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1975 Supreme(Raj) 147

High Court Of Rajasthan
Judgename : V.P. Tyagi
Bhanwarlal - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
First Appeal No. 144 of 1973
Decided On : 11/06/1975

Advocates:
Appearance :
S.K. Mal Lodha and Rajendra Lodha, for the Appellant
D.S. Shishodia, Addl. Govt. Advocate, for the Respondents

The cause of action for refund of guarantee money deposited for a liquor license arises when the license expires, not when the government decides on the refund representation.

Headnote:

{'KEYWORD': 'LIMITATION', 'SUBJECT': 'Refund of Guarantee Money for Liquor Licence', 'ACT SECTION LIST': ['Article 13', 'Article 113', 'Limitation Act'], 'SUMMARY': 'The court held that the cause of action for refund of guarantee money deposited for a liquor license arose when the license expired, not when the government decided on the refund representation. The applicable limitation period was three years under Article 13, not six years under Article 113.'}

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff obtained a liquor license for a specific period and deposited a guarantee amount. He could not lift all the liquor due to the government's failure to deliver, and sought a refund of the unutilized guarantee money. The government agreed to refund a portion of the amount, but the plaintiff sued for the full amount, claiming the cause of action arose when the government decided on the refund representation.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiff's right to a refund arose when the license expired, not when the government decided on the refund representation. The court held that Article 13 of the Limitation Act, with a three-year limitation period, applied to the case, not Article 113 with a six-year limitation period.

Issues: 1. When did the cause of action for refund of guarantee money arise? 2. Which limitation period applied to the case?

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the cause of action for refund of guarantee money arose when the license expired, not when the government decided on the refund representation. The court held that Article 13 of the Limitation Act, with a three-year limitation period, applied to the case, not Article 113 with a six-year limitation period.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the plaintiff's appeal, holding that the suit was barred by limitation.

Judgment

V.P. Tyagi, CJ.-This is plaintiffs first appeal against the judgment and decree of the learned Additional District Judge No. 1, Jodhpur, dismissing the plaintiffs suit for the recovery of Rupees 16,620.41 p.

2. The facts giving rise to this litigation are in a nutshell as follows: The plaintiff obtained a licence for the retail sale of the country liquor for Panna Niwas shop in the town of Jodhpur. The period of the licence was to commence from August 4, 1962 and was to end on March 31, 1963. The licence was issued by the excise authorities under the guarantee system evolved under the rules made under the Rajasthan Excise Act. Under the terms of the licence, the plaintiff had to lift the country liquor from the State godown worth Rs. 1,01,802.00 The State was to realise the issue price from the plaintiff for delivering the country liquor which may be in force up to March 31, 1963. It is said that in pursuance of the terms of the licence, the plaintiff lifted liquor valued at Rupees 77,654.99 p. It is further said that the plaintiff deposited Rs. 24,147.01 p. for lifting the balance of the liquor to be supplied to him under the licence but the State Government failed to deliver that liquor to the plaintiff because it had no stock of liquor in its godown. It is further averred that the plaintiff was required to deposit Rs. 1,608.90 p. more as a difference in ,issue price. Thus, the liquor worth Rs. 25,827.91 p. could not be delivered by the excise department and the money remained deposited with the department. The plaintiff demanded the refund of this amount of Rs. 25,827.91 p. but it is alleged that in spite of the repeated requests made by the plaintiff , the department did not decide for the refund of the said amount. According to the averments made in the plaint, the department vide its order No. Ex1GU/69 dated nil informed the appellant plaintiff that he is entitled for the refund of Rs. 11,326/-only and the rest of his claim was rejected. This letter was received by the plaintiff on 21-12-1969. After the receipt of this letter, a notice was issued under Section 80, Civil Procedure Code, to the defendant State and thereafter the present suit was filed for the refund of Rs. 16,620.41 p. alleging that the cause of action to file this suit arose on the date when the State Government through its officer decided to refund Rs. 11,326.00 on 21-12-1969. The plaintiff claimed interest pendente lite and future interest on this amount of Rs. 16,620.41 p.

3. The State Government filed its written statement alleging that the State had the stock to deliver the liquor to the plaintiff in accordance with the terms of the licence but the plaintiff could not manage the sale of the country liquor according to the terms of the contract and therefore the plaintiff himself failed to lift the liquor from the State godown as per the terms of the licence. It was however admitted that the plaintiff came to take the delivery of the liquor for the remaining guarantee as late as on 30-3-1963. According to the averments made in the written statement, the State had the stock at its Mandore distillery but the plaintiff deliberately avoided to take the delivery of the liquor and thus he committed the breach of the contract and the defendants were therefore entitled to retain the amount of the guarantee money for which the plaintiff failed to lift the liquor. A plea was also taken that the suit was barred by time.

4. Various issues were framed by the trial Court but the suit was dismissed on the ground of limitation. It is against this judgment that the plaintiff has come In appeal before this Court.

5. I need not go into the merits of the issues which do not relate to the question of limitation because the arguments have centered round one question which resulted in the dismissal of the plaintiffs suit viz., the question of limitation.

6. According to the learned Counsel for the plaintiff , the cause of action arose in this case on 21-12-1969 whe










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