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2025 Supreme(Telangana) 1351

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
B.R.MADHUSUDHAN RAO, J.
Smt. Kandala Pulamma -  Appellant
Versus 
Chennu Vijaya Venkata Lakshmana Kumar - Respondent
Appeal Suit No.305 of 2020
Decided on : 18-07-2025

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant: Mr.J.Ashvini Kumar
For the Respondent: Mr.Vedula Srinivas learned Senior Counsel  appearing for Mr.Seeta Ramaiah Tenneti

Mortgage by deposit of title deeds does not require registration unless the document includes enforceable terms; failure to challenge evidence results in judgment favoring the claimant.

Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order 34 - Mortgage by Deposit of Title Deeds - The plaintiff sought recovery of Rs.18,67,000/- due to non-repayment of a loan secured by a mortgage. The court found that the appellant failed to prove that she did not execute the promissory note and the deed of mortgage. The memoranda of deposit were not compellingly registerable under Section 17, as they merely evidenced the deposit of title deeds without stipulating enforceable terms. (Paras 4, 8, 17, 25)

(B) Evidence - Burden of Proof - The defendant's failure to provide evidence supporting her claims left the plaintiff’s testimony unchallenged and standing as sufficient proof of the claim against the defendant. (Paras 3, 10, 20, 27)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff asserted a loan of Rs.15,00,000/- from the defendant with a high interest rate, secured by a title deed. The defendant denied the transaction. The trial court found the defendant's defense unconvincing due to lack of evident proof.

Findings of Court:
The trial court upheld the plaintiff’s claim for Rs.18,67,000/- and established a preliminary decree for repayment and interest, giving the defendant three months for redemption.

Issues: Determination of the validity of the promissory note and the requirements for registering the memorandum of deposit of title deeds.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that a mortgage by deposit does not necessitate a registered document if it lacks enforceable terms. The defendant’s unsupported denials did not undermine the plaintiff's established claim.

Result: Appeal dismissed.

Table of Content
1. appellant and respondent roles and claims. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4)
2. defendant's denial of transaction and mortgage. (Para 5 , 6)
3. trial court findings and evidence review. (Para 8 , 10)
4. document admissibility and registration requirements. (Para 13 , 15)
5. essence of mortgage by deposit of title deeds. (Para 21 , 22 , 25)
6. conclusion on the validity of the trial court's decision. (Para 26 , 27 , 28)

JUDGMENT :

B.R.MADHUSUDHAN RAO, J.

1. This appeal is filed by the appellant aggrieved by the judgment and decree passed by the learned II Additional District Judge, Nalgonda, Suryapet in O.S.No.2 of 2014, dated 07.02.2020.

2. Appellant is the defendant and respondent is the plaintiff in the suit. For the sake of convenience, the parties will be hereinafter referred to as the plaintiff and the defendant.

3. The plaintiff has filed suit for recovery of amount of Rs.18,67,000/- and for preliminary decree directing the defendant to pay the suit amount by granting reasonable time for redemption of mortgage plaint schedule property, in the event of failure to redeem the mortgage property in accordance with preliminary decree, to pass a final decree for sale of mortgaged immovable plaint schedule property in terms of Order 34 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for realization of decreetal amount with subsequent interest at the rate of 24% per annum.

4. The contention of the plaintiff in the plaint is that the defendant has borrowed an amount of Rs.15,00,000/- from him on 27.12.2012 for development of her business, executed a promissory note at Vijayawada in his favour and on the same day agreed to repay the borrowed amount with interest at the rate of 24% per annum. The plaintiff has insisted for security, the defendant has provided the suit property i.e., two storied building constructed in an extent of 313 sq.yds bearing Door No.1-7-116/2/1 in Survey No.9, Ward No.9 of Suryapet Municipality within the boundaries by depositing the title deed dated 20.01.1996. The defendant has executed memorandum of deposit of title deed on 31.12.2012 in favour of the plaintiff. In spite of demands made by the plaintiff, defendant has failed to repay the amount.

5. Defendant filed her written statement contending that she neither borrowed any amount from the plaintiff nor created equitable mortgage of the scheduled property. Son of the defendant by name K.Ramakrishna Reddy is doing transport business at K.P.H.B. at Hyderabad and he got acquaintance with one Narendar Chowdary. The son of the defendant requested Narendar Chowdary to advance loan for his business needs, as Narendar Chowdary had no money with him he introduced one Ravikanth to her son. Son of the defendant through Narendar Chowdary obtained loan of Rs.6,00,000/- from Ravikanth, in turn he handed over two singed blank cheques and original registered sale deed No.88/1996 relating to the suit property. On 07.01.2013 the son of the defendant made part payment of Rs.4,12,500/- along with interest to Ravikanth and also paid remaining amount of Rs.2,00,000/- with interest on 29.01.2013 to Ravikanth through Narendar Chowdary. In spite of discharging the amount by her son, Ravikanth and Narendar Chowdary did not return the singed blank cheques and original registered sale deed which were kept with him as security and postponed to return the same. In the month of September 2013, the son of the defendant received phone call from Sheelam Govind Reddy claiming an amount of Rs.15,00,000/- otherwise the matter will be moved before the Court. The defendant never approached the plaintiff, nor she visited Vijayawada at any point of time. The defendant has sufficient agricultural properties, two buildings at Suryapet town and getting rents. The son of the defendant got issued legal notice on 18.12.2013 to Ravikanth and Sheelam Govind Reddy demanding them to return the cheques and original registered sale deed belonging to the defendant, after receiving the said legal notice the present suit came to

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