SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2007 Supreme(Del) 2388

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Honble Mr.Justice Manmohan, Sarin Honble Mr.Justice, Sudershan Kumar Misra
Neeraj Jain ...Petitioner
Versus
Bharat Kothari ...Respondent
R.F.A No. 101 of 2007
Decided On : October 10, 2007

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. G.D. Gandhi, Advocate
Mr. Ashok Chhabra, Advocate

The main legal point established in the judgment is the importance of evidence in supporting claims related to financial transactions and the court's authority to modify decrees based on reasonable considerations.

Headnote:

Loan - Dishonored Cheque - Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Section 138 - Section 139 - Section 142 - Section 147 - Section 148

Fact of the Case:

The respondent gave a temporary loan to the appellant, who claimed that the amount was given for interior decoration work by a company. The appellant issued a cheque for the loan amount, which was dishonored. The court found that the cheque was not for interior decoration but for loan repayment.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the appellant's contention regarding the purpose of the cheque was not supported by evidence. It also upheld the trial court's finding on the dishonored cheque and the liability of the appellant to pay the loan amount with interest.

Issues: The main issue was the purpose of the cheque issued by the appellant and the liability for the loan amount. The court also addressed the discrepancy in the interest rate claimed by the respondent.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the absence of evidence supporting the appellant's claim about the purpose of the cheque and upheld the trial court's findings on the dishonored cheque and loan liability. It also modified the interest rate based on the evidence presented.

Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the court modified the decree to award interest at a lower rate on the loan amount.

Manmohan Sarin, J.

1.This Regular First Appeal has been preferred against the judgment passed by the court of Shri Lal Singh, Additional District Judge, Delhi on 30th November 2006. Learned Judge decreed the suit for a sum of Rs. 3,17,240/- along with cost and interest @ 6% per annum from the date of institution of suit till the realization of decretal amount in favour of respondents. Trial Court Record was called for on 20.2.2007 which was received. Before we notice the grounds of challenge and submissions of the appellant, it would be appropriate to set out in brief the facts culminating in the filing of the suit and passing of the impugned order. i) Respondent gave a temporary loan of Rs. 1,75,000/-(Rs. One lac seventy five thousand) to the appellant on 28.11.96. Respondents wife who is also the attorney of the respondent further gave a loan of Rs. 1,25,000/- on the request of appellant. Respondent claims that it was verbally agreed that appellant would pay interest @ 36% per annum to the respondent and also return the temporary loan amount on or before 1.3.98. ii) Respondent claims that appellant returned a sum of Rs.1,75,000/- in March 1997. Appellant issued a cheque of Rs. 2,06,000/- bearing No. 027935 drawn on Central Bank of India, Okhla Branch towards the balance payment of principal amount and towards the interest for the period 28.11.96 to 31.3.98. iii) On 17.4.98, when the said cheque was presented for encashment through the State Bank of India, it was returned unpaid vide memo dated 19.4.98 for “insufficient funds”. The said cheque was again presented for encashment after discussion with the appellant and his father in law, on 29.6.98. The cheque was returned again vide memo dated 30.6.98. Hence suit was filed and decreed against the appellant. The said judgment and decree is assailed in the present appeal.

2.Learned Counsel for the appellant, Mr G.D. Gandhi contended that appellant had never taken any loan from the respondent. He submits that the cheque of Rs. 2,06,000 (Rs.Two lac and six thousand) in question had been given by the appellant as a Director of the company M/s Graffiti International Pvt. Ltd. in anticipation of the work of interior decoration which was to be done by the respondent. He further submitted that the cheque in question being without consideration was dishonored and no personal liability had been incurred by the appellant as it was for the work of the company M/s Graffiti International Pvt. Ltd., which was also not done.

3.Appellant urged that the respondent was over anxious to involve and implicate him so much so that he had not pursued the case against other defendant M/s Graffiti International Private Ltd. He contended that the trial court had failed to establish issuance of the cheque in question on behalf of the company without appreciating that the cheque in question bore the seal and stamp of the company and by issuance of the said cheque, the appellant had not incurred any personal liability.

4.Appellant further urged that the respondents wife and attorney had herself admitted that the loan of Rs.1,25,000 had been given not by her husband but by her mother but she failed to produce her mother and thus, the said loan itself not been legally proved. Thus there was no subsisting liability against the appellant. Counsel for appellant Mr. Gandhi submits that the respondents claim of advancing Rs. 1,25,000/-to the appellant is not proved as no proof of cheque having been given has been tendered.

5.It is in the aforesaid background of facts and pleadings that we have to consider the challenge to the judgment by which suit has been decreed.

6.The main plank of appellants submission which arises for our consideration is the purpose for which the cheque for Rs. 2,06,000/- was issued by the appellant which has been returned unencashed. Appellants contention is that the cheque of Rs. 2,06,000 from M/s Graffiti International Private Ltd. of which appellant was a director was towards the




Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top