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2024 Supreme(SC) 933

VIKRAM NATH, PANKAJ MITHAL, PRASANNA B. VARALE
Janardan Das – Appellant
Versus
Durga Prasad Agarwalla – Respondent


Advocates appeared:
For the Appellant(s) : Mr. Umakant Misra, Adv. Mrs. Prabhati Nayak, Adv. Mr. Niranjan Sahu, AOR Mr. Monomoy Basu, Adv. Ms. Apoorva Sharma, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Mr. S.R. Singh, Sr. Adv. Mr. A.C. Pradhan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Saurabh Mishra, AOR Mr. Shrimay Mishra, Adv. Mr. Abhinav Pandey, Adv.

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Based on the provided legal document, the key points are as follows:

  1. Agreement to Sell and Suit for Specific Performance: Specific performance is a discretionary remedy. The plaintiff must demonstrate that they have performed or have been ready and willing to perform the essential terms of the contract throughout the proceedings. This includes acting with sincerity and earnestness, and any laxity or indifference can be grounds for denial (!) (!) (!) .

  2. Parties Involving Multiple Interests: When a contract involves multiple owners, especially when some are absent or not signatories, it is the plaintiff's responsibility to ensure all necessary consents and participation are secured. The absence of such steps undermines the claim for specific performance (!) (!) (!) .

  3. Authority of Agent and Validity of Power of Attorney: An agent’s authority must be explicit and valid at the time of the agreement. Any limitations or revocations of such authority, especially when implied or not properly documented, can invalidate the agent’s capacity to bind the principals. In this case, the authority was limited and effectively revoked, making the agreement unenforceable against the co-owners who did not explicitly authorize the sale (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) .

  4. Inaction and Lack of Diligence: The plaintiffs failed to take concrete steps to secure the consent of all necessary parties within the stipulated time, despite being aware of the importance of such consent. Their passive approach and continued operation of the business on the land without progressing the sale indicate a lack of readiness and willingness (!) (!) (!) .

  5. Discretionary Nature of Specific Performance: The court emphasized that granting specific performance must be just and equitable. Factors such as the incomplete agreement, lack of authority, and the existence of a valid sale to bona fide purchasers weigh against granting the remedy. Monetary compensation via refund is deemed sufficient, and enforcing an unenforceable agreement would be inequitable (!) (!) (!) (!) .

  6. Validity of Sale to Bona Fide Purchasers: The sale executed in favor of the appellants was valid and binding, with the purchasers acting in good faith and having completed the transaction with all the rightful owners. The prior agreement, which was contingent and not signed by all owners, does not affect the validity of this sale (!) (!) .

  7. Outcome and Directions: The appellate court set aside the High Court’s judgment for specific performance, restored the trial court’s dismissal, and directed the appellants to refund the earnest money along with interest and expenses within two months. The court concluded that the plaintiffs failed to prove their readiness and that the agreement was unenforceable due to lack of proper authority and procedural deficiencies (!) (!) .

These points collectively highlight the importance of proper authority, timely action, and equitable considerations in cases involving specific performance of contracts, especially where multiple parties and interests are involved.


ORDER :

1. The present appeal arises from the judgment and order dated 25.10.2013 passed by the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack in First Appeal No. 185 of 1997, wherein the High Court reversed the judgment of the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Baripada, dated 17.05.1997 in T.S. No. 103 of 1994. The High Court decreed the suit for specific performance filed by the plaintiffs (Respondent Nos. 1 & 2 herein), directing the defendants, including the present appellants (Defendant Nos. 9 to 11), to execute a sale deed in favour of the plaintiffs. Aggrieved by this decision, the defendant nos. 9 to 11 have approached this Court by way of the present appeal.

2. The relevant facts giving rise to the original suit are as follows:

2.1. Late Surendranath Banerjee was the original owner of the suit property situated in Baripada, Odisha. Upon his demise on 03.07.1980, the property devolved equally among his five heirs: two sons—Defendant No. 1 (Binayendra Banerjee) and late Soumendra Nath Banerjee— and three daughters—Defendant Nos. 6 to 8 (Smt. Rekha Mukherjee, Smt. Sikha Das, and Smt. Monila Pal).

2.2. On 14.04.1993, an oral agreement was entered into between all the co-owners (Defendant Nos. 1 to

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