1995 Supreme(Ori) 47
High Court Of Orissa
ARIJIT PASAYAT
STATE BANK OF INDIA - Appellant
Versus
RAMAYANAPU KRISHNA RAO - Respondent
Second Appeal 89 Of 1985
Decided On : 02/24/1995
B.K.MOHANTY, J.Patnaik, M.M.DAS
Admission of documents in evidence without objection dispenses with the need for formal proof of their contents and signatures, and parties are precluded from raising the plea that the documents have not been properly proved at a later stage.
Headnote:
BANKING - DEMAND PROMISSORY NOTE - PROOF - ADMISSION OF DOCUMENTS WITHOUT OBJECTION - EFFECT - SECTION 64 OF THE EVIDENCE ACT, 1872 - SECTION 4 OF THE BANKERS' BOOKS EVIDENCE ACT, 1891.
Fact of the Case:
The State Bank of India filed a suit for recovery of money based on a demand promissory note executed by the defendants. The defendants denied the execution of the note and other related documents, claiming that they had signed blank papers in good faith.
Finding of the Court:
The trial court held that the promissory note had been duly executed and was binding on the defendants, making them jointly and severally liable. However, the appellate court reversed this decision, finding that the promissory note and the signatures of the defendants had not been duly proved.
Issues: 1. Whether the defendants had executed the demand promissory note and revival letters? 2. Whether the defendants had executed guarantee letters and were jointly and severally liable for the amount?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the admission of the demand promissory note and the bond of guarantee in evidence without objection by the defendants dispensed with the need for formal proof of their contents and signatures. 2. The court relied on Section 64 of the Evidence Act, which provides that documents must be proved by primary evidence except in cases referred to in Section 65. 3. The court also referred to Section 4 of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, which provides that a certified copy of an entry in a banker's book is admissible as prima facie evidence of the existence of such entry. 4. The court found that the defendants had not objected to the admissibility of the documents at the trial, and therefore they were precluded from raising the plea that the documents had not been properly proved at a later stage.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, setting aside the appellate decree and restoring the trial court's decree. The defendants were held jointly and severally liable for the amount due on the demand promissory note.
PASAYAT, J.
( 1 ) REVERSAL of success by the learned District Judge, Koraput, Jeypore, has brought the State Bank of India (described for convenience as the 'plaintiff') before this Court. The suit is one for recovery of money based on a demand promissory note.
( 2 ) THE facts position presented by the parties essentially is as follows: First the plaintiffs stand. Plaintiff, a banking company constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955, having one of its branch office at Gunupur in the district of Koraput, had advanced loan to the defendants-respondents in this appeal. On being approached by the defendants for loan, cash credit loan of Rs. 4,000/- was sanctioned on 7-6-1977. Defendant No. 1 executed a demand promissory note in favour of defendants Nos. 2 and 3, and the said defendants duly endorsed the said promissory note in favour of the plaintiff-bank on 7-6-1977. Defendants 2 and 3 signed in acceptance of the terms and conditions stipulated in the agreement. Defendant No. 1 hypothecated his stock of goods in favour of the plaintiff-bank by executing the agreement wherein defendants 2 and 3 signed in acceptance of the terms and conditions stipulated therein. On the same day, i. e. , 7-6-1977 defendants 2 and 3 also executed a bond of guarantee in favour of the plaintiff-bank. On 20-12-1979, all the defendants acknowledged the liability by executing revival letters. In spite of the revival letters acknowledging liability, the amount having not been paid in spite of demand, the suit was filed for recovery of the sum of Rs. 3044. 41 paise, which included the outstanding loan with interest, and also pendente lite and future interest on the contractual loan. The agreement for hypothecation is Ext. 5 and the letter of revival in Ext. 6. Defendants 2 and 3 also executed a letter of revival vide Ext. 7, acknowledging their liability on the demand promissory note. Defendants entered their appearance and filed written statement taking the stand that they had not taken any loan from the plaintiff-bank. The execution of the demand promissory note, deed of hypothecation, agreement for guarantee and letters of revival were denied by them. It was stated that defendant No. 1 applied for loan from the plaintiff-bank, and the staff of the bank took his signatures, and that of other defendants on various papers in a set, and they promised that they would forward those papers to their higher authorities for sanction of loan. In good faith the defendants had signed on printed papers, having some blanks. Defendant No. 1 approached the bank authorities several times to give money, or in alternative to return the papers signed by them. But that was not done, and the suit has been falsely filed.
( 3 ) THE trial Court framed fifteen issues, the important issues being issues Nos. 1 and 2. The first issue was; Whether the defendants have executed the demand promissory note and revival letters? and the second issue was; Whether the defendants have executed guarantee letters and jointly letters and jointly and severally liable for the amount? No witness was examined on behalf of the contesting defendants. In support of its case plaintiff examined two witnesses. The first witness was the Branch Manager and the second witness was the Divisional Manager, Agriculture, State Bank of India, Gunupur. P. W. 1 was admittedly the Branch Manager at the time the promissory note was allegedly executed by defendant No. 1. He proved the signatures of defendant No. 1 on various exhibits by stating that he was acquainted with the signature of defendant No. 1. Relying on the evidence of P. Ws. 1 and 2, the trial Court came to hold that the promissory note had been duly executed, and the same was binding on the defendants, and the defendants were jointly and severally liable. Accordingly the suit was decreed. Being aggrieved by the said judgment and decree, an appeal was filed before the learned District Judge, Koraput, Jaypore. The learned District Judge on re