law: Indian Contract Act, 1872 
  43. Any one of joint promisors may be
  
  compelled to perform
  When two or more persons make a joint promise, the promisee may,
  
  in the absence of express agreement to the contrary, compel any 13[one
  
  or more] of such joint promisors to perform the whole promise.
  Each promisor may compel contribution: Each of two or more joint
  
  promisors may compel every other joint promisor to contribute equally with
  
  himself to the performance of the promise, unless a contrary intention appears
  
  from the contract.
  Sharing of loss by default in contribution: If any one of two or
  
  more joint promisors make default in such contribution, the remaining joint
  
  promisors must bear the loss arising from such default in equal shares.
  Explanation:  Nothing in this section shall prevent a surety
  
  from recovering, from his principal, payments made by the surety on behalf of
  
  the principal, or entitle the principal to recover anything from the surety on
  
  account of payments made by be principal.
   Illustrations 
  (a) A, B and C jointly promise to pay D 3, 000 rupees, D may
  
  compel either A or B or C to pay him 3,000 rupees.
  (b) A, B and C jointly promise to pay D the sum of 3,000 rupees.
  
  C is compelled to pay the whole. A is insolvent, but his assets are sufficient
  
  to pay one-half of his debts. C is entitled to receive 500 rupees from A's
  
  estate, and 2,250 rupees from B.
  (c) A, B and C are under a joint promise to pay D 3,000 rupees.
  
  C is unable to pay anything and A is compelled to pay the whole. A is entitled
  
  to receive 1,500 rupees from B.
  (d) A, B and C are under a joint promise to pay D 3,000 rupees.
  
  A and B being only sureties for C. C fails to pay. A and B are compelled to pay
  
  the whole sum. They are entitled to recover it from C.