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2019 Supreme(Chh) 81

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
RAM PRASANNA SHARMA, J.
NAVEEN JAIN - Appellant
Versus
HITESH BHAI PATEL - Respondent
First Appeal No. 190 of 2006
Decided on : 02-05-2019

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
Arjun Yadav, Adv., Manoj Paranjpe, Adv.

Headnote:

Stamp Act, 1899 - Section 35 and 2(22) - Negotiable Instruments Act - Section 4 - Suit filed by respondent - Execution of promissory - Recovery of amount - Appeal is preferred against judgment and decree passed by Additional District Judge Durg (FTC in Civil Suit wherein said Court decreed the suit filed by respondent/defendant for recovery of amount - Respondent/plaintiff appellant/defendant took loan of for his business and executed four promissory notes each in favor of respondent/plaintiff - It is also alleged that appellant agreed orally to pay interest per month thereon - Appellant did not pay principal amount and interest – Held, Court is right in holding that documents produced before said court are promissory notes - From the evidence it is clearly established that the appellant borrowed a sum of amount and four promissory notes were executed in his favor and has delivered amount of execution of promissory notes on - Version of this witness is supported by four promissory notes therefore bald statement of appellant side against document is not acceptable - Trial court is right in holding that appellant borrowed a sum - Appeal dismissed

JUDGMENT :

RAM PRASANNA SHARMA, J.

1. This appeal is preferred against judgment and decree dated 21-8-2006 passed by 8th Additional District Judge, Durg (FTC in Civil Suit No.10-B/2004 wherein the said Court decreed the suit filed by the respondent/defendant for recovery of amount to the tune of Rs. 1,00,000/- with interest @ 6% per annum.

2. As per version of respondent/plaintiff, appellant/.defendant took loan of Rs.1,00,000/- on 30-5-1999 for his business and executed four promissory notes of Rs.25,000/- each in favour of respondent/plaintiff. It is also alleged that the appellant agreed orally to pay 2% interest per month thereon. Appellant did not pay the principal amount and interest that is why suit was filed and after hearing the parties, the trial Court has decreed the suit as mentioned above.

3. Learned counsel for the appellant submits as under:

(i) The document produced by the respondent is not promissory note but a bond and bond must be properly stamped as per Section 35 of the Stamp Act, 1899 otherwise, it is inadmissible in evidence.

(ii) No amount was paid to the appellant, therefore, said promissory note is a false document.

(iii) When the amount is not received by the appellant, he is not under obligation to repay the same, therefore, finding arrived at by the trial court is not sustainable.

He placed reliance in the matters of Mst. Indrani Bai vs. Shriram,1968 MPLJ 51, Praveen Nahar vs. Krishan Gopal Sanghi,2005 10 LAWS(MPH) 38, Shyamrao vs Champalal, 2007 AIR SC 13, Mannalal Nanhelal vs. Sitambernath Ramhirdelal,1960 10 LAW(MPH) 31.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents would submit that the finding arrived at by the trial Court is based on proper marshalling of evidence and same is not liable to be interfered while invoking jurisdiction of the appeal. He placed reliance in the matters of Ram Kishan Dwivedi vs. Rohni Prasad Tiwari and others, (2009) LawSuit(MP) 287, Bhismat Pandey vs. Phoola, (2009) LawSuit(MP) 108 and Mallavarapu Kasivisweswara Rao vs. Thadikonda Ramulu Firm, (2009) LawSuit(SC) 952.

5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record of the court below in which judgment/decree has been passed.

6. The first question for consideration of this court is whether the documents Ex.P/1 to P/4 are promissory notes or bonds.

7. To appreciate the rival contention of the parties, it would be appropriate if the definition of bond in the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 may be referred which reads thus:

Bond:

Section 2(5) 'Bond' includes:

(a) any instrument whereby a person obliges himself to pay money to another, on condition that the obligation shall be void if a specified act is performed, or is not performed, as the case may be;

(b) any instrument attested by a witness and not payable to order or bearer, whereby a person obliges himself to pay money to another; and

(c) any instrument so attested, whereby a person obliges himself to deliver grain or other agricultural produce to another.

Promissory note has been defined in Section 2(22) which reads thus:

Promissory Note:

Section 2(22) 'Promissory note' means a promissory note as defined by the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; It also includes a note promising the payment of any sum of money out of any particular fund which may or may not be available, or upon any condition or contingency which may or may not be performed or happen.

As per Section 2(22) the definition of Promissory note shall be as defined by Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. For ready reference the definition of promissory note as defined in Section 4 of the Negotiable Instruments Act may be referred, which reads as under:

4. 'Promissory note'.- A 'promissory note' is an instrument in writing (not being a banknote or a currency- note) containing an unconditional undertaking, signed by the maker, to pay a certain sum of money only to, or to the order of, a certain person, or to the bearer of the instrument.

Now in the light of aforesaid definitions firstly the definition of pro















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