High Court of Judicature at Madras
S. MANIKUMAR, J.
R. Arumugham
Versus
Natesan
S.A.No.113 of 2006
Decided on : 01-11-2011
SECOND APPEAL - PROMISSORY NOTE - EXECUTION ADMITTED - PRESUMPTION OF CONSIDERATION - REBUTTAL - BURDEN OF PROOF - SHIFTING - CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE - EXPERT OPINION - COMPARISON OF SIGNATURES - PRINCIPLES.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for recovery on a Promissory Note. Defendant denied execution and receipt of consideration. Trial Court decreed the suit. Defendant preferred an appeal. Appellate Court reversed the judgment and dismissed the suit. Plaintiff filed a second appeal.
Finding of the Court:
The Court held that once the execution of the promissory note is admitted, there is a statutory presumption under Section 118 of the Negotiable Instruments Act that it was made for consideration. The burden of rebutting this presumption lies on the defendant. The defendant failed to discharge this burden by merely denying receipt of consideration. The Court also held that the lower appellate court erred in shifting the burden of proof on the plaintiff to prove consideration. The Court further held that the lower appellate court erred in directing the plaintiff to obtain an expert opinion on the signature of the defendant, as the court itself is empowered to compare signatures from documents available on record.
Issues: 1. Whether the lower appellate Court is right in allowing the appeal, when execution of Ex.A1 had not been denied by the defendant. 2. Whether the lower appellate Court ought not to have held that under Section 118 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and 114 of the Evidence Act, the legal presumption is in favour of passing of consideration on execution of the document being admitted. 3. When the defendant had failed to prove the chit transaction, whether the lower appellate court is justified in dismissing the suit for money based on surmises and non-examination of the scribe.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that once the execution of the promissory note is admitted, there is a statutory presumption under Section 118 of the Negotiable Instruments Act that it was made for consideration. The burden of rebutting this presumption lies on the defendant. The defendant failed to discharge this burden by merely denying receipt of consideration. The Court also held that the lower appellate court erred in shifting the burden of proof on the plaintiff to prove consideration. The Court further held that the lower appellate court erred in directing the plaintiff to obtain an expert opinion on the signature of the defendant, as the court itself is empowered to compare signatures from documents available on record.
Final Decision: The Court allowed the second appeal, set aside the judgment and decree of the lower appellate court, and confirmed the judgment and decree of the trial court.
1. The Second Appeal arises out of a reversing judgment on the suit for recovery on a Promissory Note. The plaintiff is the appellant in this appeal. According to him, for family and urgent expenses, the defendant borrowed a sum of Rs.25,000/- on 21.09.2001 and promised to repay the same with interest at Rs.1,000/-per month. Inspite of repeated demands and notice dated 06.11.2003, the principal with interest to the tune of Rs.30,331/- remained unpaid and hence the suit. The defendant denied the execution of the Promissory Note and receipt of consideration. According to him, the defendant was engaged in chit transaction and that the plaintiff had taken a chit. He further submitted that a sum of Rs.5,000/- was payable under the chit transaction which he was always ready and willing to pay. As he was unwell, he could not reply to the notice. Based on the above pleadings, the trial Court has framed three issues for consideration,
(i) as to whether the plaintiff is entitled for payment of the amount under the Promissory Note with interest?
(ii) as to whether the suit has been instituted in a forged Pro note and therefore, to be dismissed or not?
(iii) what relief the parties are entitled to?
2. On behalf of the plaintiff, two witnesses have been examined. The plaintiff examined himself as PW1 and PW2, an attesting witness to the Promissory Note. Ex.A1 dated 21.09.2001, Suit Promissory Note, Ex.A2 dated 06.11.2003, notice and Ex.A3, dated 12.11.2003, postal acknowledgment have been marked. The defendant examined himself as DW1 and no document has been marked on the side of the defendant. PW1 reiterated his case. The attesting witness PW2 deposed that Ex.A1 Promissory Note was executed in his presence.
3. Per contra, though the defendant contended that Ex.A1 Suit Promissory Note was executed, for the amount due under the chit transaction, no oral or documentary evidence has been let in to prove his defence and therefore, the trial Court disbelieved the version of the defendant and granted a decree in favour of the plaintiff and directed payment of Rs.30,332.25/- with interest @ 9% per annum, within a period of two months from the date of filing of the suit and thereafter, till the date of realisation at 6% per annum. Being aggrieved by the same, the defendant preferred an appeal in A.S.No.63 of 2004, on the file of the learned Subordinate Judge, Dharmapuri, contending inter alia that the trial Court has failed to consider that the plaintiff has failed to prove that Ex.A1 Promissory note was executed by the defendant and that the trial Court has also failed to consider that when the execution was denied, the defendant had not taken any steps for comparison of the signature in Ex.A1 Promissory note with other admitted signatures and in such circumstances, ought to have held that the plaintiff has failed to prove his case and accordingly dismissed the suit. The defendant in his appeal has also submitted that when there was no comparison of the signature and therefore, the oral testimony of the plaintiff ought to have been given importance, particularly, when Ex.A1 Promissory note did not contain the father’s name and the addresses of the scribe and the attesting witness. According to the defendant, the lower Court has failed to consider the abovesaid major defects and erroneously decreed the suit, when no other witness except PW2-attester was examined. On the above submissions, the appellate Court framed two issues for consideration’
(i) whether the respondent in the first appeal is entitled to recover the loan amount with interest?
(ii) whether the judgment and decree of the trial Court have to be set aside.
4. Upon consideration of the material on record and rival submissions made by the parties, the lower appellate Court reversed the judgment and decree of the trial Court and accordingly, held that the plaintiff has failed to prove the suit Promissory Note and consequently dismissed the suit. Being aggrieved by the same
K.P.O. Moideenkutty Hajee v Pappu Manjooran 1996 (8) SCC 586
N. Abdul Azeez v S. Mohamed Hanifa AIR 1997 Mad 1
Subbiah v Alagappan [AIR 1962 Mad 218]
Kamala v K.A. Kunjithapatham 1999 (3) LW 872
P. Talamalai Chetty v Rathinasamy AIR 1998 Mad. 23
K. Mani v Elumalai 2002 (3) CTC 598=2002-3-LW 845
Mohideenkutty Hajee v Pappu Manjooran (1996 (8) SCC 586)
Natarajan v Marappa Gounder 2004 (4) CTC 729=2004-4-LW 482
Meenakshisundaram v Rangasami 1996 (1) MLJ 297
Ramasamy v Kamalammal 2007 (5) MLJ 1005
T.N. Boopathy v T.A. Sattu AIR 2002 Mad 177
Ramasami Moopar v Ramaswami Moopanar 2002 (4) LW 360
N.S. Arumugam v Trishul Traders & ors. 2006 (2) LW 167
A. Kannivel Chettiar v M.K. Govindaraja Mudaliar 2006 (3) CTC 23
Official Receiver v Abdul Shankoor [AIR 1965 SC 920]
Soundrammal v Vasantha AIR 2001 Mad 177
Mohammed Ali v Abdul Sinab 2001 (1) CTC 281=2001-2-LW 643
Samikannu Naicker v Sigamant 2002 (2) CTC 140=2002-3-LW 692
Kundan Lal Rallaram v Custodian Evacuee Property AIR 1961 SC 1316
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