O.S.No. 105 of 20181 of 16Date: 18 .10.2024 (F.C.)
IN THE COURT OF THE ADDL.SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE –CUM-
ASSISTANT SESSIONS JUDGE :: MANCHERIAL
CAMP COURT AT LUXETTIPET
Present : Smt. Arpitha Maram Reddy, Addl. Senior Civil Judge-cum- Addl. Asst. Sessions Judge, Mancherial
Friday, this the 18th day of October, 2024
O.S.No.105 of 2018
Between :
Dommati Prabhakar, S/o.Ramaiah, Age: 49 years, Occ: Agriculture, R/o.Jendavenkatapur, R/m.Luxettipet, Mancherial District.
..Plaintiff
//A N D//
1.Masu Sunitha, W/o.Late Masu Bhemaiah, Age: 30 years, Occ: A.O., R/o.H.No.7-3-104, Kashmirgadda, Karimnagar, C/o.Senior Divisional Manager, LIC of India, P.B.No.13, N.R.Inspection Bangla, Nallamanchu Kondaiah Building, Karimnagar.
2.Masu Manvisri, D/o.Late Masu Bhemaiah, Age: 4 years (Minor, represented by Natural mother defendant No.1).
3.Masu Kushal, S/o.Masu Bhemaiah, Age: 1 year Minor, represented by Natural mother defendant No.1).
4.Masu Rambai, W/o.Masu Rajam, Age: 65 years, Occ: Nil, R/o.H.No.12-34, Gandhi Nagar, CCC Naspur, Mancherial District.
(Defendant No.4 is added as per the orders in I.A.No.211/2023,
dated: 17.11.2023)
..Defendants
This case is coming on before me for final hearing in presence of Sri V.Nalinikanth Advocate for the plaintiff and Sri Vodnala Satyanarayana, Advocate for defendant No.1 to 3, Sri N.Surender, Advocate for defendant
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No.4, and having heard and stood over for consideration till to-day, this Court delivered the following:-
J U D G M E N T
This suit is filed for recovery of money from the defendants to the tune of Rs.9,42,500/- (Rupees nine lakhs forty two thousand five hundred only) basing on promissory note.
2.The averments of the plaint in brief are that the plaintiff and deceased borrower namely Masu Bhemaiah are acquainted with each other. Out of such acquaintance, the deceased approached the plaintiff on 24-01-2016 and borrowed hand loan of Rs.6,50,000/- to meet his family needs. On receipt of the said amount, the deceased borrower executed a promissory note on the same day in favour of plaintiff in the presence of witnesses by name Vutoori Shiva Kumar and Velpula Gopal The plaintiff further submits that the deceased borrower assured the plaintiff for repayment of money with an interest at the rate of 1.5% per month as and when demanded by the plaintiff and one Masu Kalpana stood as guarantor. Subsequently original borrower died on 02.01.2017. The defendant No.1 and her children defendant No.2 and 3 succeeded the estate of deceased as legal heirs and the defendant No.1 also got employment in the same department. After death of deceased, the plaintiff informed the defendant No.1 regarding the hand loan amount, for which the defendant No.1 assured to repay the same with interest. Thereafter, the plaintiff several times demanded the defendant No.1 to repay the promissory note amount along with interest in the presence of
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defendant No.4. But the defendants used to dodge the matter on one or the other pretext. Thereafter, on 27.03.2018 the plaintiff got issued a legal notice to the defendant No.1 demanding her to repay the promissory note amount along with interest. The same was served on her, but neither she repaid the loan amount nor gave any reply. As such the plaintiff is constrained to file the suit for recovery of loan amount along with accrued interest thereon. Hence the suit.
3.On receiving the summons from the court, the defendant No.1 to 3 appeared before the court through their counsel and filed written statement.
The brief averments of the written statement filed by the defendant No.1 to 3 are that they denied all the allegations made in the plaint and submitted that the husband of defendant
No.1/deceased worked as Development Officer in LIC and after with the defendant No.1, deceased husband accustomed to bad vices and subsequently defendant No.1 also separated from her husband and living separately at her parents’ house. The deceased also neglected the defendant No.1 to 3, due to bad vices. The deceased borrowed died in the year of 2017 due to road accident leaving behind him the defendant No.1 to 3 and also mother and father as Class-I legal heirs to succeed the entire estate. The parents of deceased also received death benefits towards their share, as such the suit is also bad, not maintainable due to non-joinder of necessary parties. The deceased never borrowed any amount and there is no need to borrow such huge amount without consultation with the family members. The
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O.S.No. 105 of 20184 of 16Date: 18 .10.2024 (F.C.)
alleged promissory note is forged and fabricated one in order to grab the amounts from the defendants who are innocent persons. The cause of action, jurisdiction and limitation are created to file the present suit. Hence the suit is liable to be dismissed.
4.In the additional written statement filed by defendant No.1 to 3, they admitted that except getting job of deceased/Masu Bheemaiah by defendant No.1, defendant No.1 to 3 never succeeded the estate of Masu Bheemaiah.
5.The defendant No.4 filed written statement submitting that she has no objection to decree the suit by excluding her.
4.Basing on the contentions of both parties, this court framed following issues for trial:
1.Whether the plaintiff is entitled for recovery of
suit amount from the defendant as prayed for?
2. To what relief?
5.At the event of trial, the plaintiff got himself examined as PW1 and got Ex.A1 to A6 marked. On behalf of the plaintiff, the attestors to promissory note were examined as Pws.2 and 3. The counsel for defendant No.1 to 4 reported no defence evidence.
6.Heard both sides. Written arguments filed by counsel for defendant No.1 to 3. Perused the same.
ISSUE No.1:
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7.As per Sec.104 of Bharathiya Sakya Adinayam, it is the initial burden on the party who seeks to get decree in his favour, he has to establish fact in issue. In the case in hand, the fact in issue is whether
Ex.A1 was executed by husband of defendant No.1 after receipt of pronote amount from plaintiff.
8.It is the contention of the plaintiff that due to acquaintance with him, husband of defendant No.1 borrowed Rs.6,50,000/- from him on 24.01.2016 and on the same day, executed Ex.A1 in his favour, in the presence of PW2 and PW3. In order to prove the claim, Plaintiff himself examined as PW1 by filing evidence affidavit in lieu of his chief examination, which is replica of pleadings. Ex.A1 is the original promissory note, dated: 24.01.2016, which goes to show that on the said date, promissory note amount was executed by the husband of defendant No.1 in the presence of attestor witnesses/PW2 and PW3.
Prior to proving execution of ExA1, it is the burden cast upon the plaintiff in order to show that after receiving pronote amount, husband of defendant No.1 had executed Ex.A1 in the presence of
PW2 and PW3. On cross examination of PW1, the learned defendants counsel elicited that in the year of 2008 award compensation amount was received by him, and the same was deposited in his account at
Andhra Bank, Mancherial. The learned defence posed the suggestion that no award compensation amount was granted to PW1 and the same was denied by the plaintiff. In fact, it is also elicited that PW1 is not an income tax assessee.
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9.In as much it is also elicited by defendants counsel that any transaction exceeding Rs.20,000/-, the same should be made through cheque. In fact, it is the crux of the case whether Ex.A1 was executed and source of income and being I.T. assessee is an incidental factor.
As such, the court initially it is the burden on the plaintiff to prove execution of Ex.A1 in favour of plaintiff by husband of defendant
No.1. Apart from source of title, nothing contrary was elicited to disown the ocular evidence of PW1. In fact, as per PW1 cross examination, he categorically deposed that through his brother in law by name Golla Komuraiah got acquaintance with defendant No.1 and suggestion was denied by PW1. In such scenario, the acquaintance of plaintiff and husband of defendant No.1 is proved.
10.In as much it is pertinent to state that prior to one week of
Ex.A1 the husband of defendant No.1 requested him to lend the loan.
But the said fact did not pleaded in the plaint averments. In fact such non-disclosure of earlier request of husband of defendant No.1, the payment money either in the plaint pleadings or in the chief examination appears to be unacceptable, but not unreasonable. Mere disclosure of the same at the time of cross examination does not discard the entire evidence of PW1. Apart from the evidence of PWs.2 and 3 PW1 deposed the presence of one Kalpana, sister in law of defendant No.1. PW1 asserted in his cross examination that he paid pronote amount on 24.01.2016 and also categorically deposed the source of the same. It is pertinent to mention that there was
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ambiguity to the extent of the presence at plaintiff house other than
Bheemaiah and Kalpana at the time of execution of Ex.A1. It is further pertinent to state that PW1 asserted that he paid entire pronote amount in the form of the cash.
11.Coming to PW2 who is one of the attestor filed chief affidavit supporting the averments of the plaint that on the date of execution of Ex.A1, one Kalpana came to plaintiff’s house around 9.00 to 10.00 a.m. Perhaps, PW3 filed chief affidavit in lieu of his chief examination admitting the averments of the plaint. Despite of cross examination of PW3 nothing worth was elicited to disbelieve his version. In fact,
PW3 ocular evidence supported the claim of the plaintiff. In fact, PW2 admitted his signature on Ex.A1. Furthermore, the presence of PWs.2 and 3 is stated by PWs.1 to 3. Except denying suggestions, defendant did not elicit any contrary statements in order to disprove claim of the plaintiff. Perhaps, it is elicited from PW1 cross examination that either during the life time of husband of defendant No.1, plaintiff demanded payment for pronote amount to defendant No.1 or her husband. Perhaps, as per PW1 cross examination neither legal notice was issued to husband of defendant No.1 or to his sister Kalapana. In fact, issuance of legal notice is a demand which need to be paid as per the conditions of Sec.4 of Indian Negotiable Instruments Act and itself is not mandate to be in written form. Perhaps one
Kalpana/sister in law of defendant No.1 is shown as guarantor for execution of Ex.A1 and she was not examined on behalf of either of the parties.
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12.As per Sec.4 of Indian Negotiable Instrument Act, promissory note i.e,. Ex.A1 is negotiable instrument whereas on perusal of Ex.A1, it contains all the ingredients of promissory note. As such, the initial burden of the plaintiff is discharged who substantiate his case by examined PW1 to PW3 and Ex.A1 to Ex.A5. As the plaintiff proved execution of Ex.A1, this court is warranted to invoke the provision of presumption U/Sec.118 (a) to (g) of Negotiable Instrument Act. It is evince from the provision of law U/Sec.118 (a) to (g) of N.I.Act that unless the contrary is proved, the presumption as to (a) consideration, (b) as to date, (c) as time of acceptance (d) as to time of transfer (e) as to order of endorsement (f) as to stamp that, (g) the holder is a holder in due course, provided that where the instrument has been obtained for his lawful owner, or from any person in lawful custody thereof by means of offence of fraud, or has been obtained from the maker or acceptor thereof by means of offence or fraud or unlawful consideration, the burden of proving that the holder is holder in due course lies upon him.
13.Apart from it, this court draws presumption U/Sec.114
Illustration (c) of Indian Evidence Act, “That a bill of exchange, accepted or endorsed was accepted or endorsed for good consideration.” As plaintiff examined himself as PW1 and examined attestors/PWs.2 and 3 had established execution of Ex.A1 by stepping into witness box and discharged his burden. As such, the onerous of proof shifts on defendants, in order to disprove that Ex.A1 was not
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executed by husband of defendant No.1 and signatures beared on it are forged and created. Prior to appreciation of evidence, it is initially eminent to look into the pleadings of defendants coupled with oral and documentary evidence let in by them, in order to disprove the claim of the plaintiff. It is the contention of the defendant No.1 that her husband does not have any acquaintance with plaintiff.
Defendants in order to disprove the case of plaintiff, neither adduced any oral or documentary evidence. In fact, the defendants did not take any steps to send the Ex.A1 to handwriting expert for comparison or filed any police report in order to disprove the case of the plaintiff. However, be it noted here that the courts are empowered to compare the disputed signatures with of the admitted signatures as per Sec.73 of Indian Evidence Act. In the case in hand the suit is filed against the wife of deceased borrower and his family members. In fact, no admitted document on behalf of husband of defendant No.1 is filed in order to compare the same with Ex.A1.
Perhaps, there is no other material on record to prove that Ex.A1 is a forged document. Mere pleading that husband of defendant No.1 did not receive pronote amount or executed Ex.A1 in the absence of any cogent and documentary evidence is not suffice to conclude that the defendants had rebutted evidence of plaintiff which inspires this court to draw presumption U/Sec.119 (g) of Bharatha Sakya Adiniyam that “evidence which could be and is not produced would, if produced, be unfavourable to the person who withholds it”.But in the case in hand, except cross examining PWs.1 to 3, there is no convincing and contrary evidence to culled out to disprove the case
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of plaintiff, as such defendants failed to prove the burden of disproving the case of the plaintiff as well as pleading to the extent that Ex.A.1 was forged one.
14.The learned defendants counsel filed written arguments and vehemently argued that on the following counts, the suit may be dismissed:
1) That the is bad for non joinder of necessary parties as the guarantor/Kalapana is not impleaded as one of the party to the suit.
2) That the as Ex.A1 is created in collusion with defendant No.4 and one Kalpana.
3) Scribe of the document has not been examined.
4) Source of pronote amount is not been established.
5) The defendants did not receive any estate from deceased.
6) The plaintiff does not possess any money lending license.
15.The plaintiff being master of his suit and Order 1 Rule 1 of CPC would array necessary parties to the suit. In fact, as per Order 1 Rule 9 CPC, the suit is liable for dismissal for non joinder of necessary parties. In the case in hand, the suit is filed for recovery of money suit and not for declaration of title and partition suit. The plaintiff seeking recovery of money against the defendant No.1 on the count that husband of defendant No.1 had obtained pronote amount by
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executing Ex.A1. In such scenario on the demise of husband of defendant No.1 being LRs of defendant No.1 to 4 would be Class I heirs, irrespective of property succeeded by them. If it is such a case, the sister in law of defendant No.1 is not an necessary party and she only amounts to proper party in whose absence effective decree can be passed. In as much, the said Kalpana is shown as a guarantor in
Ex.A1. If it is such a case, the plaintiff is at liberty to array any of the party directly connected to the case. In such circumstances the plea raised by defendants is unsustainable.
16.In fact, plaintiff examined himself PW1 being executee of Ex.A1 and also examined one of the attestor witnesses. If it is such a case non examining the scriber itself does not discard the entire evidence of plaintiff and that too when PWs.1 to 3 were examined on behalf of plaintiff.
17.In as much, on one hand the defendant filed written arguments that plaintiff does not possess any money lending license and on the other hand the defendant failed either to prove that the plaintiff is in habit to run money lending business or any instances to show such money lending to third party. Admittedly plaintiff did not file any record to show that after demise of the husband of defendant No.1, defendant No.1 to 4 succeeded any property which stands in his name. But as per the additional written statement averments except the job of husband of defendant No.1, no property was succeeded in the form of estate. In such scenario, the employment of defendant
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No.1 can be termed as estate as she acquired job as Senior Divisional
Officer, LIC of India. In fact, it is undisputed that the husband of defendant No.1 was employer in LIC Department. In such scenario, the contention raised by the defendants counsel appears to be unsustainable.
18.It is undisputed fact that Masu Bheemaiah is the husband of defendant No.1, father and son of defendant No.2 to 4 as well as died intestate. In such a case, on demise of Masu Bheemaiah, irrespective of the properties being male person, property devolves as per Sec.8 of Hindu Succession Act, 1956, which is as follows:
“The property of a male Hindu dying intestate shall devolve according to the provisions of Chapter-
(a) firstly, upon the heirs, being the relatives specified in Class-
I of the Schedule;
(b) secondly, if there is no heir of Class-I, then upon the heirs, being the relatives specified in Class-II of the Schedule;
(c) thirdly, if there is no heir of any of the two classes, then upon the agnates of the deceased; and
(d) lastly, if there is no agnate, then upon the cognates of the deceased.
If a Hindu dies intestate, the property shall be devolved firstly upon the heirs being relatives specified in Class-I of Schedule. Thus, it
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is pertinent to look into the Schedule of the said Act. Wherein the opening lines of the said Class-I is:- sons, daughters, widow, mother, son of a predeceased son, daughter of a predeceased son, son of a predeceased daughter, daughter of predeceased daughter, widow of a predeceased son, son of a predeceased son of a predeceased son, daughter of a predeceased son of predeceased son, widow of predeceased son of a predeceased son, son of a predeceased daughter of a predeceased daughter, daughter of a deceased daughter of predeceased daughter, daughter of a predeceased son of predeceased daughter and daughter of a predeceased daughter of predeceased son.
19.Basing on the above provision of law, defendant No.1 being the mother of the deceased Bheemaiah, defendant No.1 to 3 being wife and children of deceased Bheemaiah fallen under the ambit of Class-I heirs. It is pertinent to mention that if Class-I heirs are not existing, then Class-II would succeed the property. But the same is not in the case in hand. As there is no dispute pertaining to relationship between the defendnat No.1 to 4 are family members of deceased
Bheemaiah and they are his Class-I heirs. In such a case, if any estate irrespective of any property left by late Masu Bheemaiah would devolve upon Class-I heirs. Thus, basing on the above, issue No.1 is answered in favour of plaintiff and defendant No.1 and 4.
20.Thus in view of above submissions, the ocular and documentary evidence let in by the plaintiff is positive, cogent and
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establishes that on 24.01.2016 after receipt of pronote amount, husband of defendant No.1 executed Ex.A1 in the presence of plaintiff, his wife, defendant No.1 sister in law, PW2/Shivakumar,
Velpula Gopal/PW3, Katla Bheemaiah and another Bheemaiah. Thus, the plaintiff established his claim beyond probabilities. Hence, the
Issue No.1 is answered in favour of plaintiff and against defendants.
21.ISSUE No.4: To what relief
In the result, the suit is decreed with costs in favour of plaintiff, that defendant No.1 and 4 are directed to pay jointly and severally an amount of Rs.9,42,500/- (Rupees nine lakh forty two thousand five hundred only) to the plaintiff along with interest @12 % per annum on principal adjudged from the date of the suit, till the date of decree. Further, interest @ 6% per annum on principle sum from the date of decree till date of realization.
Typed to my dictation by the Stenographer, corrected and
pronounced by me in the open Court on this the 18th day of October,
2024.
ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE–CUM-
ASSISTANT SESSIONS JUDGE,
MANCHERIAL
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESSES EXAMINED
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For Plaintiff:
PW-1Dommati Prabhakar PW-2Vutoori Shiva Kumar PW-3Velpula Gopal
For Defendants:None
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EXHIBITS MARKED
For Plaintiff:
Ex.A1Original promissory note dated: 24.01.2016 Ex.A2Office copy of legal notice dated: 27.03.2018 Ex.A3Postal receipt addressed to office of defendant No.1 under which legal notice was issued Ex.A4Postal receipt addressed to the residence of defendant No.1 under which legal notice was issued Ex.A5Postal acknowledgment card of defendant No.1 Ex.A6Reply notice dated: 17.04.2018
For Defendants: -NIL-
ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE–CUM-
ASSISTANT SESSIONS JUDGE,
MANCHERIAL
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