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2022 Supreme(Mad) 1166

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N. ANAND VENKATESH, J.
Suresh Kumar Kankariya - Appellant
Versus
K. Jigibai @ Pushpammal - Respondent
Second Appeal Nos. 568, 569 of 2012
Decided On : 28-04-2022

Advocates appeared:
For the Appellant:V. Manohar, Advocate. For the Respondent:P. Valliappan, Advocate.

Headnote:(A) Civil Procedure Code - Sections 100, 2 Rule 2 - Appeals present common issues. The plaintiff sought specific performance under O.S. No. 25 of 2004 after filing for a permanent injunction under O.S. No. 69 of 2003. The court found the subsequent suit time-barred as the original cause of action was identical and not claimed. The agreement was deemed to have been fabricated to evade limitations. (Paras 10, 13, 34, 36)

(B) Legal Principle - The need for comprehensive pleading, identity of cause of action, and the implications of not seeking leave to claim subsequent reliefs are decisive in application of Order 2 Rule 2. (Paras 11, 12, 37)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff alleges an agreement of sale from 1998 with payment evidences, but the defendant denied existence, leading to two suits filed due to defendant's actions to transfer property.

Findings of Court:
The Lower Appellate Court found the plaintiff's claims unsupported and ruled deficient under the limitation act due to time-lapsed from the original agreement.

Issues: Whether the suit for specific performance is maintainable given the first suit was for mere injunction under the same cause of action and whether findings in favour of plaintiff can be challenged.

Ratio Decidendi: The barred second suit indicated unreasonable splitting of claims on the same cause of action without requisite court leave and left main points unaddressed.

Result: Both appeals dismissed with costs.

Table of Content
1. factual background of the case (Para 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7)
2. court's observations on evidence and burden of proof (Para 10 , 12 , 13)
3. substantial questions of law identified (Para 11 , 14)
4. judgment on order ii rule 2 applicability (Para 29 , 30 , 31)
5. dismissal of both second appeals (Para 37 , 38)

JUDGMENT

(Prayer in S.A.No.568 of 2012: Second Appeal filed Under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure against the Judgment and Decree dated 01.02.2012 passed in A.S.No.131 of 2007, on the file of the Principal District Judge, Thiruvallur, reversing the judgement and decree dated 09.08.2007 passed in O.S.No.69 of 2003 on the file of Subordinate Judge, Thiruvallur.

S.A.No.569 of 2012: Second Appeal filed Under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure against the Judgment and Decree dated 01.02.2012 passed in A.S.No.132 of 2007, on the file of the Principal District Judge, Thiruvallur, reversing the judgement and decree dated 09.08.2007 passed in O.S.No.25 of 2004 on the file of Subordinate Judge, Thiruvallur.)

Common Judgment

1. The issues involved in both these Second Appeals are common and hence they are taken up together, heard and disposed of through this Common Judgment.

2. The plaintiff is the appellant in both the Second Appeals.

3. The appellant filed O.S. No. 69 of 2003 seeking for the relief of permanent injunction and O.S. No. 25 of 2004 was filed seeking for the relief of specific performance.

4. The case of the plaintiff is that he entered into an agreement of sale with the defendant on 14.12.1998, marked as Ex.A1. As per the sale agreement, the total sale consideration was fixed at Rs. 3,00,000/- and the plaintiff paid a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- as advance on the date of the agreement. The agreement further provided that the balance sale consideration of Rs.1,00,000/- will be paid within 12 months i.e., on or before 14.12.1999 and on receipt of the same, the defendant agreed to register a sale deed in favour of the plaintiff. According to the plaintiff, through Ex.A3 receipt dated 15.9.2001, the defendant received a further sum of Rs.85,000/- and agreed to receive the balance amount of Rs.15,000/- from the plaintiff while executing the sale deed in favour of the plaintiff. The plaintiff claims that by virtue of this receipt, the time was extended without fixing any time period.

5. The grievance of the plaintiff is that he was ready and willing to pay the balance sale consideration and the defendant was evading the execution of the sale deed. Hence, a legal notice was issued on 2.5.2003, marked as Ex.A4, calling upon the defendant to receive the balance sale consideration and execute the sale deed in favour of the plaintiff. On receipt of the same, a reply notice was given on 27.5.2003, marked as Ex.A5, wherein the defendant denied executing any sale agreement in favour of the plaintiff.

6. In the meantime, an attempt was made by the defendant to sell the property to third parties and hence the first suit was filed in O.S. No. 69 of 2003 seeking for the relief of permanent injunction. During the pendency of this suit, the next suit was filed in O.S. No. 25 of 2004 seeking for the relief of specific performance.

7. The defendant took a stand that the plaintiff’s father is a money lender and the brother-in-law of the defendant purchased a lorry under hire purchase and the defendant stood as a surety and had put her signature in blank stamp papers. Inspite of the repayment of the loan amount, the security given by the defendant was not cancelled. Those signed blank documents have been misused and the sale agreement has been fabricated by the plaintiff. The defendant also stoutly denied the execution of a receipt as claimed by the plaintiff. Accordingly, the defendant sought for the dismissal of the suit.

8. The Trial Court decreed both the suits through a Judgment and Decree dated 9.8.2007. It was also confirmed in the appeal through Judgment and Decree dated 30.4.2008. Aggrieved by the same, the defend

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