IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
VALMIKI J.MEHTA, J.
BHUPINDER SINGH - Appellant
Versus
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCING CORPORATION LIMITED & ANR - Respondents
RFA No.373 of 2018 and C.M. No.18205 of 2018(stay)
Decided on : 02-08-2018
ORDER XXXVII CPC - SUIT FOR RECOVERY OF MONEY - MAINTAINABILITY - LIQUIDATED AMOUNT - WRITTEN CONTRACT - BALANCE DUE AT THE FOOT OF THE ACCOUNT - DISTINGUISHED.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit under Order XXXVII CPC for recovery of money against the defendant, claiming a balance due at the foot of the account as the suit amount. The defendant filed an application for leave to defend, which was dismissed by the trial court. The defendant appealed the dismissal of the leave to defend application.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the suit was not maintainable under Order XXXVII CPC because the suit amount was not a liquidated amount arising from a written contract. The court noted that the suit amount was the balance due at the foot of the account, which was different from the amount stated in the loan agreement. The court also noted that the plaintiff had filed several other suits under Order XXXVII CPC, despite being aware that such suits were not maintainable.
Issues: Whether the suit was maintainable under Order XXXVII CPC.
Ratio Decidendi: A suit under Order XXXVII CPC is maintainable only if the suit amount is a liquidated amount arising from a written contract. A balance due at the foot of the account is not a liquidated amount arising from a written contract.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal and set aside the trial court's judgment. The court directed the trial court to treat the suit as an ordinary suit for recovery of money and to proceed accordingly.
VALMIKI J. MEHTA, J.
1. This Regular First Appeal under Section 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) is filed by the defendant no.1 in the suit impugning the judgment of the Trial Court dated 23.1.2018 by which trial court has dismissed the leave to defend application filed by the appellant/defendant No. 1 and has decreed the suit for recovery of moneys filed by the respondent no.1/plaintiff for a sum of Rs.20,26,108/-.
2. A reading of the plaint shows that the suit is not based on a dishonoured cheque or a written agreement containing the liquidated amount which is the suit amount. The suit plaint shows that the suit is filed on the ground that the term loan was granted to the appellant/defendant No. 1 and the appellant/defendant No. 1 executed a Loan Agreement on 22.03.2011. The total disbursement of Rs.18.75 lacs was made and which was repayable in equal monthly installments every month. Respondent no.1/plaintiff pleaded default in paying of the loan amount and the amount claimed in the suit is actually the amount which is the balance due at the foot of the account inasmuch as the appellant/defendant no.1 paid certain EMIs but defaulted in payment of certain other EMIs. Therefore the amount claimed in the suit is as a result of various debit and credit entries, and the balance at the foot of this account is the amount which is claimed by the respondent no.1/plaintiff in the suit.
3. An Order XXXVII CPC suit lies if the suit is based on a dishonoured cheque or an amount which is claimed in the suit arising as a liquidated amount specifically so stated as a liquidated liability in the written instrument including a guarantee. The suit amount claimed is not a liquidated amount payable under an agreement because the suit amount is the amount which is different than as contained in the loan agreement as it is the balance at the foot of the account as a result of various debit and credit entries over a long period of time. The subject suit therefore is not maintainable under Order XXXVII CPC and as so held by this Court in the judgment in the case of IFCI Factors Ltd. Vs. Maven Industries Ltd. & Ors. 225 (2015) DLT 32. The relevant paras of this judgment in the case of IFCI Factors Ltd. (supra) are paras 9 to 16 and these paras read as under:-
“9. Let us therefore see the averments which are made by the plaintiff in the present suit as to whether the suit should be treated under Order XXXVII CPC. In this regard, I would therefore reproduce and refer to paras 4, 5 and 8 to 10 of the suit plaint, and which paras read as under:-
“4. That the Defendant No.1, through its Senior Management, approached the Plaintiff and requested it to grant the Domestic Factoring facility to the Defendant No.1. The said Domestic Factoring facility was granted to the Defendant No.1 and the same was communicated to it by the Plaintiff vide Sanction Letter bearing no. IFL/VSK/2011/01/162 dated 24.01.2011 pursuant to which the Plaintiff entered into an agreement titled as “Agreement for Factoring of Receivables” dated 28.01.2011 with the Defendant No.1 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agreement’).
5. That by way of said Agreement dated 28.01.2011, the Plaintiff provided the Domestic Factoring with Recourse (hereinafter referred to as the “Facility”) facility to the Defendant No.1 for an amount of Rs. 5,00,00,000/- (Rupees Five Crores only).
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8. That the Defendant No.1, pursuant to the said Agreement, raised invoices on Jayesh Oil Trade Pvt. Ltd. and presented the same to the plaintiff for factoring. The Plaintiff paid a sum of Rs.4,98,07,015/- (Rupees Four Crores Ninety Eight Lacs Seven Thousand Fifteen only) towards the factoring of invoices. A sum of Rs.5,89,02,943/- (Rupees Five Crores Eight Nine Lacs Two Thousand Nine Hundred Forty Three only) is due from the Defendants towards the factoring charges, discounts, overdue discount
IFCI Factors Ltd. Vs. Maven Industries Ltd. & Ors. 225 (2015) DLT 32
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