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1966 Supreme(Online)(AP) 3

ANDHRA PRADESH HIGH COURT
Chandrasekhara Sastry, J.
Commercial and Industrial Bank Ltd. Gunfoundry through Manager Viswanath Rao Bilurgikar v. J. Kanakachalam
O. S. No. 58/1 of 1955



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Sivarama Sastry
For the Respondents: Mr. Venkateswarlu

Letters from defendants acknowledged liability under Section 19 of the Limitation Act, allowing the suit to proceed despite concerns of limitation.

Headnote:(A) Indian Limitation Act - Section 19 - Claim for recovery of dues - Issues of limitation and acknowledgment of liability discussed - The Court held that the letters from defendants constituted valid acknowledgments under Section 19, thus the suit is not barred by limitation. (Paras 8 and 9)

(B) Indian Contract Act - Sections 174 and 176 - The right to retain shares and conditions for their sale were explored. The Court noted that the plaintiff cannot withhold securities when the principal amount is settled. (Paras 6 and 10)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff bank sued to recover an overdraft amount while defendants claimed for return of shares used as collateral. The lower court found that several shares were not returned and ruled the suit time-barred.

Findings of Court:
The Court determined that the plaintiff's claims regarding the security were unfounded; thus, no relief could be granted due to the time-barred nature of the suit.

Issues: The main issues revolved around the acknowledgment of debt, limitation, and the claim of the returned shares.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the letters constituted acknowledgments under the Limitation Act, permitting the suit to proceed.

Result: Appeal and cross-objections remanded for further proceedings.

Table of Content
1. overview of appeal and claims. (Para 1 , 2)
2. disputed shares and acknowledgment of liability. (Para 3 , 4 , 5)
3. issues of limitation and nature of acknowledgment. (Para 6 , 7 , 8)
4. court's findings on acknowledgment and limitation. (Para 9 , 10)
5. remand for hearings regarding value and disposition of shares. (Para 11 , 12 , 13)
6. final directions on court fees and remanding the case. (Para 14 , 15)

1. The above appeal and the Memorandum of cross - objections are filed against the judgment and decree in O. S. No. 58/1 of 1955 on the file of the Second Additional Judge City Civil Court, Hyderabad.

2. The plaintiff, the Commercial and Industrial Bank Ltd., is the appellant in this appeal. The suit was filed to recover I. G. Rupee 5,078-0-7 equivalent to H. S. Rs. 5,927-6-0 from the defendants. The plaintiff's case is shortly as follows. The plaintiff is a limited bank. The defendants dealt in shares for which they required money from time to time. They arranged for overdraft accounts in I. G. and H. S currency in the plaintiff - bank agreeing to pay interest at 6 per cent per annum on the overdraft amounts.
As security for the amounts thus drawn, the defendants used to deposit shares of different companies from time to time and also used to take back the shares by making payments. On 28-1-46, the defendants paid the balance due under the O. S. overdraft account and took a return of all the shares which were kept with them in the plaintiff - bank as security. They also executed a receipt specifying therein that all the entries made in the pass - book relating to the deposit and withdrawal of shares were cancelled.
On 28-1-46, an amount of Rs. 4,129-15-8 was outstanding against the I. G. overdraft ac count which they orally promised to pay in a few days. When subsequently they were asked to pay the amount due under the I. G. overdraft account also, objection was taken on behalf of the defendants that a few shares were still in deposit with the plaintiff - bank and that the amount could not be paid unless the shares were returned. The defendants in their letter dated 6-2-46, showed their readiness to pay the amount due in respect of the I. G. overdraft account, provided the shares specified in that letter were returned by the plaintiff - bank.
Again on 25-7-46, the defendants advocate wrote to the plaintiff - bank acknowledging the defendants' liability. The 2nd defendant filed a written statement. He stated that the plaintiff promised to pay the defendants by way of overdraft to the extent of Rs. 50,000 on the security of shares. According to their necessity, the defendants were sometimes drawing the amounts m O. S. currency and sometimes in I. G. currency for which one O. S. current account and one I. G. current account were maintained in the plaintiff - bank on behalf of the defendants.
On 28-1-46, shares of different kinds belonging to the defendants were in deposit with the plaintiff - bank as security. But on that date, only four kinds of shares mentioned in the written statement were returned to the defendants and three items consisting of 300 shares of Taj Glass Works, 400 shares of Biochemicals and Synthetic Products Ltd. and 2 shares of Hyderabad Construction Co., were retained by the plaintiff - bank. It was admitted that, on' that date, a sum of Rs. 4,129-15-3 was due from the defendants to the plaintiff in I. G. account.
The plaintiff stated that the said amount could be paid only when the shares are returned. The defendants, by their letter dated 6-2-46, asked the plaintiff in return the shares. The value of those shares which the plaintiff - bank still kept with it as security for the loan is I. G. Rs. 5,175 on 28-1-46 and if this amount is given credit to, the plaintiff - bank itself will be owing to the defendants a sum of I. G. Rupees 1,585-04). It was also pleaded that the suit is barred by limitation. The 1st defendant adopted the written statement of the 2nd defendant.





3. The plaintiff - bank, in






























































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