Sathyanarayana vs Jayam Oil Mills

AR. Ramalingam, J.—The second appeal has been filed by the first defendant Sathyanarayana against whom decree has been passed by

way of concurrent judgments by the District Munsif, Panruti in O.S.No. 231 of 1987 as well as the Principal Subordinate Judge, Cuddalore in

A.S.No. 129 of 1993.

The said suit was filed by the plaintiff for recovery of Rs. 8906/= with interest on account of supply of groundnuts to the value of Rs. 62,500/=

to the first defendant being the balance amount of Rs. 7500/=.

The said suit was resisted by the first defendant by saying that on 26.3.1986 one Ramalingam calling himself as representative of the plaintiff-firm

came with the load of groundnuts in a lorry bearing registration No. TNP 2913 and approached the first defendant to purchase the same and that

since the groundnuts were not dry enough, the first defendant refused to receive the same and that however, after obtaining permission of the

plaintiff-firm, the said Ramalingam sold the grounds to the first defendant and that since there was short of weight to the extent of 711 kgs., the

price was agreed to be Rs. 55,000/= alone and the said amount of Rs. 55,000/= also was paid to the said Ramalingam and thereby this suit as if

Rs. 7500/= is remaining unpaid cannot be sustainable and the same is liable to be dismissed.

On trial, nine documents have been marked and the Accountant of the plaintiff-firm viz., one Sivagnanam and the representative viz.,

Ramalingam were examined as P.Ws.1 and 2 on the side of the plaintiff and that seven documents have been marked and one Achutharao has

been examined as DW1 on the side of the defendants. After considering the oral and documentary evidence available for either side, the Trial

Court viz., the District Munsif, Panruti decreed the suit for Rs. 7500/= with interest at 6% per annum from 29.3.1986 till 15.4.1987 with

subsequent interest at the rate of 6% per annum. Aggrieved against such judgment and decree, the first defendant viz., Sathyanarayana preferred

A.S.No. 129 of 1993 before the Sub Court, Cuddalore and after enquiry, the Sub Court, Cuddalore concurred with the judgment and decree of

the Trial Court and consequently, dismissed the appeal.

Now, the counsel for the appellant/first defendant urged that both the courts below have failed to consider the oral and documentary evidence in

proper way and particularly failed to take note of the endorsements made by PW2 Ramalingam in Ex.B1 viz., letter dated 24.3.1986 and that if

those endorsements upon Ex.B1 are taken into consideration, the first defendant cannot be made liable to pay the suit amount inasmuch as

payment of Rs. 55,000/= was made only in full settlement.

On the other hand, if Ex.B1 and endorsements contained therein are perused, I am able to see that the goods have been delivered on 26.3.1986

and demand draft has been received for Rs. 55,000/= by PW2 Ramalingam on 26.3.1986 and that particularly the said Ramalingam himself in his

evidence has categorically admitted his signatures alone and not admitted the contents of the endorsements and that further, the words ""in full

settlement"" are obviously seem to be with different ink probably by way of interlineation. Therefore, both the courts below have concurrently

appreciated this Ex.B1 and the endorsements therein to the effect that the said words ""in full settlement"" could not have been made by the said

Ramalingam and they should have been interlineated with different ink for the purpose of contesting the suit. I am also of the view that the said

words ""in full settlement"" appear to be interlineated with different ink. It is also proababilised by the fact that PW2, who is said to have received

demand draft for Rs. 55,000/= in full settlement according to the first defendant, has chosen to deny the receipt of the demand draft in full

settlement as such. It is more so when PW2 himself has further stated that price was never fixed at Rs. 55,000/= and it was not fixed with the

permission of the plaintiff-firm as pleaded by the first defendant and instead after handing over the demand draft for Rs. 55,000/=, the first

defendant assured that he would pay the remaining amount of Rs. 7500/= afterwards.

Moreover, it is to be noted that if really there had been short of weight or quality was not upto the standard with sufficient dryness and the first

defendant was not prepared to purchase the groundnuts for the said reason, there is nothing to prevent the first defendant from contacting the

plaintiff-firm by telephone immediately and informing that he could not be in a position to purchase the groundnuts for Rs. 62,500/= and he was

prepared only to pay Rs. 55,000/=. But, it is not so the conduct of the first defendant. Moreover, even if such contact by telephone was not

possible, there is nothing to prevent the first defendant to obtain specific letter either from PW2 Ramalingam or from the lorry driver to the effect

that there was short of weight and quality was not with sufficient dryness and that is why Rs. 55,000/= was fixed and then demand draft was

handed over. It would be the natural conduct of any purchaser in ordinary course of prudence. But, it is not so the conduct of the first defendant.

Further, PW2 Ramalingam cannot be considered as an agent on behalf of the plaintiff-firm within the meaning of Contract Act and Ex.B1 letter

issued by the plaintiff-firm on 24.3.1986 itself only authorises the said PW2 Ramalingam as representative to receive the demand draft from the

first defendant and nothing else. Therefore, it is too much on the part of the first defendant to say as if PW2 Ramalingam, as an agent of the

plaintiff-firm, agreed to fix the price at Rs. 55,000/= and receive the demand draft for the same amount in full settlement. It is more so when PW2

himself has not admitted as if he conceded the price of Rs. 55,000/= after consulting the plaintiff-firm. Therefore, in all reasonableness and

probabilities ,I am of the view that the concurrent findings and judgments of both the courts below are correct and there is no need for interference

by this court.

Accordingly, the second appeal fails as there are no merits and the same is dismissed with costs.