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1996 Supreme(AP) 1306

Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : P.RAMAKRISHNAM RAJU
N.Pattabhi Ramaiah - Appellant
Versus
Nalluri Krishna Mohan Rao - Respondent
A.S.No.2425/82
Decided On : 12-16-96
Advocates Appeared :
Mr. B. V. Subbaiah,Mr. Nayani Krishnamurthy

Headnote:Amended petition was filed after entire evidence is recorded, would not be justified in insisting that the respondent should have explained the difference Even otherwise there is no change in the rights or liabilities of parties, or the nature of indebtedness including the question of limitation, there is no material alteration rendering the document void and unenforceable - Appellant who have denied their signatures of the suit pronote having obtained photostate copies of the pronote and other admitted signatures failed to send the suit pronote for comparison to hand writing expert advisedly - Lower Court on a comparison of the disputed signatures with admitted signatures in the Vakalat etc, found that they are similar - Appeal dismissed

P. RAMAKRISHNAM RAJU, J.

( 1 ) THE unsuccessful defendants are the appellants. The suit is filed for recovery of Rs. 20,710/- on the foot of a promissory note dated 25-9-1976 alleged to have been executed by the appellants Nos. 1 and 2. Appellant No. 1 is the father of the other appellants. The appellants constitute a joint Hindu family and are carrying on business in the name and style of Nalluri Pattabhiramayya and Company. The appellants were purchasing tobacco from the respondent and thereby they became indebted to him on that account and also towards hire charges for employing the tractor for ploughing their land and also borrowed some hand loan. The appellants settled the account on 25-9-1976 and the outstanding came to Rs. 16,000/- and accordingly they executed the suit promissory note marked as Ex. A-1. The purpose for which the pronote was executed was clearly mentioned. Before filing the suit a registered notice was also issued on 11-7-1979, office copy of which is marked as Ex. A-2 for which the appellants gave a contentious reply. Hence the suit.

( 2 ) IN the written statement the appellants besides denying the material allegations in the plaint have stated that the suit promissory note was never executed by appellant Nos. 1 and 2 and that it is forged and fabricated. It is also not supported by any consideration.

( 3 ) IN the suit, the respondent examined 4 witnesses including himself as p. W. 1 and marked Exs. A-1 to A-3; while the appellant Nos. 1 and 2 examined themselves as D. Ws. 1 and 2 besides marking Exs. B-1 to B-6. The trial Court after framing appropriate issues, decreed the suit with future interest. Hence the appeal. The point for consideration is whether the suit pronote is true and if so not supported by consideration? point:- Sri B. V. Subbaiah, the learned Counsel for the appellants submits that there is difference in the version contained in the registered notice, ex. A-2 and the plaint averments. When once the account is settled and the suit pronote is executed, the question of executing two more pronotes as contended by the respondent does not arise. The respondent has not filed any documents to show that his tractor was employed for ploughing, as such adverse inference should be drawn against the respondent. Even the evidence of P. Ws is not inspiring since there is no corroboration on material particulars about the discussion before arriving at the settlement and about the vouchers under Exs. B-1 to B-6. P. W. 2 being the scribe was removed from the service of the appellants and as such his evidence cannot be relied on. In any event, the promissory note contains an alteration in the year from 1977 to 1976, and as such, the instrument is void and unenforceable.

( 4 ) NO doubt in the registered notice, a copy of which is marked under ex. A-2 dated 11-7-1979, it is stated therein that appellant Nos. 1 and 2 have borrowed a sum of Rs. 16,000/- on 25-9-1976 and executed a pronote. But in the plaint it is clearly mentioned that the appellants have purchased tobacco from the respondent and as such they became indebted on that account and that they had to pay ploughing charges for using his tractor and also indebted by way of hand loan. This version of plaint is amply corroborated by the recitals in Ex. A-1 as well as the evidence of P. Ws. 1 to 3. In view of these circumstances, the mere fact that Ex. A-2 contains a recital about the cash consideration does not in my view alter the situation. The pronote should be supported, by lawful consideration under law and it need not be any specific consideration. Therefore, this submission in my view has no force.

( 5 ) THE learned Counsel for the appellants submits that when the account is settled on 25-9-1976 under Ex. B-1 to B-6 and when once the suit pronote is executed for the entire liability the question of executing the other pronotes does not arise. I may straight away reject this contention since I am not concerned here with the truth or otherwise





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