SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2007 Supreme(Bom) 157

2007(3) ALL MR 84
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
(AURANGABAD BENCH)
P. V. KAKADE, J.
Manesh s/o. Rajkumar Kanhed- Petitioner
Versus
Ramesh Bhagwansa Walale- Respondent
Civil Revision Application No. 143 of 2005
Decided on 6th February, 2007.
Advocates appeared
Shri. A. S. BAJAJ, Advocate for Petitioner.
P. S. AGRAWAL, Advocate for Respondent.

Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 34 - Interest - Grant of - Expression "commercial transaction" - Taking of hand loan for whatever purposes - Starting a business of agency - Not comes within four corners of definition of "commercial transaction". - Taking of hand-loan for whatever purposes, including starting a business of agency, cannot come within the four corners of definition of "commercial transaction".

JUDGMENT :- Heard both the sides.

2. Rule, made returnable forthwith.

3. This revision petition is filed against the order passed by the Additional District Judge, Hingoli dismissing the appeal and confirming the judgment and order passed by the C.J.S.D., Hingoli decreeing the suit for recovery of the amount and directing the petitioner - defendant to pay the amount of Rs.95,625/- to the plaintiff along with future interest @ 15% per annum from the date of suit till the realization of the decretal amount.

4. The learned Counsel for the petitioner, at the outset, submitted that he is challenging only the direction to pay future interest @ 15% per annum. According to him, it is contrary to the provisions of Section 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

5. The factual matrix involved in the dispute shows that the plaintiff and the defendant are relatives of each other. The defendant wanted to take agency and servicing center of Bajaj M-80 at Hingoli. Hence he needed the amount. Being relatives of each other, the defendant demanded hand-loan of Rs.1,75,000/- for the period of two months. Upon repeated insistence, the plaintiff has given Rs.1,75,000/- to the defendant on 29-03-1995. With the help of the said amount, the defendant started his business but, did not repay the amount as agreed. However, the defendant paid Rs.85,000/- in cash on 04-10-1995 and issued a post dated cheque for remaining amount of Rs.90,000/-, which ultimately, bounced and, therefore, the suit came to be filed.

6. The learned trial Judge, after hearing both the parties and on the basis of the evidence on record, came to the conclusion that the transaction between the parties was commercial in nature and, therefore, the future interest was granted @ 15% per annum as prayed for by the plaintiff. The learned lower appellate Court Judge, after hearing both the parties, confirmed the order passed by the trial Court and dismissed the appeal. Since second appeal is not permissible, pertaining to the claim, the present civil revision application is filed.

7. The moot question around which the dispute revolves is as· to whether the transaction between the parties could be termed as commercial transaction within the meaning of Section 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure?

8. It is needless to mention that the provision of Section 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure is clear enough to show that the award of the rate of interest till date of decree is in the discretion of the court, taking into account the facts and circumstances involved.

However, the award of future interest after decree is restricted to the rate of 6% per annum except for commercial transactions wherein the rate of future interest may exceed six per cent per annum, but shall not exceed the contractual rate of interest or where there is no contractual rate, the rate at which moneys are lent or advanced by nationalized banks in relation to commercial transactions.

9. Now, admittedly, there was no agreement entered into between the parties to pay interest in this case. The rate of interest was claimed at the rate of 15% per annum on the basis that it was a commercial transaction. Both the Courts below have held that it was an admitted position that it was the commercial transaction and on that basis, awarded rate of interest at the given rate. Now, the record shows that it is an admitted position that both the parties are relatives of each other and again admittedly, when the defendant needed amount to start his business, he demanded hand-loan of Rs.1,75,000/- for the period of two months. In my considered view, the demand for hand loan and conceding to such demand, would not amount to commercial transaction within the meaning of Explanation II, to Section 34 of C.P.C., which reads thus:

"Explanation II.- For the purposes of this section, a transaction is a commercial transaction, if it is connected with the industry, trade or business of the party incurring the liability."

10. Therefore, taking of hand-loan for whateve




Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top