-2020 | | **4.    ** | Bihar | Government Memorandum dated 22-03-2020 vide Memorandum No. 115 (HS) / Patna  | 22-03-2020 | | **5.   ** | Chhattisgarh | Government Order dated 21-03-2020 vide Order No. 127/S.Sa.Pr.V/2020 | 21-03-2020 | | **6.    ** | Goa | Order of the District Magistrate, North Goa dated 22-03-2020 vide No.8/8/2020-MAG/L&O (Vol.I)/975 (For North Goa) | 23-03-2020 | | | Order of the Collector & District Magistrate, South Goa dated 22-03-2020 vide No.37/19/2020/L&O/MAG/3169 | 23-03-2020 | | **7.   ** | Gujarat | Circular dated 21-03-2020 No. 11/NCV/102020/S.F.S.1-G/ and (For Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara including Gandhinagar and Kutch) | 21-03-2020 | | | Order dated 22-03-2020 vide Office order no. AMC/MC/02 (For the city of Ahmedabad,) | 22-03-2020 | | | Press release dated 22-03-2020 (For all other cities) | 23-03-2020 | | **8.     ** | Haryana | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide Endst. No. 81-90/COVID/2020 | 22-03-2020 | | **9.     ** | Himachal Pradesh | Government Order dated 23-03-2020 vide No. HFW-A-A (3)1/2020 | 23-03-2020 | | **10.  ** | Jharkhand | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No.98/HSN | 22-03-2020 | | **11.  ** | Karnataka | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No.DD/SSU/COVID-19/17/19-20 (For revenue districts of Bangalore Urban including BBMP area, Bangalore Rural, Kalaburgi, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru, Madikeri, Dharwad, Mangaluru and Belagavi) | 23-03-2020 | | | *For all other districts and cities | 25-03-2020 | | **12.  ** | Kerala | Government Order dated 23-03-2020 vide G.O.(Ms) No. 49/2020/GAD | 23-03-2020 | | **13.  ** | Madhya Pradesh | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No./38(B)/ACS/GAD/2020 | 22-03-2020 | | **14.  ** | Maharashtra | Government Order dated 23-03-2020 vide No. DMU/2020/CR. 92/DisM-1 | 23-03-2020 | | **15.  ** | Manipur | Press release dated 23-03-2020 vide BP/YG/APO(P) | 23-03-2020 | | **16.  ** | Meghalaya | Press release dated 22-03-2020 | 22-03-2020 | | **17.  ** | Mizoram | Government Order dated 21-03-2020 vide No. PHQ/IGP(L&O)/73/COVID-19/2020 | 22-03-2020 | | **18.  ** | Nagaland | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No. CSO/GAB-I/COM/GEN-1/2020 | 23-03-2020 | | **19.  ** | Odisha | Government Order dated 21-03-2020 vide No.8709  (For Revenue Districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapada, Angul and the municipal jurisdiction of Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jaipur, Jaipur Road and Bhadrak) | 22-03-2020 | | | *For all other districts and cities | 25-03-2020 | | **20.  ** | Punjab | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No.14/7/2020-4HB-IV/941 | 22-03-2020 | | **21.  ** | Rajasthan | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No.F.1(1)M&H/Gr.2/2020 | 22-03-2020 | | **22.  ** | Sikkim | Notification dated 16-03-2020 vide No. 14/Home/2020 | 17-03-2020 | | **23.  ** | Tamil Nadu | Government Order dated 23-03-2020 vide G.O.(Ms). No.152 | 24-03-2020 | | **24.  ** | Telangana | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide G.O.Ms.N.45 | 22-03-2020 | | **25.  ** | Tripura | Government Order dated 24-03-2020 vide No. F.2(1)/CS/GA(P&T)/2020 | 24-03-2020 | | **26.  ** | Uttar Pradesh | Government Order vide Order No.  /A.C.S/2020 For Districts of Agra, LucknowGautambuddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Varanasi, LakhimpurKheiri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Kanpur, Meerut, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Aligarh, Saharanpur. | 23-03-2020 | | | *For all other districts and cities | 25-03-2020 | | **27.  ** | Uttarakhand | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No.UKH&WS/PS-MDNHM/2019-20/217 | 22-03-2020 | | **28.  ** | West Bengal | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No. H & FW /120/20 | 23-03-2020 | *As per the order dated 24-03-2020 vide No.40-3/2020-Dm-I(A) passed by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. | **S.NO.** | **UNION TERRITORY** | **NOTIFICATION/CIRCULAR/ORDER** | **DATE OF APPLICABILITY OF Force Majeure Clause** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **1.    ** | Andaman and Nicobar Island | Order dated 19-03-2020 vide Order No.412 | 20-03-2020 | | **2.     ** | Chandigarh | Administration Order dated 22-03-2020 vide Endst. No. F-2071/F-II(6)-2020 | 23-03-2020 | | **3.     ** | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Administration Order dated 23-03-2020 vide No.DMHS/COVID-19/2020/2634 | 23-03-2020 | | **4.     ** | The Government of NCT of Delhi | Government Order dated 22-03-2020 vide No. F.51/DGHS/PH-IV/COVID-19/2020/prsecyhfw/ | 22-03-2020 | | **5.     ** | Jammu and Kashmir | Order dated 2-03-20220 vide No. PS/CS/19/2020 | 22-03-2020 | | **6.     ** | Ladakh | Administration Order dated 23-03-2020 vide no. DCL/PS/COVID-19/OO/2020 | 23-03-2020 | | **7.    ** | Lakshadweep | Administration Order dated 22-03-2020 vide F.No. 29-1/2020-DHS/IDSP/795 | 22-03-2020 | | **8.     ** | Puducherry | Government Order dated 23-03-2020 vide G.O.Ms.No.03/2020 | 23-03-2020 | ### Contributed By – [Abhishek Bagga](https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishek-bagga-45807b141/) & [Gaurav Singh Gaur](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurav-singh-gaur-ab295565/) Designation – Associate #### [King Stubb & Kasiva](https://ksandk.com/), Advocates & Attorneys [Click Here to Get in Touch](https://ksandk.com/ksk/contact-us/) [New Delhi](https://g.page/king-stubb-and-kasiva) | [Mumbai](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-mumbai) | [Bangalore](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-bangalore) | [Chennai](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-chennai) | [Hyderabad](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-hyderabad) | Kochi Tel: [+91 11 41032969](tel:+911141032969) | Email: [info@ksandk.com](mailto:info@ksandk.com) --- ## Office Locations - [New Delhi](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-delhi/) (HQ): +91-11-41318190 | info@ksandk.com - [Mumbai](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-mumbai/): 3 offices (Nariman Point, Lower Parel, Andheri) | mumbai@ksandk.com - [Bangalore](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-bangalore/): bangalore@ksandk.com - [Chennai](https://ksandk.com/locations/chennai/): chennai@ksandk.com - [Hyderabad](https://ksandk.com/locations/hyderabad/): hyderabad@ksandk.com - [Pune](https://ksandk.com/locations/pune/): pune@ksandk.com - [Kochi](https://ksandk.com/locations/kochi/): kochi@ksandk.com ## Contact - [Contact Page](https://ksandk.com/contact-us/) - General: info@ksandk.com | +91-11-41318190 - WhatsApp: +91-7428567444 - [Privacy Statement](https://ksandk.com/privacy-statement/) - [Terms of Use](https://ksandk.com/terms-of-use/)