Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : P.RAMAKRISHNAM RAJU
M.Iqbal and Co. - Appellant
Versus
Someswara Cements Chemicals Ltd., Hyderabad - Respondent
Decided On : 10-13-90
COMPANY LAW - SUIT FOR RECOVERY OF MONEY - MAINTAINABILITY - COMPETENCY OF SECRETARY TO REPRESENT COMPANY - EVIDENCE ACT, 1872 - SECTION 34 - RELEVANCY OF ENTRIES IN BOOKS OF ACCOUNT - PROOF OF SUPPLY OF CEMENT - SET-OFF - DAMAGES FOR DEFECTIVE QUALITY OF CEMENT - COMMISSION AND REBATE - REFUND OF DEPOSIT.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff-Company filed a suit for recovery of Rs. 10,55,639.70 Ps. from the defendants, a partnership firm and its partners, for the balance amount due and payable by them as per their accounts towards the value of cement supplied. The defendants denied the claim and filed a counter-claim for Rs. 9.10,452.50 Ps., alleging diversions of cement, poor quality of cement, and compensation paid to customers.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the suit was maintainable and that the Secretary of the plaintiff-Company was competent to represent the company. The court also held that the plaintiff-Company had established that cement was supplied to the first defendant-Firm as reflected in the ledger extract. The court further held that the defendants failed to substantiate their claim for damages due to defective quality of cement, loss of reputation, and commission and rebate. However, the court allowed the defendants' claim for refund of the deposit amount with interest.
Issues: 1. Whether the suit is maintainable? 2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the decree in a sum of Rs. 8,50,277-20 Ps. after giving credit to a sum of Rs. 2,05,3 62-05 Ps. allowed as set off in favour of defendants?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Secretary of a company is competent to sign and verify pleadings on behalf of the company under Order 29, Rule 1 CPC. 2. Entries in books of account regularly kept in the course of business are relevant under Section 34 of the Evidence Act, but they are not sufficient evidence to charge any person with liability without something more. 3. The plaintiff-Company had established that cement was supplied to the first defendant-Firm as reflected in the ledger extract, which was corroborated by other evidence. 4. The defendants failed to substantiate their claim for damages due to defective quality of cement, loss of reputation, and commission and rebate. 5. The defendants were entitled to refund of the deposit amount with interest.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the judgment and decree passed by the lower court were upheld.
( 1 ) RESPONDENT-COMPANY filed OS No. 667 of 1984 which was renumbered as OS No. 193 of 1985 on the file of the IV Addl. Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad for recovery of a sum of Rs. 10,55,639,70 Ps. with subsequent interest being the balance amount due and payable by the defendants as per their accounts towards the value of the cement supplied. Defendant No. l is a Partnership firm, of which the second defendant is the Managing Partner, while defendants 3 and 4 arc partners. First defendant-Firm applied for dealership of the Plaintiff-Company and the company appointed the first defendant as its authorised stockist for Charminar, Mir Alam Mandi in June, 1988 and the business of supply of cement by the plaintiff-Company to the first defendant-Finn was carried on from June 198 3/12/1983. The plaintiff-Company also appointed the first defendant-Firm as its distributor for twin cities and Ranga Reddy district as per its letter dated 10-6-1983. The plaintiff- Company used to supply cement to the first defendant-Finn and the first defendant-Firm used to clear the bills from time to time. The plaintiff-Company in all despatched cement to the value of Rs. 24,57,712. 00 after giving credit to the payments made by the first defendant-Finn, the first defendant-Finn lias to pay Rs. 9,81,317. 00 to the plaintiff- Company. The plaintiff - Company demanded payment of the said sum through number of letters and the second defendant also held discussions with the Commercial Manager and the General Manager of the plaintiff - Company. Curiously defendants came up with a story that in the supply of cement there were some diversions and the cement supplied was of inferior quality, and hence, they paid compensation to those persons to whom cement supplies were made. Pending finalisation of the accounts, second defendant has agreed to deliver back 4,000 bags of cement to the plaintiff-Company, but finally returned only four tracks of cement on 28-3-1984. Second defendant and the representatives of the plaintiff-Company held a conference wherein certain understanding was reached, but the second defendant went away without signing the minutes. Hence the plaintiff-Company got issued illegal notice, for which a contentious reply was sent by the defendants. Hence the suit.
( 2 ) IN the written statement filed by the first defendant which was adopted by defendants 2 and 3, it is stated that the plaint as signed by Mr. M. Madhusudhan Rao is not in accordance with law. It is admitted that the first defendant was appointed as a dealer in cement for twin cities and Ranga Reddy district in terms of the letter dated 6-10-1983. They denied that the plaintiff - Company supplied stock worth Rs. 24,57,766. 00. They have received only stock worth Rs. 21,19,962. 00as per their books of account- The first defendant-Firm also paid to the plaintiff-Company a sum of Rs. 13,51,560. 00. As the plaintiff-Company made supplies of stock directly to Safari Complex Company worth Rs. 15,000. 00; Rs. 35,280. 00 and Rs. 6,200. 00 which are diversions made by the plaintiff-Company, for which first defendant-Firm is not liable. First defendant-Finn is also entitled to Rs. 0-75 Ps. Commission which as per the letter of appointment dated 6-10-1983 comes to Rs. 40,912-50 Ps. The first defendant-Finn is also entitled to a rebate of Rs. 2. 00 which also comes to Rs. 71,380. 00, It is also stated that the quality of cement supplied by the plaintiff-Company is poor, and therefore, customers complained about the same, and as such, the first defendant-Firm paid compensation to them aggregating to Rs. 4,59,890. 00. All these amounts were due from the plaintiff-Company. Although the plaintiff-Company promised to take back the entire stock, in reality took only 1,000 bags and on account of this attitude also they suffered. The deposit of Rs. 25,000. 00 made by the defendants has to be accounted for by the plaintiff-Company. In all, the first defendant-Firm is ent
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