PATNA HIGH COURT
Hari Lal Agrawal and P.S.Sahay JJ.
Prasanjit Mahtha
Versus
United Commercial Bank
Appeal from Original Decree No. 562 of 1967 ;
Decided On : SEPTEMBER 4, 1978
Evidence Act, Sec. 115-No pleading regarding request of the principal debtor to create a contract of surety-Such plea was available when the suit against the principal debtor and the surety was filed-Plea is not available. (Paras 9 & 10)
Hindu Law-Debt incurred by father as surety for payment of money out of his interest in the joint family property-Surety to a Company in a new venture whether Avyavharika - Partition in the joint family after decree-Whether son is under pious obligation to pay such a debt.
Held that where the antecedent debt is binding on the son the subsequent partition between the father and the son is of no avail-Creditor can proceed against the entire estate of the joint family including the separated sons share-Son is under a pious obligation to discharge the debt out of the family property. (Para 14)
Held further that the avyavharika debt is one which is immoral or repugnant to good morals-Contract of surety by a father for which decree had been passed is neither illegal or immoral-The joint family estate is liable for such debt. (Para 22)
HARI LAL AGRAWAL, J.
1. This is a plaintiffs appeal arising out of a suit for declaration that the decree passed against his father (Pashupati Nath Mahtha) in Money Suit No. 17-B of 1958 by the 5th Additional District Judge, Nagpur, was not binding on him and could not be enforced against the properties falling to his share on partition, as the debt in question for which the decree was passed was Avyavaharika. The plaintiff being a minor, instituted the suit in question through his maternal uncle. In order to appreciate the question falling for our consideration, I may state the relevant facts in brief.
2. In the town of Muzaffarpur, lived one Shri S.N. Mahtha. He had two sons, namely, Rabindra Nath Mahtha and Pashupati Nath Mahtha, the father of the plaintiff. Undisputedly, a private limited company, namely, the Central Hindusthan Industrial Corporation (Private) Ltd. was started at Nagpur, in which the plaintiffs father was one of the directors. On 17th February, 1955, the aforesaid company opened a cash credit account with the defendant Bank at Nagpur. The original limit was only rupees five lacs, but this was raised from time to time. In September, 1955, it was first raised to Rs. 7.5 lakhs and on 25th February 1956, was further raised to rupees ten lakhs. According to the practice prevalent with the Bank, the defendant Bank in order to secure the loan under the above cash credit account, took a Demand Promissory Note for rupees five lakhs from the Company carrying interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum with quarterly rests in its favour, besides (i) a Letter of Hypothecation and (ii) a Letter of Continuity on the same date. The Bank also took a Letter of Guarantee in its favour by the Directors and Principal Officer of the Company which was also executed by Shri Sri Narain Mahtha, guaranteeing the payment of the loan advanced to the defendant company. When the limits were raised, the aforesaid security documents were also suitably renewed from time to time in favour of the Bank. The Letter of Guarantee in question has been filed in this case and is Ext. C. It may be mentioned at this very place that the ancestors of the plaintiff were cloth importers when it was a controlled item. It also established a Cold Storage, namely, Himalaya Ice Cold Storage Company. Shri S.N. Mahtha was the Treasurer and Guarantee Broker of the Central Bank of India. This company, however, was floated for doing business in manganese, of course, a new venture for the family.
3. Shri S.N. Mahtha died on 16-10-1956. The remaining guarantors mentioned above, however, continued to be the guarantors of the defendant Bank in respect of the cash credit account in question, so much so that on the 1st July 1957, the Company executed fresh documents in respect of their liability in the cash credit account namely, a Demand Promissory Note for rupees ten lakhs to which all the Directors and principal officer mentioned above (impleaded as defendants 2 to 7 in the Banks money suit in question) also joined along with the company. On that very day various security papers, namely, Letter of Continuity and Letter of Hypothecation, etc., were also executed in favour of the Bank whereby the defendants of the Banks money suit undertook joint and several responsibility and liability for payment of any balance that might at any time be found due from them in the aforesaid cash credit account.
4. Ultimately, the Bank had to institute the aforesaid Money Suit No. 17-B of 1958 in the Court of the 5th Additional District Judge, Nagpur, for recovery of a sum of Rs. 6,40,445.40. This suit was not contested and a petition of compromise was filed, whereby the defendants undertook to pay the entire claim of the Bank with costs in six monthly instalments, there being, also a default clause in the compromise petition. No payment was made towards the dues and the Bank got the decree transferred for execution to Muzaffarpur and put into execution in Execution Case No.
Hindustan Commercial Bank Ltd. V/s. Sohanlal Gagu Mal
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