SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
J.C. SHAH, V. RAMASWAMI AND A.N. GROVER, JJ.
Raghunath and others (in both the Appals), Appellants
Versus
Kedarnath (in both the Appeals), Respondent.
Civil Appeals Nos. 457 and 458 of 1966,
D/- 3-2-1969.
Advocates Appeared
Mr. S: P. Sinha, Senior Advocate Mr. S. Shaukat Hussain, Advocate with him), for Appellants (in both the Appeals); M/s. J. P. Goyal and G. Nabi Untoo, Advocates, for Respondent (in both the Appeals).
Civil P. C - Order 34, Rule 7 - Transfer of Property Act - Section 4 - Indian Contract Act, 1872 - Terms of mortgage deed - Loan - Mortgage deed - Execution of - Appeal against judgment of the trial Court the defendants preferred an appeal before the District Judge, Varanasi, who allowed the appeal and dismissed plaintiff s suit appeals the plaintiff alleged that one Dwarka Prasad took a loan of Rs. 1,700 from Madho Ram father of the defendants, and that Dwarka Prasad along with one Mst. Kunta, his material grandmother, executed a possessor mortgage deed of disputed house for Rs. 1,700 in favour of Madho Ram - Whether vested or contingent of the value of one hundred rupees and upwards, to or in immoveable property - Held, plaintiff did not file an appeal against the decree of the trial Court and in the absence of such an appeal the High Court was not legally justified in giving further relief to the plaintiff than that granted by the trial Court. There is justification for this argument - Accordingly set aside that portion of the decree of the High Court remanding the case to the lower appellate Court with a direction that the defendants should be asked to render accounts. Otherwise we affirm the decree of the High Court allowing the plaintiff s appeal with costs and setting aside the judgment and decree of the lower appellate court and restoring judgment and decree of the trial Court - Appeals dismissed.
Judgment
RAMASWAMI, J.: In the suit which is the subject-matter of these appeals the plaintiff alleged that one Dwarka Prasad took a loan of Rs. 1,700 from Madho Ram father of the defendants, and that on 27th July, 1922, Dwarka Prasad along with one Mst. Kunta, his material grandmother, executed a possessor mortgage deed of the disputed house for Rs. 1,700 in favour of Madho Ram. The terms of the mortgage deed were that the mortgagor was to pay interest of Rs. 12-12-0 per month out of which the rent amounting to Rs. 6 which was the agreed usufruct of the house in suit was to be adjusted and the mortgagor was to pay Rs. 6-12-0 per month in cash towards the balance of the interest. The parties agreed that the mortgage would be redeemable within twenty years after paying the principal amount and that portion of interest which was not discharged by the usufruct and other amount. When Dwarka Prasad was unable to pay amount of Rs. 6-12-0 per month, he delivered possession of the house to, Madho Ram who let out the house. on a monthly rent of Rs. 25. The mortgagors Dwarka Prasad and Mst. Kunta died leaving Mst. Radha Bai as Dwarka Prasad s heir. Radha Bai sold the house in dispute to the plaintiff on 2nd February, 1953 and executed a sale deed. The plaintiff, therefore, became entitled to redeem the mortgage and asked the defendants to render accounts. The defendants contested the suit on the ground that Madho Ram was not the mortgagor nor were the defendants mortgagees. It was alleged that in the locality where the house was situated there was a custom of paying Haqe-chaharum and to avoid that payment, the original deed dated 27th July, 1922 was drafted and executed in the form of a mortgage though it was actually an outright sale. According to the defendants, the house was actually sold to Madho Ram and was not mortgaged. The defendants also pleaded that if the deed dated 27th July, 1922 was held to be a mortgage, the mortgagees were entitled to get the payment of Rs. 6,442-8-0 as interest, Rs. 2,315 as costs of repairs, etc. The trial Court held that the deed dated 27th July, 1922 was a mortgage deed, that Dwarka Prasad did not sell the house to Madho Ram and that the plaintiff was entitled to redeem the mortgage on payment of Rupees 1,709-14-0. The trial Court accordingly decreed the plaintiff s suit for redemption on payment of Rs. 1,709-14-0. Against the judgment of the trial Court the defendants preferred an appeal before the District Judge, Varanasi, who allowed the appeal and dismissed the plaintiff s suit. The plaintiff took the matter in second appeal to the High Court which framed an issue and remanded the case back to the lower appellate court for a fresh decisian. The issue framed by the High Court was "Have the defendants become the owners of the property in dispute by adverse possession?" The High Court also directed the lower appellate court to decide the question of admissibility of Exts. A-25 and A-26. After remand the lower appellate court held that the deed dated 27th July, 1922 was a mortgage deed and not a sale-deed, and, therefore, the plaintiff was entitled to redeem the mortgage. The lower appellate court further held that the defendants had failed to prove that they had acquired title by adverse possession. The lower appellate court made the following order:-
"The appeal is allowed with half costs in this way that the suit is decreed for the redemption of the mortgage in question if the plaintiff pays within six months Rs. 1,700 as principal, Rs. 9.87 N. P. Prajawat paid before is suit and any Prajawat paid by the defendants during the pendency of this suit till the plaintiff deposits the entire sum due under this decree and the interest at the rate of Rs. 6-12-0 per month from 27th July, 1922 till the plaintiff deposits the entire sum due under this decree. The costs of the trial Court are made easy. Let the preliminary decree under Order 34, Rule 7, Civil P. C. be modified accordingly." Against the Judgmen
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.