SURAIN SINGH (DEAD) BY LRS. AND ORS.versusMEHENGA (DEAD) BY LRS.
- Citation
- 1996 INSC 164
- Decided
- 1 February 1996
- Disposal
- Dismissed
Holding
The High Court was entitled to re‑examine the factual issue of consideration, and its finding of no proof of consideration stands, so the appeal is dismissed.
Summary
The appellants challenged a sale deed dated 29 September 1959, alleging that it was obtained by fraud, misrepresentation and without consideration. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding the deed valid; the first appellate court reversed that finding, holding that adequate consideration had been paid and no fraud existed. The Punjab & Haryana High Court, noting the divergent findings, examined the evidence afresh and concluded that no proof of consideration was established, thereby reversing the appellate decree and confirming the trial court's dismissal. On special leave, the Supreme Court examined whether the High Court was justified in re‑examining the factual issue. It held that, given the conflicting findings of the lower courts, the High Court was entitled to make a fresh factual determination, and as a finding of fact, it was not open to further interference. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed without costs.
Issues considered
- Whether the sale deed executed on 29 September 1959 was valid despite allegations of fraud, misrepresentation and lack of consideration.
- Whether the High Court was justified in re‑examining the factual issue of consideration despite the appellate court's finding.
- Whether the Supreme Court can interfere with the High Court's finding of fact on the question of consideration.
Legislation cited
Subjects
Judgment
A SURAIN SINGH (DEAD) BY LRS. AND ORS.
v.
MEHENGA (DEAD) BY LRS.
FEBRUARY 1, 1996
B [K. RAMASWAMY AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908/Tra11sfer of Property Act, 1872:
•
Suit-l'lea that it was obtai11ed by fraud, misrepresentation and without
C consideratio11-Trial Court dismissi11g the suit-Appellate Court reversed the
finding--ltigh Cowt considered the evide11ce and reversed the decree of the
appellate court a11d confinned the decree of the Ilia/ Cowt-Held : In view
of the diverse views by the trial court and the appellate court, the High Court
was impelled t0.go into the question a11d record a finding-Matelia/ evidence
and relevant circumstances not adverted to by the Jim appellate coun-There-
D fore the High Court had 1ightly do11e that exercise-Being a finding of fact no
fwther inte1ference called for.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2195 of
197?: • .
E From the Judgment and Order dated 27.9.76 of the Punjab &
Haryana High Court in R.S.A.No. 878 of 1964.
S.K. Gambhir for the appellants.
K.K. Mohan for the Respondents.
F
The following Order of the Court was delivered :
This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment of the Punjab
& Haryana High Court in R.S.A.No. 878 of 1964 dated September 27, 1976.
The appellants/plaintiffs were non-suited by the High Court on the finding
G that the sale deed was without consideration (Ex. P-1) executed and
registered on September 29, 1959. Shri S.K. Gambhir, the learned counsel
for the appellants contended that the question whether consideration has
been passed is a pure question of fact. The appellate Court having gone
into that aspect as Court of fact and having entered a finding, reversal
H thereof by the High Court is illegal. It is not in dispute that in the suit the
1152
SURAIN SINGH v. MEHENGA 1153
respondents contended that the sale deed was obtained by fraud, mis- A
' + representation and without consideration. The trial Court dismissed the
suit. But on appeal, the appellate Court reversed the finding and held that
neither fraud nor misrepresentation was made out. Adequate consideration
was passed under the sale deed. Therefore, it is a valid sale deed. The High
Court after considering the evidence ultimately recorded a finding that
B
there is no proof that the appellants had paid the consideration. In that
behalf, the High Court has looked into the accounts maintained by the
appellant himself and it is stated thus :
"that no evidence has been led by the respondents/appellants to
show that Rs. 2350 were due to them from the appellants/respon- C
dents on the basis of Bahi's account and bonds. It has also not
been proved by the respondents that the amount of Rs. 1650 was
paid by them to the appellants."
On the basis of the said finding, the High Court has reversed the
decree of the appellate Court and confirmed, though for different reasons, D
the decree of the trial Court. Though normally the High Court might not
have interfered with the finding recorded by the appellate Court, in view
of the diverse views by the trial Court and the appellate Court, the High
Court was impelled to go into the question and recorded a finding. The
material evidence and relevant circumstances were not adverted to by the E
first appellate Court. The High Court, therefore, had done that exercise.
- It being a finding of fact, we do not find it a fit case for our further
interference.
The appeal is, therefore, dismissed. But in the circumstances, without
costs. F
G.N. Appeal dismissed.
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