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IN THE COURT OF THE PRINCIPAL JUNIOR CIVIL JUDGE ::
ADDANKI
Present: Sri S.Vijaya Chandar,
Principal Junior Civil Judge, Addanki
Tuesday, this the second (2nd) day of May, 2017
ORIGINAL SUIT No.160 of 2014
Between:
Goli Koteswara Rao, Son of Kotaiah, aged about 68 years, Hindu, cultivation, resident of Peda Ambadipudi village, Ballikurava Mandal, Prakasam District. ….
PLAINTIFF
and
1.Oruganti Santha Kumari, W/o. Late Yedukondalu, aged about 35 years, Hindu, cultivation, Resident of Nagulavaram village, Vinukonda Mandal, Guntur District, Vinukonda JCJC 2.Oruganti Jayanthi, D/o. Late Yedukondalu, aged about 12 years, Hindu, 3.Oruganti Manikanta, S/o. Late Yedukondalu, aged about 10 years, Hindu, (defendants 2 and 3 are being minors, rep. by their mother-guardian, Oruganti Santha Kumari, Wife of late Yedukondalu, Resident of Nagulavaram village, Vinukonda Mandal, Guntur District, Vinukonda PJCJ ) 4.Oruganti Nagamma, Wife of Venkateswarlu, aged about 60 years, R/o. Kukatlapalli village, Ballikurava Mandal, Addanki JCJC. …. DEFENDANTS
This suit coming on 26.4.2017 for final hearing before me in the presence of Sri I. Hanumantha Rao, Advocate for the plaintiff and of Sri K.Ramesh, Advocate for the defendants 1 to 3 and of Sri P. Ramesh, Advocate for the 4th defendant, upon hearing both sides , upon perusal of the oral and documentary evidence and other material available on record and having stood over till this day, this court delivered the following:-
J U D G M E N T
This is a suit filed by the plaintiff for recovery of an amount of
Rs.98,292/- (Rupees ninety eight thousand two hundred and ninety two
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only) being the balance of principal and interest due on the suit promissory notes dated 21.9.2012 and 16.5.2013 executed by one
Oruganti Yedukondalu, who is husband of the first defendant, father of the defendants 2 and 3 and son of the fourth defendant, in favour of the plaintiff for Rs.40,000/- (Rupees forty thousand only) each, for costs and other reliefs, as against the estate of the deceased Oruganti
Yedukondalu, lying in the hands of the defendants 1 to 4.
II.The averments of the plaint filed by the plaintiff, in brief, are as follows:-
The plaintiff submitted that one Oruganti Yedukondalu, who is husband of the first defendant, father of the defendants 2 and 3 and son of the fourth defendant, for his family expenses, having borrowed an amount of Rs.40,000/- (Rupees forty thousand only) on 21.9.2012 from the plaintiff, executed an even dated promissory note in favour of the plaintiff agreeing to repay the said amount with interest at 24% p.a.compoundable yearly rests either to the plaintiff or his order on demand. Again, the said Oruganti Yedukondalu, having borrowed an amount of Rs.40,000/- (Rupees forty thousand only) on 16.5.2013 from the plaintiff, executed an even dated promissory note in favour of the plaintiff agreeing to repay the said amount with interest at 24% p.a.compoundable yearly rests either to the plaintiff or his order on demand. The said Oruganti Yedukondalu borrowed the amounts for the benefit of the joint family. Subsequently, despite demands made by the plaintiff both personally and through mediators, the said
Yedukondalu did not choose to clear of the debts and postponed the payment on some pretext or other. About five months back, the said
Oruganti Yedukondalu died intestate leaving behind him, the defendants
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as his legal representatives and consequent to his death, the defendants have succeeded his estate and have been in possession and enjoyment of the same. Thus, the defendants became liable to discharge the debts of the plaintiff. As the defendants failed to discharge the debt due, despite demands made by the plaintiff both oral and by way of issuance of legal notice dated 13.10.2014, the plaintiff is constrained to file this suit for recovery of the debt. As the original borrower is an agriculturist, the interest is scaled down and is claimed at 12 ½ % simple as per the provisions of Act IV/1938 and the defendants are not entitled to the benefits of any Debt Relief Laws.
III(a) The first defendant filed written statement and the same was adopted by the defendants 2 and 3. The averments of the written statement filed by the first defendant, in brief, are as follows:-
The first defendant denied the averments of the plaint and contended that her husband never borrowed any amount and the suit promissory notes are rank forged documents and that her husband never cared to look after the defendants 1 to 3 properly and he used to lead a life of spendthrift without feeling any responsibility. Moreover, subsequent to death of her husband, the defendants 1 to 3 were completely neglected by her husband and they forcibly necked out them without any mercy. During the lifetime of husband of the defendant, father of the deceased Yedukondalu used to act as manager and kartha of the joint family and hence the question of husband of the defendant acting as kartha of the join family and borrowing amounts does not arise.
What all the properties owned by the joint family are in possession and enjoyment of father of the deceased Yedukondalu and as such the suit is not maintainable for non-joinder of necessary parties. Hence, prayed to
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dismiss the suit with costs.
(b)The averments of the written statement filed by the fourth defendant, in brief, are as follows:-
The fourth defendant denied the averments of the plaint and submitted that her son Edukondalu went out of the family long back and was living at Nagulavaram village on his own accord along with his family members and he has no properties at all kept joint with the defendant and the defendant did not succeed any propeties of
Edukondalu and as such the defendant is not liable for any debt said to have been contacted by late Edukondalu and that the suit debts are not true and correct and they were brought into existence in collusion with the defendants 1 to 3 to put this defendant to trouble and loss and the plaintiff never demanded her for payment of the debt and she had given befitting reply for the legal notice got issued by the plaintiff. Hence, prayed to dismiss the suit with costs.
IV.On the above pleadings, the following issues have been settled for trial:-
1. Whether the suit promissory notes dated 21.9.2012 and 16.5.2013 are true, valid and binding on the defendants?
2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for the suit claim?
3.Whether there is any cause of action for the suit?
4. To what relief?
V. During trial, on behalf of the the plaintiff, he, besides, examining himself as P.W.1, examined the scribe and attestor of Ex.A1 pronote as
P.Ws.2 and 3 and the scribe and attestor of Ex.A2-poronote as P.Ws.4 and 5 and got marked Exs.A1 to A5. On behalf of the defendants, the fourth defendant is examined as D.W.1 and no document is marked.
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VI.Heard both sides.
VII.Issue No.1:- 1(a) The learned counsel for the plaintiff argued that the evidence of
P.Ws.1 to 5 is consistent and their evidence coupled with Exs.A1 and
A2 clearly shows that Oruganti Yedukondalu, having borrowed the amounts, executed the suit promissory notes.
1(b)The learned counsel for the plaintiff further argued that the inaction on the part of the defendants in not sending the suit promissory notes to expert to ascertain the genuineness of the signatures found therein in relation to the admitted signatures of Oruganti Edukondalu clearly shows that there is no force in the contention of the defendants and hence the suit has to be decreed.
2.The learned counsel for the defendants argued that the plaintiff failed to prove the execution of the suit promissory note and hence the suit has to be dismissed.
3.Since the defendants denied the borrowal of the amount and execution of the suit promissory notes by the deceased borrower
Oruganti Edukondalu, the burden of establishing the same is heavy on the plaintiff. In order to discharge the legal burden, the plaintiff himself examined as P.W.1 and he filed his chief examination affidavit in tune with the contents of the plaint. P.Ws. 2 and 3 filed their chief examination affidavits in tune with the contents of the plaintiff regarding borrowal of the amount by Oruganti Edukondalu and execution of Ex.A1- suit promissory note and P.Ws.4 and 5 filed their chief examination affidavits in tune with the contents of the plaintiff regarding borrowal of the amount by Oruganti Edukondalu and execution of Ex.A2-suit
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promissory note.
4.In cross-examination done by the counsel for the defendants 1 to 3, P.W.1 deposed that the original borrower Oruganti Yedukondalu was living in his house on rent by the time of borrowing the amounts and that Exs.A1 and A2 were executed at his house at about 8.00 or 9.00
A.M.on the respective dates. He denied the suggestion that Yedukondalu left his family members prior to execution of the promissory notes and did not spend the same to his family and hence the defendants 1 to 3 are not liable to pay the amount and that since father of D1 is alive, the defendants 1 to 3 are not liable to discharge the debts under Exs.A1 and
A2. In the cross-examination done by fourth defendant, P.W.1 admitted that as kartha of family, the deceased borrowed the amounts from him and denied the suggestion that the deceased left no properties to be succeeded and hence the fourth defendant is not liable to discharge the debt and by the time of borrowal the deceased had severed from the joint family and went out of the parents house.
5.As could be seen from the above cross-examination, it is evident that the defendants 1 to 3 on one hand and the fourth defendant on the other hand want to impress upon the court that since the deceased had left no properties to be succeeded by them they have no liability to discharge the amount and it is the further contention of the defendants 1 to 3 that since father of the deceased borrower was alive and since the deceased Yedukondalu never looked after them, they are not liable to discharge the debt , whereas it is that of the fourth defendant that since the deceased severed his connections with the family, the fourth defendant is not liable to discharge the debts due under Exs.A1 and A2.
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6. In cross-examination, P.W.2 deposed that Ex.A1 was drafted at about 9.00 a.m. and P.W.3 deposed to the same effect. They both denied the suggestions that the decesed Yedukondalu never borrowed the amount and never executed the Ex.A1- promissory note.
7.In cross-examination, P.Ws.4 and 5 deposed that the deceased borrower had leased the rice mill from one Potlagunta Haribabu and that the defendants 1 to 3 had been residing in Peda Ambadipudi village when the deceased borrower was running the rice mill and denied the suggestion that the deceased Yedukondalu never borrowed the amount and never executed the Ex.A2- promissory note.
8.As could be seen from the cross-examination of P.Ws.1 1 to 5 , no material whatsoever was elicited from him to discredit their testimony regarding borrowal of the amounts and execution of the suit promissory notes.
9.Thus, by examining himself as P.W.1, examining the scribe and attestor of Ex.A1 pronote as P.Ws. 2 and 3 and that of Ex.A2 as P.Ws.4 and 5, the plaintiff could discharge the initial burden of establishing the execution of the suit promissory notes by the defendant, having borrowed the amount mentioned therein. Thus, the burden shifts on to the defendant to disprove the borrowal of the amount and execution of the suit promissory notes.
10. In order to discharge his burden, the fourth defendant examined herself as D.W.1 and filed her chief examination affidavit in tune with the contents of his written statement. In cross-examination, D.W.1 pleaded ignorance as to whether her deceased son had taken money covered under Exs.A1 and A2 from the plaintiff and denied the suggestion that
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she has knowledge about the debt contracted by son covered under
Exs.A1 and A2.
11.Thus, as could be seen from the tenor of the cross-examination of
P.Ws.1 to 5 and the evidence let in by the fourth defendant as D.W.1, it is evident that the defendants sought to contend that the deceased
Yedukondalu did not left any properties to be succeeded by the defendants and thus they are not liable to discharge the debt covered under Exs.A1 and A2 rather than disproving the execution of the pronotes.
12.Further, the defendants, except taking a contention that the suit promissory notes are outcome of forgery by the plaintiff only to gain wrongfully, did not choose to place any evidence before this court to show that the signatures contained on Exs.A1 and A2 are not that of the deceased Oriuganti Yedukondalu. More over, the defendants though stated that the suit promissory notes are forged and never executed by the deceased Yedukondalu, did not also choose to send them to handwriting expert for comparison with his admitted signatures. Thus, the defendants failed to discharge the burden shifted on them.
13.The learned counsel for the fourth defendant contended that in the absence of showing that the fourth defendant though related to maker, has inherited his estate so as to become liable to repay his debts, the suit is not maintainable and hence the suit has to be dismissed. For this proposition, he relied on the decision in Govindammal and another v.
Bhuvaneswari Financing Corporation reported in AIR 2002
MADRAS, 296.
14.As could be seen from cross-examination of D.W.1, she in clear
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terms admitted that their Hindu undivided family properties are not yet partitioned and this clearly suggests that the Hindu undivided family of which the deceased borrower is one of the members has properties and upon partition he will be entitled to a share therein and consequent to his death, on notional partition, the fourth defendant being mother and class-I heir will be entitled for a share and thus the contention of the fourth defendant in this regard fails.
15. In view of the above observations and findings, this court sincerely opines that the suit promissory notes are true, valid and executed by the deceased Oruganti Yedukondalu. Accordingly, issue
No.1 is answered in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants.
VIII.Issue No.3:-
A perusal of the suit promissory notes show that the deceased borrower agreed to discharge the amounts due whenever demanded either to the plaintiff or his order on demand. Thus, cause of action arose as and when the plaintiff demanded the deceased borrower or the defendants after death of the original borrower. Admittedly, the plaintiff got issued Ex.A3-legal notice to the defendants as evidence by Ex.A4- postal receipts and the fourth defendant received the said notice as evidenced by Ex.A5-postal acknowledgement and got issued Ex.A6-reply notice to Ex.A3 notice. Since the defendants did not discharge the debt due though demanded, cause of action for the suit arose. Accordingly, issue No.3 has been answered in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants.
IX.Issue No.2:-
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(1)A perusal of the suit promissory notes/Exs.A1 and A2 show that the deceased borrower borrowed the amount for meeting his family expenses. The deceased borrower agreed to discharge the amount borrowed by him together with interest at 24% p.a. It is brought in the cross-examination of D.W.1 that the deceased had taken a rice mill on lease. It is not at all the contention of the defendants that the deceased borrower is an agriculturist and thus entitled to the benefits of Act
IV/1938.
(2) The defence set out by the defendants is one of total denial of borrowal and execution of the suit promissory notes. It is not at all their contention that either the deceased borrower or thereafter they had made any part payments. A perusal of Exs.A1 and A2 also show no part payment endorsements.
In view of the above observations and findings, this court sincerely opines that the plaintiff is entitled for the suit amount.
X. Issue No.4:-
In view of my answering on issue No.1 that the the suit promissory notes are true, valid and executed by the deceased Oruganti
Yedukondalu, on issue No.2 that there is cause of action for the suit and on issue No.3 that the plaintiff is entitled to the suit amount, this court sincerely opines that the suit has to be decreed.
In the result the suit is decreed for an amount of Rs.98,292/- (Rupees ninety eight thousand two hundred and ninety two only) with costs and subsequent interest at the rate of 12% p.a. from the date of filing of the suit till the date of decree and thereafter at the rate of 6%
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p.a. till realisation, on the principal amount of Rs.80,000/- (Rupees eighty thousand only) against the estate of the deceased Oruganti
Yedukondalu, lying in the hands of the defendants.
Typed to my dictation directly on the computer, corrected and
pronounced by me in open Court, this the 2nd day of May, 2017.
PRINCIPAL JUNIOR CIVIL JUDGE,
ADDANKI
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WINTESSES EXAMINED
For plaintiff for defendants
P.W.1: Goli Koteswara Rao D.W.1: Oruganti Nagamma
P.W.2: Bhotlagunta Srinivasa Rao
P.W.3: Bhotlagunta Koteswara Rao
P.W.4: J. Hanuman
P.W.5: Palle Chandramohan
DOCUMENTS MARKED
For plaintiff
Ex.A1/21.09.2012:Original promissory note for Rs.40,000/- executed by Oruganti Yedukondalu in favour of the plaintiff
Ex.A1/16.05.2013:Original promissory note for Rs.40,000/- executed by Oruganti Yedukondalu in favour of the plaintiff
Ex.A3/13.10.2014:Office copy of the legal notice got issued by the plaintiff to the defendants
Ex.A4/13.10.2014:Four postal receipts
Ex.A5/21.05.2006:Postal acknowledgment of the fourth defendant
Ex.A6/27.10.2014:Reply notice got issued by the fourth defendant
For defendants:
NIL
P.J.C.J.
ADDANKI
IN THE COURT OF THE PRINCIPAL JUNIOR CIVIL JUDGE ::
ADDANKI
Present: Sri S.Vijaya Chandar,
Principal Junior Civil Judge, Addanki
Tuesday, this the second (2nd) day of May, 2017
ORIGINAL SUIT No.160 of 2014
Between:
Goli Koteswara Rao, Son of Kotaiah, aged about 68 years, Hindu, cultivation, resident of Peda Ambadipudi village, Ballikurava Mandal, Prakasam District. ….
PLAINTIFF
and
1.Oruganti Santha Kumari, W/o. Late Yedukondalu, aged about 35 years, Hindu, cultivation, Resident of Nagulavaram village, Vinukonda Mandal, Guntur District, Vinukonda JCJC 2.Oruganti Jayanthi, D/o. Late Yedukondalu, aged about 12 years, Hindu, 3.Oruganti Manikanta, S/o. Late Yedukondalu, aged about 10 years, Hindu, (defendants 2 and 3 are being minors, rep. by their mother-guardian, Oruganti Santha Kumari, Wife of late Yedukondalu, Resident of Nagulavaram village, Vinukonda Mandal, Guntur District, Vinukonda PJCJ ) 4.Oruganti Nagamma, Wife of Venkateswarlu, aged about 60 years, R/o. Kukatlapalli village, Ballikurava Mandal, Addanki JCJC. …. DEFENDANTS
This is a suit filed by the plaintiff for recovery of an amount of Rs.98,292/- (Rupees ninety eight thousand two hundred and ninety two only) being the balance of principal and interest due on the suit promissory notes dated 21.9.2012 and 16.5.2013 executed by one Oruganti Yedukondalu, who is husband of the first defendant, father of the defendants 2 and 3 and son of the fourth defendant, in favour of the plaintiff for Rs.40,000/- (Rupees forty thousand only) each, for costs and other reliefs, as against the estate of the deceased Oruganti Yedukondalu, lying in the hands of the defendants 1 to 4.
plaint presented on 17.11.2014 plaint filed on 26.11.2014
Cause of action for the suit arose on 21.09.2012 and 16.5.2013 when late Oruganti Yedukondalu borrowed Rs.40,000/- and Rs.40,000/- and executed suit promissory notes in favour of the plaintiff, and about 5 months prior to filing of the suit, when the said Yedukondalu died intestate leaving behind him the defendants herein as his L.Rs.and when the defendants succeeded the entire estate of late Yedukondalu, on 13.10.2014 when the plaintiff got issued legal notice to the defendants, when the fourth defendant got issued a reply with false allegations, at Ambadipudi village of Ballikurava Mandal where the suit promissory notes were executed, within the jurisdiction of this Court.
This suit coming on 26.4.2017 for final hearing before me in the presence of Sri I. Hanumantha Rao, Advocate for the plaintiff and of Sri K.Ramesh, Advocate for the defendants 1 to 3 and of Sri P. Ramesh, Advocate for the 4th defendant, upon hearing both sides , upon perusal of the oral and documentary evidence and other material available on record and having stood over till this day, this court DOTH ORDER
AND DECREE
(a)that the defendants to pay to the plaintiff an amount of Rs.98,292/- (Rupees ninety eight thousand two hundred and ninety two only) with costs and subsequent interest at the rate of 12% p.a. from the date of filing of the suit till the date of decree and thereafter at the rate of 6% p.a. till realisation, on the principal amount of Rs.80,000/- (Rupees eighty thousand only) from out of the estate of the deceased Oruganti Yedukondalu, lying in their hands, and
(b)that the defendants do also pay to the plaintiff, an amount of Rs.9,743/- towards costs of the suit, bearing their own costs of the suit, a sum of Rs. Nil (CM &FC not filed)
Given under my hand and seal of the court, this the 2nd
day of May, 2017.
PRINCIPAL JUNIOR CIVIL
JUDGE,
ADDANKI
TABLE OF COSTS
FOR PLAINTIFF FOR
DEFENDANTS
Stamps on vakalat Rs. 2-00Rs. stamps on plaint Rs.4,792-00Rs. stamps on process Rs. 200-00Rs. stamps on petitions Rs. ---------Rs. commissioner's fee Rs.----------Rs. Expert fee Rs. ---------Rs. CM&FC NOT FILED Advocate fee Rs.4,649-00Rs. Typing chargesRs. 100-00 Rs.
---------------------------------
Total Rs.9,743-00Rs. NIL
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P.J.C.J.,
ADDANKI
NOTE: Both parties/parties concerned in this case are hereby informed that the exhibited and non-exhibited documents should retrieve within the stipulated time on a condition that “ the same should produce as and when required by the Court”.