Which of the following can be a ground for rejecting an offer?

Delayed acceptance can be a ground for rejecting an offer because it deviates from the terms of the original offer. In contract law, an acceptance must be communicated to the offeror within the timeframe specified by the offer or within a reasonable time if no specific timeframe is provided. If the acceptance is delayed and not communicated promptly, it does not meet the requirements for a valid acceptance, leading the offeror to treat the original offer as having lapsed.

In contrast, conditional acceptance introduces new terms that were not part of the original offer, meaning it effectively operates as a counter-offer instead of an acceptance. Acceptance by silence may be valid in certain circumstances, particularly where the parties have established a pattern of behavior that allows for such an acceptance. The absence of the offeror does not inherently result in the rejection of the offer; unless it leads to a situation where the offeree cannot communicate acceptance. Therefore, the nuances of timely communication and adherence to original offer terms make delayed acceptance a valid ground for rejection.