IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
Before
The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Kumar Garg
RSA No.1936 of 2014 (O&M)
Mandhir Singh & Ors.
v.
Gurjant Singh & Anr.
{Decided on 06/05/2014}
Mr. Rakesh Kumar Garg, J.:- As per the averments made in the suit, the appellantdefendants and proforma respondent entered into an agreement with the plaintiff-respondent on 31.7.2008 for sale of suit land measuring 42 kanals 10 marlas at the rate of Rs.7,70,000/- per acre and received Rs.10 lacs as earnest money and executed the agreement to sell in question in the presence of witnesses. It was further agreed that the appellants shall get the sale deed executed and registered in favour of the plaintiff-respondent on payment of balance sale consideration upto 30.4.2009.
2. The plaintiff-respondent filed the instant suit alleging that the appellants and proforma respondent have failed to execute the sale deed in his favour as per the terms and conditions of the agreement in question.
3. In their defence, the appellants and proforma respondent admitted execution of the agreement in question and receipt of earnest money. However, it was their case that the plaintiff-respondent violated the terms and conditions of the agreement, as he failed to make payments on 30.4.2009 before the Sub Registrar, Bhagta Bhaika at Rampura Phul and thus, they terminated the agreement in question vide legal notice dated 1.5.2009 served through registered AD post and therefore, the suit was liable to be dismissed.
4. After framing of the issues and recording evidence on behalf of the parties, the trial Court decreed the suit for specific performance of agreement in question vide judgment and decree dated 8.9.2012 and decided all the issues in favour of the plaintiffrespondent, recording a finding that the plaintiff-respondent was always ready and willing to perform his part of the agreement and in fact, the appellants have failed to appear before the Sub Registrar concerned for execution and registration of the sale deed in favour of the plaintiff-respondent and they cannot take the benefit of their own wrong. They were duty bound to go to the office of the Sub Registrar, Bhagta Bhaika on the stipulated date but instead, they went to Rampura Phul Tehsil so as to defeat the rights of the plaintiff-respondent and the notice dated 1.5.2009 on the part of the appellants to cancel the agreement shows their real intention to the effect that they themselves were not willing to get the sale deed registered in favour of the plaintiff-respondent.
5. The first appeal filed on behalf of the defendantappellants against the aforesaid judgment and decree of the trial Court was also dismissed by the lower Appellate Court vide impugned judgment and decree dated 11.2.2014 holding that there was no illegality in the findings of the trial Court on all the issues. The relevant observations of the lower Appellate Court read thus:-
“20. As mentioned above, the case of the plaintiff is based on agreement executed by defendants on 31.7.2008. The execution of agreement is not disputed. The receipt of earnest money is not disputed. Terms and conditions incorporated in the agreement are not disputed. From the stand of the defendants/appellants, it emerges that the controversy is whether the plaintiff was ready and willing to perform his part of the agreement. This is to be determined on the basis of pleadings of the parties coupled with act and conduct of the plaintiff. The sale deed was to be executed up to 30.4.2009. There is nothing on record to show that defendant was ready to execute the sale deed upto 30.4.2009. The plaintiff has pleaded and proved that he visited the office of Sub Registrar Bhagta Bhaika on 4.5.2009 as it was Holidays on 1.5.2009 to 3.5.2009. It is also not disputed that the suit property falls within the area of Sub Tehsil Bhagta Bhaika and in normal course, the sale deed was to be registered in the office of Sub Registrar Bhata Bhaika. The defendants have brought on record their affidavit Ex.D1 to prove that they were ready and willing to perform their part of the agreement on 30.4.2009 and they remained present for executing the registered deed
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