AIR 2007 DELHI 175
PRADEEP NANDRAJOG, J.
M/s. Packing Paper Sales and Anr.
Versus
Smt. Veena Lata Khosla.
C. M. No. 543 of 2005
Decided On:- 15-3-2007.
Stamp Duty - Recovery Suit - Indian Stamp Act 1899, Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 - Section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act 1899, Section 4 and 13 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiffs filed a recovery suit against the defendants, alleging that the defendants inherited the estate of late Shri O. S. Khosla who took a loan from the first plaintiff. The admissibility of the loan acknowledgment documents was challenged due to insufficient stamp duty.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the documents were primarily intended to be receipts and not negotiable in the ordinary mercantile sense, and therefore not promissory notes. The impugned order was set aside, and the documents were to be treated as admissible in evidence upon payment of requisite stamp duty and penalty.
Issues: Admissibility of loan acknowledgment documents due to insufficient stamp duty.
Ratio Decidendi: The intention of the parties at the time of execution of the document is crucial in determining whether a document is a promissory note or not. The substance of the document, surrounding circumstances, and negotiability in the popular sense are to be considered.
Final Decision: The impugned order was set aside, and the documents were to be treated as admissible in evidence upon payment of requisite stamp duty and penalty.
2. I would be referring to the parties as plaintiffs and defendants respectively.
3. A recovery suit was filed by the plaintiffs alleging that the defendants have inherited the estate of late Shri O. S. Khosla who took a loan in sum of Rs. 25,000/- from the first plaintiff. Acknowledging the loan and agreeing to repay the same within 1 year together with interest @ 24% per annum, a writing was stated to have been executed by late Shri O. S. Khosla which reads as under:-
"I, O.S. Khosla s/o late V. N. Khosla r/o B-11/8262, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi hereby acknowledge that I have received a loan amount of Rs. 25,000/- from M/s. Packing Paper Sales, 2483, Chhipiwara Kalan, Chawri Bazar, Delhi-110006 through its partner Shri G. K. Jain through cheque bearing No. 105229 drawn upon Allahabad Bank, Hauz Qazi Branch, Delhi-110006.
I Promise to pay back the loan amount to Shri G. K. Jain, partner of M/s. Packing Paper Sales, within one year from today i.e. 22-10-1991 within one year from 22-10-1991 along with interest@ 24% per annum.
Sd/-
(O.S. Khosla)"
4. That, loan was taken on 22-10-1991. Same was not repaid. On 6-6-1994, another acknowledgment with a promise to pay back the loan was stated to have been executed by late Shri O.S. Khosla. The acknowledgment coupled with a promise to pay reads as under :-
"It is acknowledge by me today on 6-6-1994 that O.S. Khosla son of late Shri V. N. Khosla resident of B-11/8262, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi has taken a loan amount of Rs. 25,000/- from M/s. Packing Paper Sales, 2483, Chhipiwar Kalan, Chawri Bazar, Delhi-110006 through its partner Shri G. K. Jain on interest @ 24% per annum.
And I promise to pay it back within six months. I will also pay the up to date interest.
Sd/-
(Om Sarup Khosla)"
5. Rs. 2,000/- towards interest was paid by late Shri O. S. Khosla. Acknowledging the loan and promising to repay the same as also requesting to waive the interest, on 4-11-1996, late Shri O.S. Khosla was stated to have executed a writing which reads as under :-
"This is acknowledged today on 4-11-1996 by me that I O.S. Khosla son of late Shri V. N. Khosla resident of B-11/8262,Vasant Kunj, New Delhi shall pay back the loan amount of Rs. 25000/- (Rupees Twenty five thousand only) to M/s. Packing Paper Sales, 2483, Chhipiwara Kalan, Chawri Bazar, Delhi-110006 through its partner Shri G. K. Jain.
I have already paid the amount of Rs. 2000/- (Rs. Two thousand only) in cash to Shri G. K. Jain towards the interest amount. I am very ill and I am unable to pay the interest. It is requested that interest amount may be forgone.
Sd/-
(Om Sarup Khosla)"
6. Stating that the defendants, being the wife and son respectively of late Shri O. S. Khosla inherited his estate, since principal i.e. Rs. 25,000/- as also interest in sum of Rs. 18,000/- from November 1996 to October 1999 was repayable, defendants were liable to repay the same.
7. So alleging, recovery suit was filed.
8. When witnesses of the plaintiff were being examined and the 3 aforenoted writings stated to have been executed by late Shri O. S. Khosla were sought to be proved, an objection was raised to the admissibility of the documents alleging that the same were promissory notes and requisite stamp duty not having been paid or affixed thereon, the same were inadmissible in evidence.
9. Plea taken by the plaintiff was that being acknowledgments, documents were liable to be regularized by paying the requisite penalty as also the stamp duty, which was offered to be paid, hence plaintiffs stated that the documents should be treated as admissible in evidence and plaintiff be permitted to prove the same in accordance with law.
10. Vide order dated 15-1-2005, holding that the documents were promissory notes which could
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