Summarize the following court judgment. Appeal No. 24 of 1954. Appeal under Article 132 read with Article 147 and Article 133(1)(c) of the Constitution of India from the judgment and order dated July 17	 1952	 of the Punjab High Court in First Appeal from Order No. 9 of 1949 against the judgment and decree of the Sub Judge 1st 104 Class	 Ferozepur dated February 9	 1949	 in Civil Sui No. 134 of 1949. Porus A. Mehta	 R. Gopalakrishnan and R.H. Dhebar	 for the appellant. Hardayal Hardy	 for the respondents. April 30. The Judgment of the Court was	 delivered by section K. DAS J. This is an appeal on the strength of a certificate granted by the High Court of Punjab at Simla. The appellant is the Union of India and the respondent Messrs. Chaman Lal Loona and Company military contractors at Muktsar in the district of Ferozepur	 now in the Indian State of Punjab. The relevant facts are these. In the Court of the ' senior Subordinate Judge at Ferozepur	 in August	 1948	 the respondent Company made an application	 purporting to be an application under section 8(2) and section 20 of the Arbitration Act	 10 of 1940	 wherein the respondent alleged that in 1945 the respondent had entered into a contract for the supply of " bhoosa " (fodder) to the military department of the then undivided India through the Manager	 Military Farms	 Lahore Cantonment. The contract	 it was alleged	 was signed by the Assistant Director	 Military Farms	 on behalf of the then Government of India. The agreement between the parties was that the said Manager would also supply	 on payment of price	 wire coils in connection with the supply of bhoosa presumably for the purpose of tying the bundles of fodder	 and on the supply being made and on return of the wire coils	 the military department would give credit for the price of the coils already paid by the respondent. In November	 1945	 the respondent supplied fodder and returned 152 bundles of wire coils. The Manager	 Military Farms	 Lahore	 informed the respondent	 however	 that out of 152 bundles of wire coils	 said to have been sent	 24 bundles had not been received	 though no note of such non delivery was made at the time the consignment was received. The respondent had also deposited Rs. 11	026 by way of security with the military department in connection with the contract. The agreement contained an 134 1042 arbitration clause to the effect that if a dispute arose between the parties	 it should be decided by the arbitrator named therein	 viz.	 the District Commander concerned. The respondent said that he had a claim against the appellant for Rs. 720	 the price of 24 bundles of wire coils at Rs. 30 per bundle	 and for refund of Rs. 11	026	 and prayed in terms of section 20 of the Arbitration Act that the appellant be directed to 'ale the agreement and other relevant documents	 and that the Court do refer the dispute to the arbitrator named for the purpose of filing an award. As required by sub section (2) of section 20 of the Arbitration Act	 the application was registered as a suit	 and a notice was issued to the appellant to show cause. The appellant showed cause by a written statement filed on November 4	 1948	 in which the two substantial pleas taken were (1) that by reason of the provisions of the Indian Independence (Rights	 Property and Liabilities) Order	 1947	 hereinafter referred to as the Independence Order	 1947	 the Dominion of India	 and later the Union of India	 had no liability in respect of the contract in question	 the purposes of which contract as from August 15	 1947	 were purposes exclusively for the Dominion of Pakistan; and (2) the Court at Ferozepore had no jurisdiction to try the suit	 as the cause of action did not arise within its territorial jurisdiction. The two issues which were tried by the learned Subordinate Judge were the aforesaid issues of liability and jurisdiction. On jurisdiction	 he found in favour of the respondent	 on the ground that the respondent was a displaced person ' living in Muktsar which is in Ferozepore and therefore the Court at Ferozepore had jurisdiction to try the suit. The High Court affirmed this finding	 and as nothing now turns upon this issue	 we are not called upon to make any pronouncement thereon. The issue as to the liability of the appellant on the basis of the contract in question is	 however	 very much a live issue. The learned Subordinate Judge found in favour of the appellant on this issue	 and dismissed the application. The High Court reversed that finding	 and allowed the appeal. In reversing the finding of the learned Subordinate Judge	 the High 1043 Court relied on the provisions of the Joint Defence Council Order	 1947	 to be referred to hereinafter as the Defence Order	 1947. The precise ground on which the High Court proceeded may best be put in the words of Khosla J. who gave the leading judgment. Khosla J. said: " In the present case the Lahore Military farm is situated at Lahore and whether the fodder was supplied in 1945 or after the 15th of August 1947	 the purpose will be deemed. to be a purpose of the Dominion of Pakistan on account of the territorial situation of Lahore. But in the present case	 the fodder was to be supplied to a Military Farm and the fodder	 therefore	 constituted Military stores. Military Stores were kept joint and under the exclusive control of the Joint Defence Council who had the power of allocating these stores among the two Dominions and for transferring them from one place to another. Therefore	 fodder lying in the Military Farm	 Lahore	 was not	 on 15th August 1947	 the exclusive property of the Dominion of Pakistan but was under the exclusive control of the Joint Defence Council. This fodder could be transferred to a farm in India and thus could become the property of the Dominion of India. In the circumstances	 it cannot be said that the contract for supply of fodder to the Military Farm	 Lahore	 was a contract exclusively for the purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan if the contract were viewed on the 15th of August 1947	 and	 that being so	 it must be held that the contract was not a contract exclusively for the purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan. The decision of the learned trial Judge on this point must	 therefore	 be set aside. " The principal question in this appeal is whether the High Court is right in its view as to the true scope and effect of the relevant provisions of the Independence Order	 1947	 and the Defence Order	 1947. Learned counsel for the appellant has challenged the correctness of that view	 and has submitted (1) that on a true construction of article 8 of the Independence Order	 1947	 the contract under consideration in this case was as from the appointed day (i.e.	 August 15	 1947)	 a contract exclusively for the purposes of the Dominion of 1044 Pakistan and shall be deemed to have been made on behalf of that Dominion	 and all rights and liabilities which have accrued or may accrue under such contract shall be the rights and liabilities of the Dominion of Pakistan; (2) that the Defence Order	 1947	 which set up a Joint Defence Council and provides for the exercise of certain powers of control by the said Council under article 8 of that Order did not in any way affect the rights and liabilities arising out of the contract	 which rights and liabilities were governed by the relevant provisions of the Independence Order	 1947; and (3) that	 in any view	 the claim in the present case did not relate to military stores as the High Court wrongly assumed	 and the Defence Order	 1947	 had no application at all to the facts of this case. On behalf of the respondent	 the correctness of each of the above submissions has been seriously contested	 and learned counsel for the respondent has strongly contended that the view of the High Court as to the relevant articles of the Independence Order	 1947	 and the Defence Order	 1947	 is correct. Learned counsel also raised a preliminary point of objection to the effect that on an application under section 20	 Arbitration Act	 the only point for decision was if there was an arbitration agreement and the question of liability was one for the arbitrator and not for the Court to decide. Ordinarily	 that would be so. When	 however	 we pointed out to learned counsel that the Union of India as such was admittedly not a party to the arbitration agreement and could not be dragged	 therefore	 to an arbitration proceeding on the strength of an agreement to which it was not a party unless by operation of law it was deemed to be a party to the agreement	 learned counsel gave up his preliminary objection and conceded that the question of liability must be decided in this case with reference to the provisions of the Independence Order	 1947	 and the Defence Order	 1947. It is convenient at this stage to set out the relevant provisions of the two Orders. The Defence Order	 1947	 was made in exercise of the powers conferred by. sub section (1) of section 9 and in pursuance of sub section (1) of section II of the Indian Independence Act	 1947	 and was published 1045 on August 11	 1947. The Independence Order	 1947	 was made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 9 of the Indian Independence Act	 1947	 and was published on August 14	 1947. Both came into force at once. Article 3 of the Defence Order	 1947	 states: " (1) As from the 15th day of August	 1947	 there shall be set up a Council to be known as the Joint Defence Council for India and Pakistan. (2)The said Council	 hereinafter referred to as the Joint Defence Council	 shall consist of (i)the Governor General of India	 (ii) the Defence Minister of India	 (iii) the Defence Minister of Pakistan	 and (iv) the Supreme Commander of His Majesty 's forces in India and Pakistan (hereinafter referred to as the Supreme Commander). " Article 8	 so far as it is relevant	 is in these terms: " The Joint Defence Council shall be in exclusive control of (a)the division of the Indian forces between the Dominions and their reconstitution as two separate Dominion forces (b)the allocation	 transfer and movement of officers and men belonging to the Indian forces for the purposes of such re constitution; (c)the allocation	 transfer and movement for the purposes of such reconstitution of plant	 machinery equipment and stores held by the Governor General in Council immediately before the 15th day of August	 1947	 for the purposes of the Indian forces etc." The Independence Order	 1947	 states in article 2 that the 'appointed day ' means the fifteenth August	 1947. Article 3 so far as it is relevant for our purpose	 states: " (1) The provisions of this Order relate to the initial distribution of rights	 property and liabilities consequential on the setting up of the Dominions of India and Pakistan	 and shall have effect subject to any agreement between the two Dominions or the Provinces concerned and to any award that may be made by the Arbitral Tribunal. (2)Nothing in this Order affects the powers of control over military plant	 machinery	 equipment 1046 and stores conferred on the Joint Defence Council by the Joint Defence Council Order	 1947. Article 8(1)	 which is very important for our purpose	 is in these terms: " (1) Any contract made on behalf of the Governor General in Council before the appointed day shall	 as from that day	 (a)if the contract is for purposes which as from that day are exclusively purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan	 be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Dominion of Pakistan instead of the Governor General in Council; and (b)in any other case	 be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Dominion of India instead of the Governor General in Council; and all rights and liabilities which have accrued or may accrue under any such contract shall	 to the extent to which they would have been rights or liabilities of the Governor General in Council	 be rights or liabilities of the Dominion of Pakistan or the Dominion of India	 as the case may be. " The first question is	 what is the true scope and effect of article 8(1) of the Independence Order	 1947? Does it apply to the contract in question	 and	 if so	 does the contract fall within the purview of cl. (a) or cl. (b) ? At one stage of the argument	 learned counsel for the respondent contended that article 8(1) did not apply to what is sometimes described as executed contracts; this point was also urged before Kapur J. of the Punjab High Court (as he then was) and one of the reasons given by him for a reference of the case to a larger bench was the difficulty he felt if the contract in question which has been performed and executed long before August 15	 1947	 so far as the respondent was concerned	 attracted the operation of cl. (a) of article 8(1). It is necessary to appreciate clearly the distinction between the two classes of contracts where the consideration is either executed or executory. " An executed consideration consists of an act for a promise. It is the act which forms the consideration. . No contract is formed unless and until the act 1047 is performed	 e.g.	 the payment for a railway ticket	 but the act stipulated for exhausts the consideration	 so that any subsequent promise	 without further consideration	 is merely a nudum pactum In an executed consideration the liability is outstanding on one side only; it is a present as opposed to a future consideration. In an executory consideration the liability is outstanding on both sides. It is in fact a promise for a promise; one promise is bought by the other The contract is concluded as soon as the promises are exchanged. In mercantile contracts this is by far the most common variety. In other words	 a contract becomes binding on the exchange of valid promises	 one being the consideration for the other. It is clear	 therefore	 that there is nothing to prevent one of the parties from carrying out his promise at once	 i.e.	 performing his part of the contract; whereas the other party who provides the consideration for the act of or detriment to the first may not carry out his part of the bargain simultaneously with the first party. " (Chitty on Contracts	 Vol. I	 21st Edn. 43 44). On a plain reading of article 8(1) of the Independence Order	 1947	 it is clear that it applies to both classes of cases; it says	 in its concluding part	 that " all rights and liabilities which have accrued or may accrue under any such contract	 shall be rights or liabilities of the Dominion of Pakistan or the Dominion of India	 as the case may be." If the contract has been fully and completely performed on both sides	 no question of any further rights and liabilities under the contract is likely to arise. If	 however	 the contract is one in which the consideration is executed on one side	 there will be a right on one side and an outstanding liability on the other. If the consideration is executory on both sides	 there will be outstanding rights and liabilities on both sides. In talking of " all rights and liabilities which have accrued or may accrue" under the contract	 the Article clearly contemplates both classes of cases. On this question	 we approve of the view taken in Elahi Bux vs Union of India (1) and Krishna Ranjan vs (1) A.I.R. 1952 Cal. 1048 Union of India (1) and disapprove of the view expressed by Roxburgh J. in Union of India vs Loke Nath (2). It is further clear that the first part of article 8(1) creates a legal fiction. The contract is actually made before August 15	 1947	 (the appointed day); but as from that date	 the contract shall be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Dominion of Pakistan	 if the contract is for purposes which as from that day are exclusively purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan	 and in any other case it shall be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Dominion of India. What is the proper meaning of the expression " a contract for the exclusive purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan"? We assent to the view expressed by Chagla C.J. in Union of India vs Chinu Bhai Jeshingbhai (3). Said the learned Chief Justice " It is clear from the language used in article 8 that the test to be applied with regard to this contract is not whether the contract was for the purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan at the date when it was made. Ex hypothesi that test is clearly inapplicable. All contracts contemplated by article 8 must be contracts which when made were made by undivided India by the Governor General in Council. The test that must be applied is an artificial test and the test may be either if the contract had been entered into on August 15	 1947	 whether it would have been a contract for the purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan	 or if the Dominion of Pakistan had been in existence when the contract was entered into	 whether it would have been a contract for the purposes of Pakistan. " This	 we think	 is the correct test to apply for determining the true scope and effect of article 8(1) of the Independence Order	 1947	 and applying this test	 there is no doubt that the contract in question comes under cl. (a) of the said Article. The purpose of the contract was to supply fodder to the Manager	 Military Farms	 Lahore Cantonment	 which farms were in Pakistan on the appointed day. The contract was	 therefore (1) A.T.R. (2) A.I.R. 1952 Cal. 140. (3) I.L.R. 	 130. 1049 exclusively for the purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan as from the appointed day. The second question is do the provisions of the Defence Order	 1947	 make any difference in the legal position ? The High Court thought	 erroneously in our opinion	 that they did. It is true that cl. (2) of article 3 of the Independence Order	 1947	 says that nothing in that Order affects the powers of control over military plant	 machinery	 equipment and stores conferred on the Joint Defence Council by the Defence Order ' 1947. Clause (3) of article 3 of the Independence Order	 1947	 states that the powers of control over property conferred upon each Dominion by the Order shall include all powers of use	 consumption	 management etc. This	 however	 is subject to such powers of control as are given to the Joint Defence Council. Those powers of control are laid down in article 8 of the Defence Order	 1947	 el. (c) of which relates to "the allocation	 transfer and movement for the purposes of such reconstitution of plant	 machinery	 equipment and stores held by the ' Governor General in Council immediately before the 15th day of August	 1947	 for the purposes of the Indian forces. " The point which is to be emphasised is that what is saved by cl. (2) of article 3 of the Independence Order	 1947	 is 'Powers of control ' of the Joint Defence Council with regard to certain essential military equipment etc. includingstores. There is no provision in the Defence Order	 1947	 which affects the rights and liabilities of any of the two Dominions aris. ing out of a contract	 and those rights and liabilities are dealt with by the Independence Order	 1947. The learned Judges of the High Court thought that the Defence Order	 1947	 made a difference in the legal position in so far as the purpose of the contract was concerned. They realised and said that ordinarily the purpose of supplying fodder to the Military Farms at Lahore was a purpose exclusively for the Dominion of Pakistan; but they thought that on the assumption that 'bhoosa ' was military store	 the Joint Defence Council had powers of control over it and could send it wherever they wanted it to be sent; therefore	 they 135 1050 said that the purpose of the contract was not a purpose exclusively for the Dominion of Pakistan. We say this with great respect	 but this line of reasoning appears to us to be due to a lack of proper appreciation of the distinction between the "purpose of the contract" and the "ultimate disposal of the goods" supplied under the contract. The purpose of the contract is not determined nor modified by the ultimate disposal of the goods supplied under the contract	 nor even by the powers of control exercised over the goods after the contract had been performed by the respondent. Wherever the goods might be ultimately sent	 the purpose of the contract remained what it was	 that is	 to supply fodder to the Manager	 Military Farms	 Lahore	 which	 on the test laid down by us	 was clearly a purpose exclusively for the Dominion of Pakistan. The Independence Order	 1947	 determines the respective rights and liabilities under contracts. If	 under the Defence Order	 1947	 some goods the liability for the price of which under the Independence Order	 1947	 falls on	 say	 India	 are allotted to Pakistan	 then the value thereof will have to be adjusted in accounts. Such allotment does not alter the rights or liabilities determined under the Independence Order	 1947. We are	 therefore	 of the view that the High Court of Punjab was in error in inferring that on the strength of certain provisons of the Defence Order	 1947	 the contract in question came within el. (b) of article 8(1)	 and not cl. We think that the learned Subordinate Judge correctly held that cl. (a) applied and the Union of India had no liability under the contract. Only a few words are necessary to dispose of the third contention urged before us. The claim in the present case was a claim for a refund of the price paid for 24 bundles of wire coils and of the security deposit. Such a claim did not relate to military stores	 and the Defence Order	 1947	 had no direct application to such a claim. It was only for examining the purpose of the contract that the question of 'bhoosa ' being military store arose. The High Court assumed that 'bhoosa ' was military store. Without deciding whether 'bhoosa ' is military store or not	 we have also proceeded on the 1051 same assumption; but even on that assumption	 there is no difference in the legal position. The purpose of the contract was still a purpose which	 as from the appointed day	 was a purpose exclusively for the Dominion of Pakistan. It is worthy of note that el. (c) of article 8 of the Defence Order	 1947	 relates inter alia to stores held by the Governor General in Council immediately before August 15	 1947	 for the purposes of the Indian forces. There was nothing in the record to show that the 'bhoosa ' supplied by the respondent in 1945 was held by the Governor General in Council immediately before August 15	 1947	 so as to vest the power of control in the Joint Defence Council and thereby affect the purpose of the contract	 assuming	 though we do not so decide	 that such power of control can affect the purpose of the contract. The original contract was not produced in this case	 as it was not available in the appropriate office in India. The respondent did not even produce a copy thereof	 but gave oral evidence as to the purpose of the contract. The Courts below proceeded on that oral evidence	 and the appeal was argued before us on that footing. We have determined the purpose of the contract as on August 15	 1947	 on the basis of that evidence	 without deciding the further question if oral evidence was admissible in this case as to the purpose of the contract. For the reasons given above	 we allow this appeal	 set aside the judgment and decree of the High Court	 and restore those of the learned Subordinate Judge. The appellant will get costs throughout. Appeal allowed.

The correct test to determine whether a contract made before the partition of India on behalf of the Governor General in Council comes within the purview of cl. (a) of article 8(1) of the Indian Independence (Rights	 Property and Liabilities) Order	 1040 1947	 so as to be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Dominion of Pakistan	 is either (1) if the contract was made on August 15	 1947	 it would have been a contract for the purposes of the Dominion of Pakistan ; or (2) if Pakistan had existed on the day the contract was made	 it would be a contract for the purposes of Pakistan. Union of India vs Chinu Bhai jeshing bhai	 I.L.R. 1953 Bom. 117	 approved. The purpose of a contract is not to be confused with the ultimate disposal of the goods supplied thereunder since such disposal can in no way determine or modify it. Nor do the powers of control over military stores vested in the joint Defence Council by article 8(c) of the joint Defence Council Order	 1947	 and saved by article 3(2) of the Indian Independence (Rights	 Property and Liabilities) Order	 1947	 whereby the goods might be transferred anywhere in India	 make any difference and the rights and liabilities accruing from such contracts fall entirely to be adjudged by the provisions of the Indian Independence Order and not by the joint Defence Council Order. The concluding part of article 8(1) makes it quite clear that the Article makes no distinction between contracts where the consideration is either executed or executory in nature and applies equally to both. Elahi Bux vs Union of India	 A.I.R. 952 Cal. 471 and Krishna Ranjait vs Union of India	 A.I.R. 1954 Cal. 623	 approved. Union of India vs Loke Nath	 A.I.R. 1952 Cal. 140	 disapproved. Consequently	 in a case where the Union of India was sought to be made liable an the basis of a contract entered into on behalf of the Governor General of India in Council for the supply of fodder to the Manager	 Military Farms	 Lahore Cantonment	 which was in Pakistan on August 15	 1947	 and the trial Court found for the Union of India but the High Court	 taking the view that the fodder constituted military stores under the exclusive control of the joint Defence Council on August 15	 1947	 liable to be transferred anywhere in 'India	 reversed that finding	 the contract	 even assumig that view to be correct	 must be held to be one exclusively for the purposes of Pakistan as from the at date and the Union of India could not be made liable thereunder.