IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
R. SUBRAMANIAN, J.
Babulal Tater & Ors. -Appellants
Versus
Harakh Chand J. & Ors. - Respondents
A.S.No.825, 826 of 2006 and MP Nos.1 & 2 of 2006 and 1 of 2010, CMP Nos.16380, 16381 of 2016
Decided On : 08-09-2017
Civil Law - Specific performance of an agreement- Permanent injunction restraining the defendants from alienating the property- Plaintiff, defendants 1 and 2 agreed to sell an extent of One ground and 1250sq.ft. out of 2 grounds and 553sq.ft. for a consideration of Rs.6,25,000/- and Rs.2,00,000/- was paid as advance and the balance of Rs.4,25,000/- was agreed to be paid to the State Bank of India, in discharge of the loan borrowed by the defendants 1 and 2. As per the agreement a period of 3 months was fixed for the performance of the contract – Held, plaint as well as the order of injunction in CS has been produced. It would go to show that the prayer in CS is for a declaration that certain mortgages created by the defendants 1 and 2 are not binding on the plaintiff and for partition. In the said suit an application for an order of injunction restraining defendants 1 and 2 from executing and registering sale deed, in favour of the 3rd defendant was filed and an order of an interim injunction was granted by the Court. This cannot be construed as an order staying institution of the suit. Therefore, the claim of the plaintiff that the pendency of the suit in CS and the currency of the order of injunction would save the suit from being barred by limitation cannot be accepted. It should also be pointed out that the suit in CS. was transferred to the City Civil Court and renumbered as OS the same was dismissed as withdrawn - The very fact that the plaintiff had instituted the present suit, would go to show that he was not under the impression that he was injuncted from filing the present suit by virtue of the order of injunction granted in CS which was renumbered as OS. For the foregoing reason, I am of the considered opinion that the present suit clearly barred by limitation –Ordered accordingly
Defendants 3, 4, 5 and 6 in OS No.12883 of 1996 and OS No.1356 of 1997 are the appellants in the present appeals.
1. The case of the Plainitff in OS.No.12883 of 1996:
2. The suit in OS.No.12883 of 1996 was filed seeking specific performance of an agreement dated 27.08.1990 entered into between defendants 1 and 2 and the plaintiff. There is also a prayer to declare the sale deeds dated 17.11.1995 executed by defendants 1 and 2 in favour of defendants 3 to 6 as null and void. O.S. No.1356 of 1997 is also a suit which was filed by the plaintiff in O.S. No.12883 of 1996, seeking a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from alienating the property.
3. According to the plaintiff, defendants 1 and 2 agreed to sell an extent of One ground and 1250sq.ft. out of 2 grounds and 553sq.ft. for a consideration of Rs.6,25,000/- and Rs.2,00,000/- was paid as advance and the balance of Rs.4,25,000/- was agreed to be paid to the State Bank of India, in discharge of the loan borrowed by the defendants 1 and 2. As per the agreement a period of 3 months was fixed for the performance of the contract. The agreement also provides that the period could be extended. In the meantime a suit was filed by the grand children of the 2nd defendant in OS.No.10045 of 1992 on 11.01.1991 as C.S.No.104 of 1991. In the said suit injunction was granted restraining the defendants 1 and 2 from selling the suit property to the plaintiff. It is contended by the plaintiff that C.S.No.104 of 1991 was filed at the instance 1st and 2nd defendants, who have set up their grand children to file the suit claiming partition. It is also the claim of the plaintiff that the period fixed under the agreement was extended at on two occasions on 24.11.1990 and 26.01.1991. The extension on 26.01.1991 was up to 15.02.1991. The suit in OS No.12883 of 1996 came to be filed on 13.08.1996 seeking specific performance. The plaintiff would contend that though he was ready and willing to perform his part of the contract the defendants were not ready and willing to perform their part of the contract and they had always been attempting to wriggle out of the contract. The suit in C.S.No.104 of 1991 which was renumbered as O.S.No.7396 of 1996 is one of the attempts made by the defendants to wriggle out of the contract. It is also contended that the defendants filed a suit in OS No.7111 of 1994, claiming damages for use and occupation from the plaintiff. Therefore, the plaintiff sought for specific performance of the agreement of sale dated 27.08.1990 in respect of the suit property.
4. The suit was resisted by defendants 3 to 6, who claim to have purchased the property from defendants 1 and 2 under a sale deed dated 17.11.1995. The defendants 3 to 6 while admitting the agreement dated 27.08.1990 would contend that the plaintiff was never ready and willing to perform his part of the contract under the agreement. After paying an advance of Rs.2,00,000/- and a small amount of Rs.25,000/- to State Bank of India the amounts due under the mortgage were not discharged by the plaintiff. According to them, the plaintiff has no funds to discharge the mortgage. It is also contended that the plaintiff filed a suit in O.S.No.10045 of 1992 as early as on 10.11.1992 for a bare injunction restraining defendants 1 and 2 from interfering with his possession in which he claimed that he was ready and willing to deposit the balance amount, and also on the basis false allegations that defendants 1 and 2 are attempting to interfere with the possession of the plaintiff. The said suit in OS No.10045 of 1992 was eventually dismissed for default on 17.07.2003. According to defendants 3 to 6 this would show that the plaintiff was never ready and willing to perform his part of the contract. Even though he had a cause of action for seeking the relief of specific performance on 10.11.1992, he chose to institute a suit for bare injunction alone therefore, the present suit according to defendants 3 to 6 is barred by
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.