HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
M. AKBAR ALI, J.
R. Saravanan & Another
Versus
S. Mallika & Others
CMA No.2486 of 2012 & M.P.No.1 of 2012
Decided on: 12-06-2013
Specific Performance - Contract - The court considered the relief of return of advance amount and remanded the matter for fresh disposal, finding the remand to be erroneous and unsustainable.
Fact of the Case:
The respondents filed a suit for specific performance of a contract, which was dismissed by the trial court. The first appellate court remanded the matter for fresh disposal based on the relief of return of advance amount, which was opposed to law.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the remand to be erroneous and unsustainable, as the first appellate court did not address all points for consideration and failed to consider whether the plaintiff was entitled to the relief of specific performance.
Issues: The main point for consideration was whether the plaintiff was entitled to the relief of specific performance when ready and willing to perform his part of the contract.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the remand was erroneous and unsustainable, as the first appellate court failed to address all points for consideration and did not consider whether the plaintiff was entitled to the relief of specific performance.
Final Decision: The civil miscellaneous appeal was allowed, and the matter was remanded back to the first appellate court for fresh disposal on all points for consideration within a period of three months.
G.M. Akbar ALI, J.
1. The appeal is preferred against the judgment and decree dated 20.6.2012 made in A.S.No.6 of 2011 on the file of Principal District Court, Krishnagiri.
2. The appellants are defendants in the suit in O.S.No.67 of 2005, which was filed by the respondents/plaintiffs 1 to 3, before the Sub Court, Krishnagiri for specific performance of the contract. The first respondent had claimed such specific performance on a sale agreement dated 10.5.2002, in which, a sum of Rs.4,00,000/-(Rupees four lakhs only) had been paid as advance amount.
3. The suit was resisted by the appellants/defendants in all aspects and the learned Principal Sub Judge, Krishnagiri, by decree and judgment dated 11.11.2010, dismissed the suit with regard to the relief of specific performance of the contract, but has directed the defendants to return the advance amount of Rs.4,00,000/- with 6% interest.
4. Aggrieved by such dercee and judgment, the respondents/plaintiffs preferred the appeal before the Principal Sessions Court, Krishnagiri in A.S.No.6 of 2011.
5. On notice, the appellants/defendants appeared. After hearing both sides, the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Krishnagiri/ the first appellate court framed only one point for consideration i.e., "whether there exists sufficient ground, so as to remit back the original suit for re-trial?
6. The learned Principal District Judge proceeded to consider the relief of return of the advance amount and referred to Sec.22(1) of Specific Relief Act and also the judgment reported in 2010(4)CTC 546 (SC) (Vinod seth vs. Devinder Bajaj and another) and also other judgments and wondered how the trial court can grant the relief when the same was not being asked and which is opposed to Sec.22(2) of Specific Relief Act.
7. In that context, the learned Principal District Judge thought it fit to remand back the matter for fresh disposal. Aggrieved by such order, the defendants/appellants are before this Court.
8. The learned counsel for the appellant submits that the appellants/defendants have not preferred any appeal against the relief granted by the trial court. The learned counsel also submitted that if the first appellate court had decided that granting of such relief is opposed to law, it could have corrected the decree and judgment and could have passed a decree by dismissing the suit itself. The learned counsel pointed out that in any event, remanding back the matter for fresh disposal is erroneous, which has to be set aside.
9. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the respondents/plaintiffs submit that they are also opposing the order of remand on the ground that the first appellate court has not even framed the issue for consideration i.e., "whether the plaintiffs are entitled for relief of specific performance of the contract".
10. Heard and perused the materials available on record.
11. The suit was for specific performance of the contract. The trial court had framed necessary issues and while dismissing the suit, it proceeded to grant the relief of return of advance amount. Aggrieved by such decree and judgment, the plaintiffs had preferred the appeal.
12. Though several grounds have been raised in the first appeal, the learned first appellate court has framed only one point for consideration that whether the matter is fit for remanding back as there was a relief of return of advance amount which was uncalled for.
13. The first appellate court has referred to Sec.22(2) of the Specific Relief Act and some of the case laws and found that when the relief was not specifically prayed, the trial court is wrong in granting such relief. Having found so, the first appellate court has remanded the matter for fresh disposal.
14. As rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the appellant, this court is of the considered view that remanding back the matter is erroneous. It is to be noted that the appellants/defendants have not filed any appeal against the relief granted by the t
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