PATNA HIGH COURT
Syed Md.Mahfooz Alam, J.
Amar Singh
Versus
Baliram Singh
Appeal from Appellate Decree No. 437 of 1987 ;
Decided On : APRIL 12, 2006
2000(2) ALL PLR-Relied upon.
AIR 1965 SC 1405-Distinguished.
Specific Relief Act, 1963-Section 20-Merely on the ground of delay the relief for specific performance of contract can not be refused-But if the conduct of plaintiff is such which is directly responsible in inducing the defendant to change his position to his prejudice then in that situation the relief for specific performance of contract which is a discretionary relief can not be granted. (Para 16)
AIR 1958 Pat 53, AIR 1960 Pat 109 AIR 1971 AP 279, AIR 1965 SC 1405-Relied upon.
Registration Act, 1908-Sections 23, 25, 36, 37 and 77 read with section 20 of Specific Relief Act 1963-Suit for specefic performance of contract-Registration of sale deed-Plaintiff not taking any attempt to get the sale deed compulsorily registered within a period of four months as provided under section 23 nor filed any application for condoning of delay u/s 25-Also not served any notice upon original defendant asking him to register the document-Plaintiff did not avail the opportunity for getting the sale deed registered-Conduct of plaintiff established beyond doubt that he had waived his right to get the sale deed registered and is tantamount to abandonment of contract and waiver of his right to see for specific performance of contract-Since the relief for specific performance of contract is always a discretionary relief plaintiff is not entitled to get relief. (Para 16)
Code of Civil Procedure 1908-Section 100-Second appeal-High Court is not empowered to re appraise the evidence of the parties unless it is found that the finding of the first appellate court is perverse. (Para 17)
Syed Md.Mahfooz Alam, J.
1. This Second Appeal has been preferred against the judgment dated 26th September, 1987 and decree dated 9.11.87 passed by the 3rd Additional District Judge, East Champaran at Motihari, in Title Appeal No. 95 of 1977 / 36 of 1987 whereby he has been pleased to set aside the judgment dated 14th May, 1977 and decree dated 30.5.77 passed by Sri S. N. Sinha, 1st Additional Sub-Judge, Motihari, in Title Suit No. 82 of 1974 / 137 of 1976 and decreed the suit of the plaintiff for specific performance of contract.
2. Brief facts of the case of the parties are as follows:
The plaintiff Baliram Singh finalised talk of sale of 5 Kattha 16 dhurs of land of village Gobindpur on payment of consideration money amounting to Rs. 6.000.00 with the defendant Atma Singh and, accordingly, on 14.4.73 the plaintiff paid rupees one thousand to defendant Atma Singh by way of earnest money but as the plaintiff and defendant were Gotiyas, as such, no hand note was required to be executed with respect to the payment of earnest money. The defendant promised to take the balance amount of consideration money after registration of sale deed at the time of exchange of the registration receipt. After finalisation of talk, the defendant Atma Singh asked the plaintiff to purchase the stamp for getting the sale deed registered. Accordingly, on 16.4.1973, the plaintiff purchased the stamp and informed the defendant regarding the purchase of stamp. The plaintiff also informed the defendant that he was ready to pay the balance consideration amount, whereupon, the defendant assured the plaintiff that he would register the sale deed on 18.4.73 as on that very date he had to register one more sale deed. Further case is that on 18.4.73 the defendant along with Yadu Nath Singh, the identifier came to Motihari and instructed Hari Shanker Prasad, Katib to write the contents of the sale deed who at the instance of defendant wrote the contents of the sale deed. Thereafter, the said Hari Shanker Prasad read over and explained the contents of the sale deed to defendant Atma Singh, who after finding the contents of the sale deed correct put his L.T.I on the sale deed and Yadu Nandan Singh became witness and identifier on the sale deed. Further case is that on that date the time of registration lapsed and, as such, the documents could not be produced before the registry office for registration then both the parties agreed that on the next date the document would be registered. On the next date the plaintiff approached the defendant but on the pretext that he was suffering from acute dysentery the defendant showed his inability to go to Motihari for getting the sale deed registered. However, he asked the plaintiff to keep the sale deed in his possession and promised that on recovery he would get the sale deed registered. Thereafter, on several occasions the plaintiff requested the defendant to get the sale deed registered but the defendant put off the matter until the time for registration was over. It is further said that the plaintiff was always ready to pay the remaining consideration money and to meet the registration expenses but the defendant failed to get the sale deed registered and, hence, the necessity of filing the suit for Specific Performance of Contract arises.
3. The defendant appeared and filed written statement stating therein that it was not correct to say that he had agreed to sell his land and execute sale deed for consideration of rupees six thousand out of which rupees one thousand was paid by way of earnest money. He has also denied this fact that he had asked the plaintiff to purchase the stamp nor he had made any promise to get the sale deed registered after receiving the rest consideration amount at the time of exchange of registration receipt. It is not correct to say that the plaintiff had purchased stamp for execution of sale deed on 16.4.73 and had informed the defendant about the purchase of stamp. The defendant has
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