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2008 Supreme(Mad) 4237

High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. VENUGOPAL
V. Munusamy
Versus
S. Venkatesan & Another
C.R.P.PD.No2873 of 2008 and M.P.No.1 of 2008
Decided On : 19-11-2008

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:V. Ravi, Advocate.
For the Respondents:R1, Ms. N. Christella, Advocate.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act must be interpreted to advance the cause of justice, and the trial court has the discretion to address the petitioner's contentions at the conclusion of the trial.

Headnote:

Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act - Application of Sections 5 and 8 - Summary of Acts and Sections

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner filed a revision petition against the dismissal of their application under Sections 5 and 8 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act 2003 by the trial court. The petitioner sought relief from exorbitant interest charges and argued that the trial court failed to appreciate their entitlement to relief under the Act.

Finding of the Court:

The court dismissed the revision petition, confirming the trial court's order. It directed the trial court to frame necessary issues in accordance with Sections 5 and 8 of the Act and to dispose of the main suit within two months.

Issues: The issues revolved around the petitioner's entitlement to relief under the Act, the trial court's failure to conduct an inquiry, and the application of Sections 5 and 8 of the Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the trial court's decision was justified as the main suit had reached the post-trial stage, and there was no bar for the trial court to address the petitioner's contentions at the conclusion of the trial. It directed the trial court to frame necessary issues and dispose of the main suit within a specified period.

Final Decision: The civil revision petition was dismissed, and the trial court's order was confirmed. The trial court was directed to frame necessary issues and dispose of the main suit within two months.

Judgment :-

The revision petitioner/petitioner/plaintiff has filed the present revision petition as against the order dated 2. 2008 passed in I.A.No.7124 of 2008 in O.S.No.1832 of 2003 by 15th Assistant Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai in dismissing the application filed by the revision petitioner/petitioner/plaintiff under Sections 5 and 8 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act 2003( Tamil Nadu Act 38 of 2003) (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act").

2. The trial Court, while dismissing the said Interlocutory application, has inter alia opined that the revision petitioner/ petitioner/ plaintiff has come forward without asking for any relief but take note of the bonafide payment made and as such, no relief can be granted in this petition. If at all, if any payment is made or proved to be made, the Court will definitely consider the same in deciding the main case and has resultantly dismissed the said application.

.3. The learned counsel appearing for the revision petitioner urges before this Court that the trial Court has failed to appreciate the fact that the revision petitioner/petitioner/plaintiff is entitled to seek relief under the provision of the said Act and further that the trial Court should have conducted an enquiry in I.A.No.7124 of 2008 and granted the relief to the revision petitioner/plaintiff in accordance with law and that the trial Court has not taken into account of the fact that no time is prescribed under Section 5 of the said Act and that a sum of Rs.75,000/-has already been deposited and further sum of Rs.1,17,750/- has been paid to the first defendant in Court and this can be treated as deposit enacted in Section 5 of the said Act and this aspect of the matter has not been considered by the trial Court and more over the interest calculated by the first defendant/respondent prima facie is in violation of the ban fixed under Tamil Nadu G.O.Ms.No.406, Co-operation Department dated 7. 1997 and that the trial Court has erred in not taking note the fact that Section 20A, 20C of Tamil Nadu Moneylenders Act 1957 as amended by Act 41/1979 are applicable to the facts of the case and therefore prays for allowing this revision petition.

4. The revision petitioner has filed I.A.No.7124 of 2008 before the trial Court inter alia stating that the respondent/defendant has no right to claim such exorbitant demand since the calculation of exorbitant interest is at the rate of 2.5% per annum which is unheard of and further that the respondent/defendant has no right to charge interest exceeding 9% simple interest per annum as per the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.406 (Co-operation) dated 7. 1997 and therefore prays for to take note of the bonafide payment made and to conduct the enquiry by the trial Court under the provisions of the said Act.

5. The first respondent/first defendant has filed a counter among other things mentioned in I.A.No.7124 of 2008 which has been filed by the revision petitioner/plaintiff to drag on the proceedings and in the main suit, cross examination of the witnesses of the plaintiff are over and D.W.1 is in the stage of cross examination to be done on the plaintiffs side and at the stage of the suit, the application is dubious and therefore prays for dismissal of the said application.

6. Admittedly, the revision petitioner/plaintiff has filed the main suit praying for the relief of declaration that the proposed auction sale to be held on 14. 2003 on the basis of the auction sale notice published by the second defendant on behalf of the first defendant is null and void as the same is contrary and against the description of the schedule of property mentioned in mortgage deed dated 22. 1995 and for the relief of permanent injunction restraining the defendants 1 and 2 from bringing the suit property bearing door No.383, 21st Street, N.S.K.Nagar, Arumbakkam, Chennai-106, for auction sale proposed to be held on 14. 2003 or any other subsequent dates in future.

.7. The











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