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2006 Supreme(Kar) 11

2006(2) Kar. L.J. 257 (DB)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
(DIVISION BENCH)
V. GOPALA GOWDA AND ASHOK B. HINCHIGERI, JJ.
SANJAY K. SHETTY - Appellant
Versus
B. NARAYANA SHETTY - Respondent
Regular First Appeal No. 451 of 1998.
Decided on : 4th January, 2006

Advocates appeared
Sri S.G. Bhagwan for M/s. Shetty and Hegde Associates, Advocate for Appellant;
Sri V. Tarakaram, Senior Counsel for M/s. Tarakaram Associates and M/s. Reddy and Raju Associates, Sampath Anand Shetty, Advocates for Respondent.

Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908 -Reliability of handwriting expert s opinion -Order 26, Rule 10-A -Reliability of handwirting expert s opinion -To place reliance on the opinion of the expert, he should be examined. [V. Gopala Gowda and Ashok B. Hinchigeri, JJ]: While answering the contentious issue No.1 nowhere he has referred to the statement of objections and he has also not examined whether the report could have been placed reliance by the Trial Court in view of Order 26 Rule 1 O-A CPC r/w. Rule 10(2) and also the law laid down on this aspect of the matter by the Apex Court which relevant portions of the decisions are extensively referred to supra, would clearly mandates that examination of a handwriting expert is very much required in a case when the report of ~he Commissioner is disputed by the plaintiff. That is not done in the Instant case. Therefore the submission made by the Learned Counsel Sri S.G. Bhagwan for defendant questioning the correctness of the findings recorded on issue No.1 and other issues namely 2,3,4 and 5 and other issues in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant that they are all erroneous m law and error m law as the Learned Trial Judge place reliance upon the report and the provision Section 45 of the Evidence Act and exercise of his power D/s. 73 in addition to the report of the handwriting expert regarding the authenticity of the signatures found in Ex.P. 1 and P. 2 on comparison with the admitted signatures found in vakalath, written statement and affidavit of the defendant, therefore his submissions must be accepted as tenable as the same is based on the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

       Cases Referred: AIR 1999 SC 3318; AIR 1999 Gujarat 108; AIR 1955 SC 425 ; AIR 19693 SC 1728; AIR 1977 SC 1091; AIR 1979 SC 14; AIR 1990 SC 1828; AIR 1996 SC 1140; AIR 1963 SC 1728; AIR 1955 SC 425; AIR 1977 SC 1091; AIR 1979 SC 14; AIR 1996 SC 1140; 1969 (2) MLJ 284; 1971 (2) MLJ 407; AIR 1985 Kerala 109; AIR 1992 Gujrat 1; 1983 (2) KLJ 135; AIR 1922 Calcutta 12; AIR 1961 Calcutta 300; 1967(2) KLJ 284; 1971 (2) MLJ 407; AIR 1990 SC 1828; (1988) 2 SCC 602: AIR 1988 SC 1531.

       Indian Evidence Act, 1872 -Opinion of handwriting expert -Section 114 -Opinion of handwriting expert -Reliability -Reliability -Reliable but, such person should be examined. [V. Gopala Gowda and Ashok B. Hinchigeri, JJ]: U/s 118 of the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881 the presumption in favour of the plaintiff, opinion of handwriting expert or person acquainted with one s handwriting had got a evidentiary value and it is a presumption of fact u/s. 114 of the Evidence Act and it has got evidentiary value u/s. 45 and 47 of the Evidence Act.

       Cases Referred: AIR 1999 SC 3318; AIR 1999 Gujarat 108; AIR 1955 SC 425 ; AIR 19693 SC 1728; AIR 1977 SC 1091; AIR 1979 SC 14; AIR 1990 SC 1828; AIR 1996 SC 1140; AIR 1963 SC 1728; AIR 1955 SC 425; AIR 1977 SC 1091; AIR 1979 SC 14; AIR 1996 SC 1140; 1969 (2) MLJ 284; 1971 (2) MLJ 407; AIR 1985 Kerala 109; AIR 1992 Gujrat 1; 1983 (2) KLJ 135; AIR 1922 Calcutta 12; AIR 1961 Calcutta 300; 1967(2) KLJ 284; 1971 (2) MLJ 407; AIR 1990 SC 1828; (1988) 2 SCC 602: AIR 1988 SC 1531.

       Evidence -Expert evidence -Expert evidence -Reliability -Pre-condition for. See, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 -Order 26, Rule 10-A.

       Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 -Opinion of handwriting expert -Section 118 -Opinion of handwriting expert -Reliability -Reliability -Reliable but, such person should be examined. [V. Gopala Gowda and Ashok B. Hinchigeri, JJ]: Uunder Section 118 of the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881 the presumption in favour of the plaintiff, opinion of handwriting expert or person acquainted with one s handwriting had got a evidentiary value and it is a presumption of fact u/s. 114 of the Evidence Act and it has got evidentiary value u/s. 45 and 47 of the Evidence Act.

       Cases Referred: AIR 1999 SC 3318; AIR 1999 Gujarat 108; AIR 1955 SC 425 ; AIR 19693 SC 1728; AIR 1977 SC 1091; AIR 1979 SC 14; AIR 1990 SC 1828; AIR 1996 SC 1140; AIR 1963 SC 1728; AIR 1955 SC 425; AIR 1977 SC 1091; AIR 1979 SC 14; AIR 1996 SC 1140; 1969 (2) MLJ 284; 1971 (2) MLJ 407; AIR 1985 Kerala 109; AIR 1992 Gujrat 1; 1983 (2) KLJ 135; AIR 1922 Calcutta 12; AIR 1961 Calcutta 300; 1967(2) KLJ 284; 1971 (2) MLJ 407; AIR 1990 SC 1828; (1988) 2 SCC 602: AIR 1988 SC 1531.

JUDGMENT

This regular first appeal is by the defendant questioning the correctness of the judgment dated 19-12-1997 and decree, he has prayed to set aside the same by allowing this appeal and dismiss the suit urging various legal contentions.

2. In this judgment, for the sake of convenience, the rank of the parties is referred to as has been assigned in the plaint presented before the Trial Court.

3. Necessary brief facts are.-Plaintiff is the-holder in due course of the pro-note dated 19-11-1986 alleged to have been executed by the defendant in favour of a person known as B. Ramanna Hegde. He had in turn endorsed the pro-note in favour of the plaintiff for consideration. Thereafter plaintiff demanded to recover the amount from Ramanna Hegde and also defendant herein. His demand was not acceded. Therefore, suit was instituted for decreeing the suit claim with interest as prayed.

4. The defendant entered appearance through his Counsel, filed written statement inter alia denying the plaint averments that Exs. P. 1 and P. 2 the pro-note and consideration receipt are forged and concocted documents. Further it is stated that during the year 1986 in the early part of December he had lost a bag containing certain documents. With regard to the same he has lodged a police complaint and also taken out publication in the newspaper. It is his further case that one Vijaya Bhaskar Shetty working as the Manager of the State Bank of India at that time was dealing with the defendant and he in collusion with the father-in-law of Ramanna Hegde concocted the pro-note and consideration receipt. Therefore he has stated that he is not liable to pay the suit claim and prayed for dismissal of the suit.

5. On the basis of the pleadings, the Trial Court framed 5 issues for its determination. The case went for trial. On behalf of the plaintiff, including himself 3 witnesses were examined as P.Ws. 1 to 3. Marked the documents produced as Exs. P. 1 to P. 8. On behalf of the defendants. he himself was examined as D.W. 1 marked the documents produced as Exs. D. 1 to D. 11. The Trial Court on appreciation of the pleadings and evidence on record answered issues 1 to 4 in the affirmative, issues 5 and 6 in the negative and accordingly, judgment and decree is passed in favour of the plaintiff decreeing the suit as sought for with full costs and interest.

6. The correctness of the same is questioned in this appeal urging various legal grounds. The ground of attack of the impugned judgment is that the findings recorded on the contentious issues is erroneous for non-consideration of the legal evidence on record as the learned Judge has misread the evidence on record and further it is contended that findings. are erroneous in law for the reason that the Trial Court has recorded the findings on the contentious issues 1 to 4 though there is no evidence on record to answer the same in the affirmative. While answering issues 5 and 6 the Trial Court has not considered the legal evidence in favour of the defendant that Exs. P. 1 and P. 2 are forged documents is not properly appreciated and recorded a finding. Therefore the learned Counsel has submitted that the same was liable to be set aside.

7. Learned Counsel Sri S.G. Bhagwan, appearing on behalf of the defendant placing strong reliance upon Order 41, Rule 2 of the CPC contends that with the leave of the Court the ground which is not urged in the memorandum of appeal can be urged. The Appellate Court in deciding the appeal shall not be confined to the grounds urged in the memorandum of appeal while permitting such new ground the party who may be affected must have sufficient opportunity to contest a case on that ground. Placing reliance upon the aforesaid provision of the CPC and the order sheet objections filed by the defendant to the report of the Court Commissioner who is a handwriting expert. It is noted in the order sheet dated 13-8-1997 that objections will be considered along with the suit. The same is not consi















































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