Full Order Text
Final Order 1 · 30 Sept 2021 · CNR MHCC010066802019
Order Details: Ex-parte Judgement Pdf Text: 1 MHCC010066802019 Presented on : 28062021 Registered on : 25092021 Decided on : 30092021 Duration : Y2, M3,D2 IN THE BOMBAY CITY CIVIL COURT AT GREATER MUMBAI COMMERCIAL SUIT NO.123 OF 2019 M/s. Chetana Book Depot, ] a partnership firm, (Now known as ] Chetana Publications India (LLP), having ] their registered office at 4th floor, 'B' Wing, ] Building 'E' Trade Link, Kamla City, above ] Bombay Canteen, Lower Parel, ] Mumbai400 013 ]....Plaintiff V/s 1. M/s. Mars Academy Partner ] KBK Building, Nr.MES KVM College, ] Valanchery, Kottaram, Malappuram, ] Kerala676552 ] 2. Mr.Suresh Kumar, ] an adult, C/o. Mars Academy Partner, ] KBK Building, Nr.MES KVM college ] Valanchery, Kottaram, Malappuram, ] Kerala676552 ]...Defendants APPEARANCE : Ld. Adv. S.G.Lakhani for the plaintiff. Defendant Exparte. CORAM : HIS HONOUR ADHOC JUDGE SHRI. RAJESH A. SASNE (C.R.No.32) DATED : 30th September, 2021 -- 1 of 7 -- 2 EXPARTE JUDGMENT (Dictated in Open Court) This suit is filed under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 for recovery of an amount against the books sold by the plaintiff to the defendants. In brief, the facts of the plaintiff's case are as under : 2. During the period from March, 2016 to November, 2016, the plaintiff has sold, delivered and supplied educational books to the defendants through Transporter M/s. VRL Logistics and, M/s Kerala Roadways Pvt. Ltd. for an aggregate amount of Rs. 8,57,493/. The defendants have returned the books of Rs.1,27,543/ during the period from March, 2017 to January, 2018. The defendants have made payment for an aggregate amount of Rs.2,50,000/. The cheques issued by the defendants were dishonoured. The defendants were liable to make payment of Rs.4,79,950/ in respect of following invoices: i) Invoice No.20847.01 dated 22.03.2016 for Rs.1,82,784/ ii) Invoice No.20841.01 dated 22.03.2016 for Rs.1,82,784/ iii) Invoice No.20839.01 dated 30.03.2016 for Rs.1,12,863/ iv) Invoice No.20840.01 dated 30.03.2016 for Rs.1519/ (balance amount). 3. The defendants have issued cheque dated 09.02.2018 for Rs.4,80,700/ i.e. for Rs.4,79,950/ being the balance amount and for sum of Rs.750/ being the bank charges of dishonoured cheque. The said cheque has been dishonoured. In spite of repeated demands, the defendants have failed and neglected to -- 2 of 7 -- 3 make the payment. Therefore, on 14.07.2018, the plaintiff has issued notice to the defendants, calling upon them to make the payment of Rs.6,72,079/. However, the defendants have failed to make the payment. The defendants are liable to pay amount of Rs.7,11,944, comprising sum of Rs.4,80,700/ being the principal amount and sum of Rs.2,31,244/ being the amount of interest at the rate of 18% p.a. till the date of filing of suit. With these contentions, the plaintiffs have prayed for recovery of sum of Rs.7,11,944/ together with interest at the rate of 18% p.a. on amount of Rs.4,80,700/ 4. The suit is proceeded exparte against the defendants. 5. Heard the learned Advocate for the plaintiff. No argument of the defendants. Points for determination along with my findings thereon with reasons are as follows: POINTS FINDINGS 1. Whether the plaintiff proves that against the books supplied to the defendants, the defendants are liable to pay the amount of Rs.4,79,950/ to the plaintiff? Yes 2. If, yes, what is the rate of interest to which the defendants are liable to pay? @ 11%p.a. 3. What order and decree? Suit is partly decreed REASONS AS TO POINTS NO.1 AND 2: 6. All these points are interlinked with each other, hence they are taken together for consideration. The plaintiff in support of his claim has examined Shaji (PW1) at Exh.08. The plaintiff has relied on following documentary evidence: -- 3 of 7 -- 4 1 True copy of the Power of Attorney at Exh.11 2 Copy of mediation application from filed before the Mediator at ArtX colly 3 NonStarter report for the preinstitution mediation at Art X1. 4 Copy of invoice No.15/20847.01 dated 23.03.2016 for Rs.1,82,784/ at Exh.12 (colly) 5 Copy of invoice No.15/20841.01 dated 22.03.2016 for Rs.1,82,784/at Exh.13 (colly) 6 Copy of invoice No.15/20840.01 dated 30.03.2016 for Rs.1,12,863/at Exh.14 7 Copy of invoice No.15/20839.01 dated 30.03.2016 for Rs.11,832/ at Exh.15 8 True copy of the said dishonoured cheque along with the Memo of dishonoured issue by the bank at ArtX2 (colly) 9 Copy of notice dated 14.07.2018 from plaintiff's Advocate to the defendants at Exh.16 7. Shaji (PW1) deposes that pursuant to the oral orders placed by the defendants, the plaintiff has sold, supplied and delivered the educational books to the defendants from March 2016 to November 2016. The aggregate amount of the books sold is Rs.8,57,493/. The defendants have returned the goods amounting Rs.1,27,543/. The defendants have also made payment of Rs.2,50,000/. By deducting these amounts, the defendants were liable to pay the amount of Rs.4,79,950/. The plaintiff has relied upon following invoices: i) Invoice No.20847.01 dated 22.03.2016 (Exh.12) for Rs.1,82,784/ ii) Invoice No.20841.01 dated 22.03.2016 (Exh.13) for Rs.1,82,784/ iii)Invoice No.20839.01 dated 30.03.2016 (Exh.14) for Rs.1,12,863/ -- 4 of 7 -- 5 iv) Rs. 1,519 being balance amount of invoice No.20840.01 dated 30.03.2016 (Exh.15). 8. Total amount as per the above particulars is Rs.4,79,950/. It is the contention of the plaintiff that the defendants had issued cheque for the payment of this amount, however the cheque has been dishonoured and therefore, the plaintiff has added cheque, return charges of Rs.750/. It is further the case of the plaintiffs that by adding said cheque return charges of Rs.750/, the defendants had issued cheuqe of Rs.4,80,700/ to the plaintiff, but the same has been dishonoured. Therefore, the plaintiff has claimed the said amount from the defendants. The aforesaid oral and documentary evidence of the plaintiff remained unchallenged, it is required to be accepted. Therefore, the plaintiff proves that for the books sold to the defendants, the defendants were liable to pay amount of Rs.4,79,950/ to the plaintiff. 9. The plaintiff has claimed the interest for amount of Rs.2,31,244/ at the rate of 18% p.a. as per the clause mentioned on the invoice. There is no document on record to accept the said rate of interest as agreed rate of interest. Clause of interest mentioned on the invoice, cannot be accepted as agreed rate of interest. Hence, considering the transaction is commercial transaction, the plaintiff will be entitled for the interest at the rate of 11% p.a. Such rate of interest will be applicable from the date of action initiated or demand made for the payment. The rate of interest will be applicable from the date of action initiated i.e. from the date of filing of suit. Hence, the plaintiff is entitled for the interest at the rate of 11% p.a. from the date of filing of suit till its realisation. Hence, I answer point Nos.1 and 2 accordingly. -- 5 of 7 -- 6 AS TO POINT NO.3: 10. In view of my findings recorded against point Nos.1 and 2, the suit is required to be partly decreed. In the result, in answer to point No.3, I pass the following order. ORDER 1. Suit is partly decreed with costs. 2. The defendants do pay to the plaintiff the amount of Rs.4,79,950/ (Rupees Four Lakhs Seventy Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Only) together with interest at the rate of 11% per annum from the date of filing of this suit till its realisation. 3. Decree be drawn up accordingly. (Rajesh A.Sasne) Judge, City Civil & Sessions Court, Date :30.09.2021 Mumbai. Dictated on : 30.09.2021 Transcribed on : 04.10.2021 Signed by HHJ on : 04.10.2021 -- 6 of 7 -- 7 “CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED JUDGMENT/ORDER” 06.10.2021 at 10.55 a.m. UPLOAD DATE AND TIME (Mrs. K.S.Bhosale) NAME OF STENOGRAPHER Name of the Judge HHJ SHRI RAJESH A.SASNE (COURT ROOM NO.32) Date of pronouncement of judgment/order 30.09.2021 Judgment/order signed by P.O. on 04.10.2021 Judgment/order uploaded on 06.10.2021 -- 7 of 7 --
