Smart Contracts And Blockchain Contracts: Reconciling Digital Autonomy With Traditional Contract Enforceability – An Indian Perspective

Introduction

The emergence of blockchain technology has given rise to a new era in contractual relationships through the advent of smart contracts. These self‐executing digital instruments, governed by code on a decentralized ledger, promise efficiency, transparency, and security. Yet, their integration into traditional legal frameworks raises critical issues concerning enforceability, interpretation, and dispute resolution. In India, where the legal system is rooted in the Indian Contract Act, 1872, and bolstered by provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the challenge lies in reconciling the rigid, immutable nature of smart contracts with the flexible, human-centered approach of traditional contract law. This article examines the doctrinal, technological, and regulatory aspects of smart and blockchain contracts in the Indian context, exploring whether conventional legal principles can adapt to accommodate these innovative digital instruments.