High Court Of Calcutta
SABYASACHI MUKHERJI
TEXMACO LTD. - Appellant
Versus
STATE BANK OF INDIA - Respondent
Suit 562 Of 1977
Decided On : 05/12/1978
BANK GUARANTEE - PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE - INTERPRETATION - ENFORCEABILITY - INJUNCTION - SPECIAL EQUITIES - FRAUD - DISPUTE BETWEEN PARTIES - FINAL DECISION OF STC - DEMAND - PAYMENT ON DEMAND - NO CONTESTATION - NO REFERENCE TO TEXMACO - NO QUESTIONING OF LEGAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STC AND TEXMACO.
Fact of the Case:
Textile Machinery Corporation Ltd. (Texmaco) sought an injunction against the State Bank of India, State Trading Corporation of India, and the Projects and Equipment Corporation of India Ltd. to restrain the State Bank of India from releasing or making any payments to the State Trading Corporation of India and the Projects and Equipment Corporation of India Ltd. under or in respect of the performance guarantee issued by the State Bank of India.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the bank was obliged to pay on demand, if so stipulated, and whether the terms were such must have to be found out from the performance guarantee as such. In the instant case, the bank guarantee stipulated that payment will be made by the Bank down the line and be made by them on demand and without proof or conditions. Therefore, the moment a demand is made without protest and contestation, the bank has obliged itself to pay irrespective of any dispute as to whether there has been performance in an orderly manner of the contractual obligation by the party.
Issues: 1. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to an injunction restraining the State Bank of India from making any payment pursuant to the performance guarantee? 2. Whether the bank is obliged to pay and on what terms in the case of a bank guarantee? 3. Whether there has been a decision of STC as contemplated under Clause 3 of the bank guarantee and a demand?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The enforceability of a bank guarantee depends on the terms of the document. 2. The bank must pay according to the guarantee, on demand, if so stipulated, without proof or conditions. The only exception is when there is a clear fraud of which the Bank has notice. 3. The decision of STC as to the liability of the bank under the guarantee and the amounts payable thereunder shall be final and binding on the bank. The bank should forthwith pay the amount due notwithstanding any dispute between STC and Texmaco.
Final Decision: The application for injunction was dismissed. Interim orders, if any, were vacated.
( 1 ) THIS is an application in Suit No. 562 of 1972 whereby the petitioner, Textile Machinery Corporation Ltd. hereinafter referred to as Texmaco Ltd. asked for an injunction against the State Bank of India, State Trading Corporation of India and the Projects and Equipment Corporation of India Ltd. restraining the State Bank of India from releasing or making any payments to the State Trading Corporation of India and the Projects and Equipment Corporation of India Ltd. under or in respect of the performance Guarantee issued by the State Bank of India.
( 2 ) IN order to appreciate the contentions, it may be necessary briefly to refer to certain facts. It appears that on 23rd Oct. 1970, there was an agreement between the Community of the Yugoslav Railways and the State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. briefly referred to hereinafter as S. T. C. for manufacture in India and supply in Yugoslavia for different railways, known as ZTPs 1300 Gas type and 2300 EAS type wagons. Art. 10 of the said agreement provided that the technical guarantee was regulated by the provisions stated in Annexure VI. Annexure VI to the agreement provided that S. T. C. should give the guarantee for the high quality of the delivered wagons for a period of one year after the acceptance of the wagons in Yugoslavia. RUDNAP, a Yugoslav firm was the agent of the Community and also a confirming party to the agreement. On 4th June, 1971 back to back contract between S. T. C. and the plaintiff for manufacture and supply of 434 Gas wagons, 425 EAS wagons on the same terms and conditions of the export contract dated 23rd Oct. 1970 was entered into. The terms and conditions of the export contract including the terms as to the period of guarantee of one year were incorporated in the back to back contract. In the said contract, inter alia, it was stipulated as follows:"texmaco hereby indemnify and shall keep the S. T. C. indemnified against all actions, claims, proceedings, demand, damages, losses, costs and expenses in respect of or in connection with or in relation to or arising out of any matter under this contract and/or Export Contract relating to the WAGONS due to Texmaco's failure to perform any of its obligations under the contract. "thereafter, on or about 18th Sept. . 1971 there was an agreement between S. T. C. and the Braithwaite and Co. whereby Braithwaite agreed to manufacture and supply 425 EAS wagons. In Dec. 1972 the wagons to be supplied to ZTP could only be shipped in knocked down condition and contained various parts not available in India. An assembly contract was entered into between Indian manufacturers including the plaintiff and RUDNAP whereby RUDNAP were required to assemble the components of the wagons and to fit into the same the other imported parts. RUDNAP gave necessary undertakings and guarantees to the Indian manufacturers for due performance of its obligations. On 20th Jan. 1973 a tripartite agreement between S. T. C. the plaintiff and Braithwaite and Co. Ltd. , for reallocation between the plaintiff and the Braithwaite for the manufacture and delivery of the Railway wagons was made. Then, pursuant to the back to back contract, the State Bank of India, on or about 26th Feb. 1973 at the instance of the plaintiff gave a Bank guarantee in favour of S. T. C. for a sum of Rs. 49,50,570/- being 5 per cent of the price of the wagons for due performance by the plaintiff in an orderly manner their contractual obligations under the back to back contract. It is now relevant to refer to the said document. The said guarantee after reciting the previous contract, mentioned hereinbefore, recited that there was a back to back contract signed by the S. T. C. and Texmaco on 4th June, 1971 and a tripartite agreement had been entered into between the Textile Machinery Corporation Ltd. , Braithwaite and Co. Ltd. and the State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. on the 20th Jan. 1973 and the Texmaco had agreed to manufacture and sell
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