2016 Supreme(Mad) 3811
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
Mrs. Gowri - Plaintiff
Versus
Mr.P.S.Thiyagarajan - Defendants
C.S.No.475 of 2012
Decided on : 16-12-2016
Advocate Appeared:
For the Defendants : Set Exparte
The central legal point established in the judgment is the court's reliance on the terms of the loan agreement, including the acknowledgment of the loan amount, interest rate, and part payments, to determine the plaintiff's entitlement to a reduced sum with interest at a specified rate.
Headnote:
Recovery - Loan Agreement - The court analyzed the loan agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant, focusing on the acknowledgment of the loan amount, interest rate, and part payments. The court found that the plaintiff was entitled to a decree for a reduced sum with interest at a specified rate, based on the terms of the agreement.
Fact of the Case:
The defendant, a close relative of the plaintiff, borrowed a sum of Rs.25,00,000/- for the purchase of property and acknowledged the receipt in a Memorandum of understanding. Additionally, the defendant borrowed another sum of Rs.3,00,000/- from the plaintiff, which was not properly mentioned in the agreement. The defendant paid a part amount towards the principal and interest but defaulted on further payments, leading to the plaintiff filing a suit for recovery.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff was entitled to a decree for a reduced sum with interest at a specified rate, based on the terms of the agreement. The court considered the acknowledgment of the loan amount, interest rate, and part payments, ultimately concluding that the plaintiff was entitled to a decree for a reduced sum with interest at a specified rate.
Issues: The issues revolved around the acknowledgment of the loan amount, the interest rate, and the part payments made by the defendant, as well as the absence of proper documentation for the additional sum borrowed by the defendant.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the terms of the Memorandum of understanding, which specified the loan amount, interest rate, and payment terms. The court also considered the lack of proper documentation for the additional sum borrowed by the defendant and the part payments made towards the principal and interest.
Final Decision: The plaintiff was entitled to a decree for a reduced sum of Rs.19,00,000/- with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. on Rs.25,00,000/- till 25.12.2009, and thereafter interest at 6% on Rs.19,00,000/- from 25.12.2009 till the date of realization.
The suit has been filed for recovery of a sum of Rs.28,00,000/- together with interest at the rate of 18% p.a for Rs.22,00,000/- from the date of plaint till the date of realisation.
2. The brief facts of the case of the plaintiff are as follows:
The defendant is a close relative of the plaintiff, who has borrowed a sum of Rs.25,00,000/- from the plaintiff for purchase of the property. He has acknowledged the receipt of a sum of Rs.25,00,000/- in the Memorandum of understanding executed by him on 28.11.2008. He undertook to pay the said sum of Rs.25,00,000/- with interest on or before 10th day of every month without fail. Besides he also borrowed another sum of Rs.3,00,000/- from the plaintiff. But the same was purposely omitted to be mentioned in the Memorandum of agreement. The interest rate also conveniently mentioned in the agreement by the defendant. The defendant had paid a sum of Rs.6,00,000/- towards the principal and interest thereon as part payment on 25.12.2009. Thereafter, since the defendant defaulted the payment, the plaintiff has filed the present suit.
3. The defendant remained ex parte. The plaintiff was examined as P.W.1 and Exs.P1 and P2 were marked. P.W.1 in his evidence stated that the defendant borrowed a sum of Rs.25,00,000/- and acknowledged the same in the year 2008 and executed a Memorandum of understanding Ex.P1. Subsequently, though it is stated that the defendant, received another a sum of Rs.3,00,000/-, the same has not been properly mentioned in the Memorandum of understanding. The interest rate also conveniently mentioned in the Memorandum of understanding. As per the said Memorandum of understanding interest at the rate of 18% p.a. was payable. Subsequently, in the year 2009, a part amount of Rs.6,00,000/- towards Principal and interest was payable by the defendant. Though the plaintiff has spoken in chief examination about the term exclusive rate of interest and subsequent advance of a sum of Rs.3,00,000/-, no documents, whatsoever, filed to prove the same whereas Ex.P1 Memorandum of understanding executed between the plaintiff and the defendant, covered only a sum of Rs.25,00,000/-, originally paid to the defendant, further in the said Memorandum of understanding, specific agreed rate of interest was at 6% Therefore the oral evidence of the plaintiff cannot be given much importance as the same is contrary to the written agreement entered in to between plaintiff and the defendant.
4. At the most, Ex.P1, Memorandum of understating entered between the plaintiff and the defendant alone can be looked into. On a careful reading of Ex.P1, it is seen that the defendant has acknowledged the receipt of a sum of Rs.25,00,000/- on various dates, and he under took to pay the interest as agreed in the Memorandum of understanding. The Memorandum of understanding was signed on 28.11.2008. The legal notice was also issued on 15.03.2011. The suit was filed within a period of three years from the date of acknowledgment. Therefore, the suit filed by the plaintiff is well within the period of limitation.
5. From the evidence of P.W.1 it is clear that a sum of Rs.6,00,000/- was paid as part payment towards Principal and interest. In the plaint, there is no whisper about the payment of interest by the defendant. In the absence of any documents to the substantiate nature of interest, interest claimed by the plaintiff, cannot be accepted.
6. Since the plaintiff has shown receipt for Rs.6,00,000/- the same can be taken towards the payment for principal amount alone. Hence, less the said sum of Rs.6,00,000/- received, the plaintiff is entitled to a decree for a sum of Rs.19,00,000/-, the plaintiff is also entitled to interest at the rate of 6% p.a. on Rs.25,00,000/- from the date of Ex.P1, i.e., on 28.11.2008 till 25.12.2009. There after interest at the rate of 6% on Rs.19,00,000/- from 25.12.2009 till the date of realization.
7. Having regard to the evidence and documents, the plaintiff is entitled to a decree for