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2017 Supreme(Chh) 144

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH
Chandra Bhushan Bajpai, J.
LIC of India - Appellant
Versus
Prem Chand Shukla - Respondent
FA No. 6 of 2002
Decided On : 03-03-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Mukesh Sharma
For the Respondent: Mr. Shaktiraj Sinha

Headnote:

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 96 - Limitation Act - Article 37 - Termination from services - Recovery of remaining loan amount and interest - Appellant has challenged legality and propriety of judgment and decree - Plaintiff/appellant respondent/defendant was working as Development Officer under services of plaintiff - On his request on loan was granted to respondent - Defendant purchased a four wheeler bearing Registration vehicle was hypothecated - Appellant gave loan for purchase of said vehicle - Both parties entered into an agreement on - As per said agreement loan amount was to be deducted from salary of respondent First installment was last being starting from month of January services of respondent were terminated - Held, By relying on the case law cited the provisions of Article 37 of Limitation Act as the document itself has to be considered there is no any termination clause that immediately after death or termination from service, entire amount outstanding shall be due from the said court am not in agreement with arguments advanced and the appreciation of Court below that the entire amount is to be barred by limitation - It is not the case that entire amount is due from of termination only - After consideration of acknowledgement given by defendant he was agreed to pay instalment till last instalment - With this document simpliciter is not effective from but it was effective for specific instalment within years from of agreement - So far as interest part is concerned as there is no provision for award of interest in case of termination from service or death for sake of argument if defendant would have continued to serve in service he was not required to pay any interest - Appeal allowed

JUDGMENT :

Chandra Bhushan Bajpai, J.

By this first appeal under Section 96 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (in brevity "Code"), the appellant has challenged the legality and propriety of the judgment and decree dated 19-10-2001 passed by the Additional District Judge, Manendragarh Distt. Koriya in Civil Suit No. 4B/1998 whereby and where under learned Court below has dismissed the suit filed by the plaintiff/appellant for recovery of remaining loan amount and interest Rs. 1,92,399/- and held that as the suit filed by the appellant/plaintiff is barred by limitation, the plaintiff/appellant is not entitled for any relief.

2. As per claim of the plaintiff/appellant, the respondent/defendant was working as Development Officer under the services of the plaintiff. On his request on 17-11-1990, loan was granted to the respondent for Rs.2,17,300/-. The defendant purchased a four wheeler bearing Registration No. MP 23 B 3140. The vehicle was hypothecated. The appellant gave loan for purchase of the said vehicle. Both the parties entered into an agreement on 17-11-1990. As per said agreement, the loan amount was to be deducted from the salary of the respondent; First instalment was of Rs. 2,265/-, last being Rs.2,125/- starting from the month of January, 1991. On 30-3-1994, services of respondent were terminated. The respondent after his termination not paid any instalment since April, 1994 and also not returned the said four wheeler to the plaintiff. Then the plaintiff filed a civil suit on 14-5-1998. As per pleadings, the amount due was Rs. 1,28,695/- till date along with interest at the rate of 12% i.e. Rs. 63,704/-. The appellant by filing said civil suit prayed that the defendant be directed to return Rs. 1,92,399/- and also the interest due after filing of the suit. It is submitted that cause of action arose on 18-12-1997. The defendant filed written statement, admitted the loan to purchase four wheeler, which was to be deducted on instalment as agreed from his salary but as the services of the respondent were illegally terminated, hence the agreement to repay the loan came to an end. The defendant prayed that the loan amount may be adjusted from whatever gratuity, PF and interim bonus deposited with the plaintiff, The plaintiff had not agreed on it. It is also pleaded that the suit is barred by limitation. Hence the suit may be dismissed as not maintainable.

3. Learned trial Court framed issues.

4. In order to prove their case, parties adduced their evidence and submitted documents in their support.

5. After affording opportunity of hearing to the parties, learned trial Court answered issue No. 1 as affirmative that till 15-5-1998, Rs. 1,92,399/- loan amount was due against the defendant. The trial Court further held that plaintiff failed to prove issue No. 2 that the suit is within limitation and held that as the suit is barred by limitation, the plaintiff is not entitled for any claim prayed for.

6. Against assessment on issue No. 1, the present defendant has not preferred any independent appeal or cross-appeal.

7. Against dismissal of the suit on the basis of the same being barred by limitation, the plaintiff has filed instant first appeal and the grounds taken in the memo of appeal are that the trial Court failed to appreciate the facts and evidence brought on record in its right perspective, failed to appreciate that the right accrues for recovery of suit amount, erred in holding that the suit is barred by limitation and as there was no any default clause in the hypothecation agreement, instalments were still payable by the respondent when the suit was filed before the trial Court and the suit was not barred by limitation prescribed. The vehicle in question still stands hypothecated in the name of plaintiff, delivery of vehicle ought to have been directed. With this, it is prayed that instant first appeal may be allowed, th























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