The court emphasized the requirement for a written agreement signed by the sender or deliverer for the Railway Administration to limit its liability under Section 72 of the Railways Act.

Devadoss, J.

1. The plaintiffs suit is for damages for non-delivery of the goods consigned from Ahmadabad under Ex. B. The two defendants are Railway companies; and to the 2nd defendant the goods were consigned and the 1st defendant was to deliver the goods at Tinnevelly. The District Munsif dismissed the plaintiffs suit. On appeal, the Additional Subordinate Judge, Tinnevelly, framed two issues and called for findings on them. After the findings were received, the Subordinate Judge considered the whole case and gave a decree to the plaintiff. The defendant Railway Companies have preferred this second appeal.

2. The first point urged by Mr. V. Viswanatha Sastri for the appellants is that the Subordinate Judge was not justified in raising additional issues and calling for findings on them, inasmuch as the points raised in the additional issues were not specifically raised in the plaint. I cannot say that the appellants were prejudiced by the Subordinate Judge raising additional issues and calling for findings on them, inasmuch as an opportunity was given to both sides to adduce evidence on the issues raised. The next contention is that the plaintiff is bound by the terms of Ex. B, the railway receipt granted by the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway Co., when they accepted the goods for des-patch to Tinnevelly. In Ex. B, there are letters "O. R. H.". The letters "O. R. H." mean "owners risk as per H. form". The consignment was by the sender to self. Ex. 1 is the agreement or contract entered into between Subodh Chandra Bhopatlal Shah and the Bombay Baroda and the Central India Railway Company. It is signed by one Mohan Lal for Subodh Chandra Bhopatlal Shah. The Subordinate Judge has on consideration of the evidence found that Mohan Lal had no authority to execute the risk note, Ex. 1. The main contention of the defendants was that Ex. 1 was an agreement entered into between the 2nd defendant and the consignor and that the goods, though sent in May, were sent as per terms of the risk note, Ex, 1. On the finding of the Subordinate Judge that Mohan Lal had no authority to execute the risk note, the consignor cannot be said to be bound by its terms.

3. What is urged before me is that the man who delivered the goods to the Railway Co. for transmission to Tinnevelly, consigned it under the terms of Ex. 1. Under Section 72 of the Railways Act the Railway Administration can enter into an agreement restricting its liability but that agreement, under Clause (2) of the section, will be void unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the person sending or delivering to the Railway Administration the animals or goods.

4. In this case, the evidence is that Mohan Lal delivered the goods for transmission to the 2nd defendant. If the defendants could prove that when Mohan Lal delivered the goods, he told the Railway Administration that he intended that the terms of Ex. 1 should apply to the consignment, or if any officer of the Railway Administration intimated to him when he delivered the goods that the goods were received for transmission under the terms of Ex. 1, then, no doubt, the Railway Co. would not be liable. But Ex. V which is the consignment note, was prepared by one Bhaji, D. W. 2, some days prior to the actual delivery of the goods. He says he was present when the Railway clerk, i. e., the Goods Clerk, wrote the words "O. R. H." in Ex. V as well as on Ex. B. Bhaji himself had nothing to do with Ex. 1. If the defendants could prove that the words "O. R. H." were written on Ex. V as well as on Ex. B, to the knowledge of Mohan Lal and that Mohan Lal knew what "O. R. H.", meant, then, no doubt, the defendants would have a good case, but the evidence does not show that Mohan Lai was present when "O. R. H." was written on Ex. V or on Ex. B. In order that the defendants may avail themselves of the provision in Clause (2) of Section 72, it must be shown that the person delivering the goods signed an agreement purporting to l