Full Order Text
Final Order 1 · 07 Jan 2023 · CNR MHCC010019032020
Order Details: Ex-parte Judgement Pdf Text: 1 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 Lodged on : 12.02.2020 Admitted on : 05.08.2020 Decided on : 07.01.2023 Duration : Y M D 2 10 21 COMMERCIAL SUIT NO. 451 of 2020 CNR NO. : MHCC010019032020 Exh.10 Canara Bank, a body corporate constituted and functioning under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, having its Head Office at 112, J.C. Road, Bangalore, Karnataka State and having one of their branch office at 10 Homji Street, Fort, Mumbai – 400 023. ...Plaintiff Versus M/s. Sharma Tours and Travels A Proprietary concern, through its Proprietor Mr. Nishant Ashok Sharma Aged 34 years, Indian Inhabitant at 304 Dolly Chambers, Brahma Kumari Marg, Colaba, Mumbai – 400 005. And also at 36/13 CPO's Quarter, Pilot Bunder, Near Afghan Church, Colaba. ...Defendant Appearance: Adv. Ms. Sujata Dahigaonkar for Plaintiff. Defendant exparte. CORAM : SHRI. A.S.SALGAR ADHOC JUDGE, (C.R.NO.31) DATED : 7th JANUARY 2023 -- 1 of 9 -- 2 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 J U D G M E N T (Delivered on : 07.01.2023) This is a suit filed by the plaintiff bank against the defendant for the recovery of the amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps along with interest at the rate of 10.75% per annum with monthly rests from the date of filing of the suit till realization. 2. Brief facts of the plaintiff's case is as under: The plaintiff is a body corporate constituted under the Banking Companies (Acquisition & Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 having its Head Office at Bangalore and one of its branch office amongst others known as Canara Bank, Fort branch at Fort, Mumbai. The defendant approached the plaintiff bank for a term loan of Rs.6,86,000/ . The defendant agreed to execute several security documents in favour of the plaintiff. In consideration of the documents executed by the defendant, the plaintiff sanctioned term loan of Rs.6,86,000/ to the defendant on 14.09.2015 for purchase of vehicle. As per the terms of the sanction of loan, it was agreed to repay the said loan in 83 monthly installments. The defendant executed the documents in favour of the plaintiff namely Loan Application Form, particulars of the assets and liabilities, Sanction letter, Deed of Hypothecation of vehicle and receipt dated 14.10.2015 and letter of authority to debit the monthly installment. 3. The plaintiff bank further submitted that the bank granted and disbursed the said loan of Rs.6,86,000/ to the defendant in consideration of defendant promising to repay the said loan and interest. However, the defendant has failed to repay the said loan -- 2 of 9 -- 3 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 amount. Therefore, the plaintiff sent notice through his Advocate on 13.12.2018 calling upon him to make the payment of outstanding amount. At the foot of the account, there is now due of Rs.5,44,213.35ps as on 09.02.2020 together with interest. According to the plaintiff, the total amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps is outstanding from the defendant. Hence, the plaintiff is constrained to file the said suit for the recovery of the amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps against the defendant along with interest at the rate of 10.75% per annum from the date of filing of the suit till realization. 4. The suit summons was duly served to the defendant through paper publication in two newspapers. The defendant failed to appear before the Court, though served with the suit summons. Hence, as per order passed on 13.12.2022, the suit was proceeded exparte against the defendant. 5. After considering the pleadings of the plaintiff and evidence on record, following points arise for my determination and I have recorded my finding against each of them with the reasons to follows: POINTS FINDING 1) Whether plaintiff bank proves that an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps is outstanding from the defendant? In the affirmative 2) Whether plaintiff bank is entitled to recover an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps from the defendant? If yes, at what rate of interest ? In the affirmative. At the rate of 11.25% per annum on the principal amount. 3) What order and decree? As per final order. -- 3 of 9 -- 4 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 R E A S O N S 6. In order to substantiate the claim, the plaintiff bank has examined its Senior Manager namely Sharanprit Singh at Exh.6. The plaintiff also placed on record the documentary evidence i.e. Original Loan Application Form at Exh.8/1, Sanction letter at Exh.8/2, Loan Agreement and Delivery Letter at Exh.8/3, Receipt dated 14.10.2015 at Exh.8/4, Particulars of Assets and Liabilities at Exh.8/5, Authority Letter at Exh.8/6, Recall Notice at Exh.8/7, Statement of Account at Exh.8/8. The evidence closure pursis of the plaintiff is at Exh.9. 7. Heard Learned Advocate Ms. Sujata Dahigaonkar for the plaintiff at length. As to Point Nos.1 & 2 8. It is the case of the plaintiff that on the request of the defendant, the plaintiff bank has advanced a loan of Rs.6,86,000/ to the defendant for purchasing the vehicle. The defendant failed to comply the terms and conditions stipulated in the security documents. As a result of which, the account has become irregular. According to the plaintiff, an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps is outstanding from the defendant. At the outset, it is to be noted that the present suit is not contested by the defendant. Though the suit summons was duly served to the defendant, the defendant failed to appear before the Court and resisted the claim of the plaintiff. Therefore, one can say that the averments made by the plaintiff in the plaint were not challenged by the defendant. -- 4 of 9 -- 5 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 9. According to the plaintiff, the defendant has obtained the loan on 14.09.2015 and the present suit is filed by the plaintiff on 12.02.2020. The Statement of Account shows that the part payment was made in the year 20182019. Therefore, the limitation for filing the suit will further extend for the period of three years from the date of last part payment. In short, the period of limitation will extend from 16.11.2019 for the period of three years. Admittedly, the suit is filed on 12.02.2020. In my view, the present suit is filed by the plaintiff within the period of three years from the last part payment. 10. P.W.1 i.e. plaintiff bank's Senior Manager namely Sharanpreet Singh is examined at Exh.6. He has reiterated all the facts pleaded in the plaint in his claim affidavit. He has specifically deposed that the defendant received an amount of Rs.6,86,000/ from the plaintiff bank and the defendant executed various documents in favour of the plaintiff bank. According to this witness, an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps is outstanding against the defendant. The aforesaid evidence of the plaintiff's witness is not subjected to crossexamination. Therefore, I have no reason to disbelieve the version of the plaintiff. 11. The plaintiff has also filed on record the original documents executed by the defendant at Exh.8/1 to 8/8. Exh.8/1 is the loan application form of the defendant in which the defendant requested the plaintiff bank for advancing the loan of Rs.6,86,000/ to the defendant. Exh. 8/2 is the Sanction letter which shows that on the request of the defendant, the plaintiff bank has sanctioned the loan of Rs.6,86,000/ to the defendant and the period of repayment is 83 EMI. The said sanction letter also shows the signature of the defendant and wherein -- 5 of 9 -- 6 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 the defendant has acknowledged and accepted the terms and conditions of the sanction. Exh.8/3 is the Hypothecation Agreement which shows that the defendant by executing composite hypothecation agreement hypothecated the vehicle by way of first charge in favour of the bank. Exh.8/5 is the particulars of Assets and Liabilities. It bears the signature of the defendant, which is not challenged by the defendant. The Statement of Account at Exh.8/8 also shows that an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps is outstanding from the defendant. The plaintiff also placed on record the copy of notice at Exh.8/7, which shows that before filing of the suit, the plaintiff bank sent notice to the defendant and demanded due amount from the defendant. The aforesaid documentary evidence tendered by the plaintiff was also not challenged by the defendant. 12. All the documents produced by the plaintiff along with list Exh.7 goes to establish that the plaintiff advanced a loan of Rs.6,86,000/ to the defendant and the defendant has executed various documents in favour of the plaintiff bank. Admittedly, the suit proceeded exparte against the defendant. The plaintiff's claim is supported by the documentary evidence. Therefore, the claim of the plaintiff needs to be accepted. The plaintiff by leading oral as well as documentary evidence sufficiently proved that an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps is outstanding from the defendant. Hence, the plaintiff is entitled to recover the said amount from the defendant. 13. So far as the rate of interest is concerned, the plaintiff has claimed interest at the rate of 10.75% per annum on the principal amount from the date of suit till realization. Sanction letter as well as -- 6 of 9 -- 7 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 other documentary evidence tendered by the plaintiff goes to show that agreed rate of interest in between both the parties is 11.25% per annum. As per agreed terms between the parties, the defendant is liable to pay interest at the rate of 11.25% per annum on the principal amount. Hence, I hold that the rate of interest at the rate of 11.25% per annum would be just and proper to be awarded on the principal amount. In short, the plaintiff is entitled to recover an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps along with interest at the rate of 11.25% from the date of filing of the suit till realization. Hence, I answer point no. 1 in affirmative and point no. 2 accordingly. 14. In view of discussion and finding on point nos. 1 and 2, it is held that the plaintiff is entitled to recover the outstanding amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps from the defendant along with interest at the rate of 11.25% per annum on the principal amount from the date of filing of the suit till its realization. The plaintiff is also entitled to recover the cost of the suit from the defendant. Hence, the suit needs to be decreed. Hence, I pass the following order: ORDER 1) Commercial Suit No. 451 of 2020 is decreed with costs. 2) The defendant do pay an amount of Rs.5,44,213.35ps (Rs. Five Lakhs Forty Four Thousand Two Hundred Thirteen and Thirty Five paise Only) to the plaintiff bank along with interest at the rate of 11.25% per annum on the principal amount from the date of filing of the suit till its realization within three months from the date of this decree. 3) Defendant shall bear the cost of the suit. -- 7 of 9 -- 8 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 4) Court fee, if any, be refunded to the plaintiff as per rule. 5) Decree be drawn up accordingly. (Judgment pronounced in the open Court) Dated : 07.01.2023 (A.S. Salgar) Adhoc Judge, City Civil Court Gr. Mumbai. Dictated on : 07.01.2023 Typed on : 07.01.2023 -- 8 of 9 -- 9 Judgment in Com. Suit No. 451/2020 CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED JUDGMENT/ORDER” UPLOAD DATE TIME NAME OF STENOGRAPHER 09.01.2023 4.00 p.m. Prachi Y. Potdar Stenographer Grade I Name of the Judge HHJ Shri. A.S. Salgar (C.R.NO. 31) Date of Pronouncement of Judgment/Order. 07.01.2023 Judgment/order signed by P.O on 09.01.2023 Judgment/order uploaded on 09.01.2023 -- 9 of 9 --
