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2017 Supreme(Ker) 1045

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
V. CHITAMBARESH, SATHISH NINAN, JJ.
Herman D'souza – Petitioner
Versus
Pradeep, Paul Chirayath & Another – Respondents
R.F.A. No. 239 of 2003
Decided On : 11-12-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:M. Ramesh Chander, K.A. Sanjeetha, Advocates
For the Respondents:M.V. John, Renju John, B. Jayaparakash, Advocates

Headnote:Specific Relief Act 1963, S. 16(c) --Plaintiff working or perform as under Section 16(c) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 the same is permitted for specific and particular performance for the sale agreement - Plaintiff drifted the offer as for the benefit of the first defendant as it is not regarded as derogation of the terms as it is to violating the same.

JUDGMENT :

Chitambaresh, J.

1. The genesis for this litigation is an agreement entered into between two Indians at New York in the United States of America in respect of a property situated at Arangath Road in Ernakulam of Kerala State.

2. The plaintiff offered to buy about 10 cents of land with buildings thereon situated at Ernakulam which belonged to the first defendant at a rate of Rs. 1,00,000/- per cent while both of them were in New York. The terms are embodied in Ext.A2 agreement followed by Ext.A3 letter and a sum of $3100 (100+1000+2000) was concededly received by the first defendant as advance. The first defendant was hesitant to honour the agreement obviously due to the inadequacy of price which prompted the plaintiff to make a higher offer towards purchase price. The plaintiff floated a fresh offer to the first defendant at the rate of Rs. 1,75,000/- per cent for the property which was not acceded to by the first defendant. The first defendant thereafter rescinded the contract and returned the sum of $3100 received as advance by a cheque which was not encashed by the plaintiff. The court below declined specific performance and granted a decree for return of the amount paid as advance also creating a charge on the property covered by Ext.A2 agreement. The first defendant died pending suit and defendants 2 and 3 being his legal heirs have been made liable to the extent of the property inherited by them. The plaintiff has impugned the decree of the court below contending inter alia that a fresh offer more beneficial to the other contracting party does not efface the original terms of the agreement.

3. We heard Mrs. K.A. Sanjeetha, Advocate on behalf of the appellant/plaintiff and Mr. Renju John, Advocate on behalf of the respondents/defendants 2 and 3.

4. The relevant clause in Ext.A2 agreement is extracted below:

“The purchase price of Indian rupees one lakh per cent based on the actual measurement of your property at Arangathu Road. This measurement will be done by an independent surveyor whose expense will be met equally by the seller & buyer. I will get the measurement done once we sign this contract & after you give me the authorization to do the measurement whose copy is enclosed. This measurement will be used on all registration & documentation.”

The first defendant has not only subscribed his signature thereto but has also acknowledged the execution of Ext.A2 agreement regarding the sale of his property in Ext.A3 letter addressed to the plaintiff. It is discernible from Ext.A2 agreement coupled with Ext.A3 letter that the purchase price fixed was at the rate of Rs. 1,00,000/- per cent of the property based on actual measurement.

5. It transpires from evidence that the first defendant was not willing to honour Ext.A2 agreement as he felt that the price fixed was inadequate resulting in the plaintiff making a fresh offer at an enhanced rate. The relevant part of Ext.B1 letter issued by the plaintiff is extracted below:

“I have raised my purchase price from Rupees one lakh per cent to Rupees one lakh seventy five thousand per cent. The revised offer is the final offer after which no matter what the market conditions are 'the price will remain the same of Rupees one lakh seventy five thousand per cent'. This price is final & irrespective of the date of closing, the price will remain the same i.e. Rupees one lakh seventy five thousand/cent.”

Thus the purchase price offered has been enhanced from Rupees one lakh per cent to Rupees one lakh seventy five thousand per cent of the property to which of course the first defendant has not acceded.

6. The plaintiff by floating a fresh offer at an enhanced rate has practically given up his original offer embodied in Ext.A2 agreement and has waived his right to stick on to the original terms agreed upon. The conduct of the plaintiff in issuing Ext.B1 letter to the first defendant offering a higher price for the property is certainly at variance with the follow up action intended on Ext.



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