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2005 Supreme(Cal) 565

High Court Of Calcutta
BHASKAR BHATTACHARYA, SADHAN KUMAR GUPTA
BANGLADESH SHIPPING CORPORATION - Appellant
Versus
BATA INDIA LTD. - Respondent
FA 83 Of 1989
Decided On : 08/25/2005

Advocates Appeared:
AMALENDU MITRA, Supriya Bose

A suit for recovery of money for short landing and damage of cargo under the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 must be filed within one year from the date of delivery of goods or the date when the goods should have been delivered.

Headnote:

LIMITATION ACT - INDIAN CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA ACT, 1925 - ARTICLE III, RULE 6 - SUIT FOR RECOVERY OF MONEY FOR SHORT LANDING AND DAMAGE OF CARGO - LIMITATION PERIOD - ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF DELIVERY OF GOODS OR THE DATE WHEN THE GOODS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELIVERED.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiffs filed a suit for recovery of money against the defendant for short landing and damage of cargo. The plaintiffs claimed that on 7th May 1981, the defendant's vessel arrived at the Calcutta Port and unloaded the cargo with short-delivery and in damaged condition. The defendant contested the suit and pleaded that the suit was barred by limitation.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the suit was filed within the period of limitation. The court found that the suit was barred by limitation as per Article III, Rule 6 of the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, which provides that the suit must be filed within one year from the date of delivery of the goods or the date when the goods should have been delivered.

Issues: 1. Whether the suit was barred by limitation? 2. Whether the plaintiffs proved short landing of the goods and the damages suffered by them on that account?

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the suit was barred by limitation as per Article III, Rule 6 of the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, which provides that the suit must be filed within one year from the date of delivery of the goods or the date when the goods should have been delivered. The court found that the plaintiffs failed to prove the date of leaving the port of Calcutta, and therefore, limitation should start from the date of delivery of goods namely, 7th May 1981. As the suit was filed on 12th May 1982, it was barred by limitation.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment and decree passed by the learned Trial Judge on the ground that the suit was barred by limitation.

BHASKAR BHATTACHARYA, J.

( 1 ) THIS first appeal is at the instance of a defendant in a suit for recovery of money and is directed against the Judgment and Decree, dated July 22, 1988 passed by the Assistant District Judge. 8th Court, Alipore in money Suit No. 54 of 1982 thereby passing a decree for recovery of Rs. 1,09,315/-against the appellant herein.

( 2 ) THE respondent filed the aforesaid suit in the 8th Court of Assistant District Judge, alipore, against the appellant and the case made out by the respondents may be summed up thus : (a) On or about 24th April. 1981, on the vessel "s. S. SOLIDARITY" owned by the defendant, at the port of Moji, Japan, 200 bags of special grade synthetic rubber known as "nipol HS-860 B. T. N. " in good condition were boarded by Messers Ferimek ltd. Tokyo, Japan and the defendant in consideration of the freight paid, agreed with the said shipper to carry to the port of calcutta and deliver those goods in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract of shipment evidenced by the bill of lading dated 25th April, 1981 issued by or on behalf of the defendant. (b) The plaintiff No. 1 was the owner of the said cargo and also the endorsee for value of the said bill of lading. The said vessel arrived at Port of Calcutta on 7th May, 1981 and unloaded the said cargo on or about the selfsame day with short-delivery and in damaged condition. ' (c) Out of 2000 bags of the said cargo, only 1641 bags were landed and the remaining bags being 359 bags could not be found and/or landed. (d) On a survey held on 13th June, 1981 by the surveyor appointed by the plaintiffs, the said cargo was found to be damaged and short in quantity and the aforesaid short landing of cargo was caused by the negligence and failure on the part of the defendant or its agents or servants to exercise proper care in handling and carrying and storing during transit in breach of their obligations under the said bill of the said cargo. (e) The plaintiff No. 1 suffered loss and damages amounting to Rs. 1,17,441. 64p. , as a result of short landing and damage of the cargo. By a letter dated 25th July, 1981 the plaintiff No. 1 lodged its claim against the defendant with its agents but the claim was ignored. The said cargo was, however, covered under an "all RISKS" marine insurance policy issued by plaintiff No. 2 in consideration of premium paid by the plaintiff No. 1. (f) The plaintiff No. 1 submitted its claim to palintiff No. 2 for loss of the insured goods and the plaintiff No. 2 paid a sum of Rs. 1,17,441. 64p to plaintiff No. 1 in full and final settlement of the said demand. (g) On payment of the aforesaid amount by plaintiff No. 2, the plaintiff No. 1 assigned the said policy to the plaintiff No. 2 who became suborgated to all the rights and remedies of the plaintiff No. 1 against the defendant in respect of the loss due to short delivery of the said cargo. (h) The plaintiffs claimed a sum of Rs. 1,09,315. 50p being the actual loss sustained due to short landing of 359 bags of the said cargo at the rate of Rs. 304. 50p. per bag and the balance sum of Rs. 8,126. 14p was waived.

( 3 ) DEFENDANT contested the aforesaid suit by filing written statement thereby denying the material allegations made in the plaint. The defendant, apart from taking the plea that the suit was not maintainable and was barred by limitation, denied all the allegations made in the plaint.

( 4 ) AT the time of hearing of the suit, one mohhamad Jalauddin Khan, an employee of plaintiff No. 2 was examined in support of the plaintiffs' claim and was cross-examined by the learned advocate of the defendant but no evidence, either oral or documentary, was adduced on behalf of the defendant.

( 5 ) BY the Judgment and Decree impugned herein the learned trial Judge has decreed the suit in full after overruling all the objections taken by the defendant.

( 6 ) BEING dissatisfied, the defendant has come up with the present appeal.

( 7 ) MR. Bose, the learned







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