2008 Supreme(AP) 438
Andhra Pradesh High Court
P.S. NARAYANA, J.
A.B. Patil - Appellant
Vs.
Orissa Transport Service, Hyderabad and another. - Respondent
Second Appeal No.358 of 1997
Decided On : 30-06-2008
Counsel for Appellant:- Agastya Sharma
Counsel for respondents: P.V.A. Padmanabham
Headnote:Partnership Ad 1932 - Sections 25, 2(a), (b) and (e):- Partnership firm is not liable to the loans advanced to the manager of the firm in the absence of cogent proof that the firm gave authorization to the Manager to barrow on behalf of the firm. The concept of implied agency can not be borrowed especially in the light of the fact that no other witness is brought to depose in support of the plea of the firm is bound by the actions of the Manager. The orders of the lower courts were set aside in the second appeal.
This Court ordered C.M.P.No.2125 of 2007 on 20.6.2008 and the dismissal order dated 21.3.2007 made in the second appeal was set aside and the second appeal was restored to file. The second appeal was heard and judgment was reserved on 20.6.2008.
2. Sri Agastya Sharma, learned counsel representing appellant had taken this Court through the substantial questions of law raised in the memorandum of grounds of second appeal and would point out that the appellate court totally erred in reversing the well considered judgment of the trial court. The learned counsel also had taken this Court through the oral evidence of P.W.1, D.Ws.1 and 2 and also the documentary evidence Exs.A-1 to A-3 and Exs.B-1 to B-5 and would maintain that in the facts and circumstances of the case when the Manager had issued Exs.A-1 to A-3, it may have to be taken that the amounts had been received on behalf of M/s. Orissa Transport Service and in fact the court of first instance appreciated the oral and documentary evidence available on record and came to the correct conclusion. Whereas, the appellate court, without appreciating the evidence available on record in proper perspective, had reversed the well considered judgment of the court of the first instance and allowed the appeal dismissing the suit. The learned counsel also would maintain that it is not as though the partners are available at Hyderabad. They are far away and the Manager alone will be looking after all the affairs of the transport service at Hyderabad and the Manager represents the firm as such and the acts of the Manager would be binding on the firm. The learned counsel also had drawn the attention of this Court to Section 25 of the Indian Partnership Act and also Section 2 (a) and 2 (b) of the said Act and would maintain that in the light of the said provisions, the decree of the court of first instance to be restored and the findings recorded by the appellate court to be disturbed by setting aside the decree and judgment made by the appellate court dismissing the suit.
3. On the contrary, Sri P.V.A. Padmanabham, learned counsel representing respondents had taken this Court through the findings recorded by the appellate court and would maintain that the principal question to be decided is that whether the Manager was authorized to enter into these transactions and in the absence of any authority, the acts of said manager would be unauthorized and such acts will not be binding on the firm. In other words, the counsel would maintain that the firm cannot be made liable for such unauthorized acts of the Manager and if at all any receipts had been passed by the Manager even specifying the name of the firm, the Manager as such may be fastened with the liability and not the firm and even otherwise in the absence of the Manager, no relief as such can be granted and, hence, the appellate court is well justified in reversing the decree and judgment made by the trial court.
4. Heard the counsel on record, perused the oral and documentary evidence on record, the findings recorded by the court of first instance and also the findings recorded by the appellate court as well.
5. The substantial questions of law on the strength of which submissions had been made by the counsel on record are as hereunder:
a) Whether the appellate court can reject Exs.A-1 to Ex.A-3 received and marked on behalf of the appellant having no evidential valuez
b) Whether Ex.B-1 cash statement prepared by respondent No.1 is the valid and binding on the appellant herein and similarly statement of account marked as Ex.B-2 has any bearing to the suit transaction?
c) Whether the act of the then Manager does not bind the respondents 1 and 2 herein, who accepted as their agent?
d) Whether the evidence of D.W.1 and D.W.2 having no personal knowledge, can be believed?
6. The parties hereinafter would be referred to as shown in O.S.No.2591 of 1987 on the file of IX Assistant Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad.
7. The suit