The High Court · 2025

Judgment

THE HON'BLE JUSTICE B.R.MADHUSUDHAN RAO A.S.NO.356 0F 2020 JUDGMI}NT: 1' Thi:; appear is fired by the appeilant-defendant aggrieved by the judgment and decree passed in o.S.No.24 0f 20L3, dated 20.0L.2020 by the speciar Sessions Judge for Fast rracking the case Rerating to Atrocities against women-cum-vlll Additionar District and Sessions Judge at l.lhammam. 2'1' The respondent-praintiff has fired suit for specific performance of contract under order vII, Rure L r/w Section 26(1) of civir procedure code, 1g0g in respect of the ptaint schedure propefty against the appellant-defendant. 2'2' The prayer in the originar praint is a) to direct the defendant to execute the registered sate deed in favour of the praintiff in respect of the suit sc:hedure property by receiving the barance sare consideration, as per the terms of the agreement of sare, b) in case of fairure of the defendant, the Hon'bre court may be preased to execute the registered sale deed on behatf of the defendant to the praintiff, c) to award costs of the suir:, d) to grant any other rerief or rerief,s, which the Hon,bre court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. : _l:.--- - - 2122 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2O20 a,

2.3. The original plaint schedule is land to an extent of Ac.01-00 gts., in and out of Sy.Nos.315, 316 of Vandanam village, chinthakani Mandal, Khammam District with boundaries as East: V'Venkatayapem to chinthakani Road, west: Land of Pannam Narayana, North: Land of ChilakaVenkateswarlu,South:LandofKanagalaRamaiah.

3.l.TheplaintisamendedaspertheordersinlA.No.3of2ol9 dated o2.L2.2}lg. The amended prayer in the plaint is the same with that of the prayer (a) to (d), prayer (e) is added that is to direct the defendant (appellant herein) to refund an amount of Rs.3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakhs only) with interest @ 24o/o per annum from the date of receipt of the amount till the date of payment'

3.2. The Amended Schedule is land to an extent of Ac.0-20 gts', in and out of Sy.No.315/AA, land to an extent of Ac.0-20 gts', in and out of Sy.No.3 L6lAA, a single compact block total to an extent of Ac'01-00 gts., of Vandanam Village, Chinthakani Mandal, Khammam District bounded by East: v.venkatayapem to chinthakani Road, west: Land of North: defendant own land, South: Vemu Chiranjivi and P.NaraYanb, Land of Avula Krishnaiah. It is stated in the plaint that respondent-plaintiff and appellant- 4. defendant are acquainted with each other, the appellant-defendant offered to sell the land to the respondent-plaintiff for a total sale consideration ofni12,o0,o00/-. on 10.02 .2oL2, appellant-defendant 3122 BRMR,J AS.No.356_202O

has execu':ed an agreement of sale in favour of the respondent-plaintiff and received a sum of Rs.3,00,ooo/- and acknowledged the same, it was agreed to execute registered sale deed within 6 months in favour of the re:;pondent-plaintiff or to his order on demand by receiving balance s;lle consideration of Rs.9,00,OOO/-. The appellant-defendant undertook that the property is free from all encumbrances and that the respondent-plaintiff was ready and willing to perform his part of contract, many times he requested that the appellant-defendant to execute registered sale deed by receiving balance sale consideration. The respondent-plaintiff was always ready and willing to perform his part of contract and ready to pay the balance sale consideration and requestecl the appellant-defendant to execute the registered sale deed but he f,ailed to perform the same. on os.Lz.zoLz, respondent- plaintiff tras got issued a legal notice to the appeilant-defendant to execute sale deed by receiving balance sale consideration. The appellant-defendant has got issued a reply on 22.Lz.2olz to furnish the photo copy of the agreement of sare dated Lo.o2.2oL2. on

07.01 .2013, respondent-plaintiff has sent photo copy of the agreement of sale tc, the appellant-defendant and requested him to come forward to execute the sale deed by receiving the sale consideration and prayed to decree the suit. 5 .on&1 Appellant-defendant has frled his written statement and ded that the respondent-plaintiff is a stranger and he has no \ 4122 BRMR,J AS.No.356-2020 acquaintance with him, he never approached the respondent-plaintiff nor offered to alienate the suit schedule property nor received the consideration under the alleged sale agreement dated LO.02.2OL2. Appellant-defendant has no necessity to sell the agricultural land which is the only source of income to maintain his family and that the respondent-plaintiff has created the agreement of Sale, dated LO.O2.2OL2. As per the alleged agreement dated 10.02.2012, the schedule property is in and out of Sy.Nos.315/AA and 316/4A. In the plaint suit Survey number is shown aS Sy.NoS.315, 316, it can be understood that the agreement of Sale is forged and fabricated. Respondent-plaintiff has not followed the provisions of Section 16(c) of Specific Relief Act, mere stating in the plaint that the respondent- plaintiff is ready and willing to perform the contract cannot be kept alive unless the balance sale consideration is paid. The payment of balance sale consideration to be paid is within 6 months which is the essence of the contract as per the alleged agreement of sale, dated

10.02.2012 and he failed to do so which can be said that respondent- plaintiff is not ready and willing to perform his part of contract.

6. The Trial Court has framed the following issues on 17.06.2015 (prior to the amendment):

1. Whether agreement of sale dated 10.02.2012 is true, valid and defendant received consideration of Rs.3,00,0OO/-? sl22 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020

2. V/hether the plaintiff is entitled for specific performance as prayed for?

3. T'o what relief:

7. Appr-'llant-defendant has filed additional written statement on L2.L2.2OL!) after the plaint is amended and contended that the suit is filed in tlre year 2ol3 for a decree of specific pefformance of agreement which was entered into by and between the parties on L0.02.2oL.2, the relief for refund of money was availabte to the respondent-plaintiff on the date of institution of the suit but no such relief is claimed, it was only after expiry of 6 vz years amendment application came to be filed seeking the relief of refund of earnest money. There cannot be any dispute that the suit for mere refund of earnest mrlh€y was not maintainable beyond the period of three years. The claim for refund of earnest money is barred by limitation in 2015 and there is no cause of action for the plaintiff to seek the relief of refund of tts.3,00,OOOI- and prayed to dismiss the same.

8. After the amendment of the pleadings, the foltowing additional issue is frermed by the Trial Court which reads as under : "wl'rether the claim of plaintiff for refund of earnest money is barred by limitation"?

9. The issues were recasted by the Triar court which reads as under: 6122 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020

1.Whetheragreementofsaledated10.02.2012istrue, Validanddefendantreceivedconsiderationof Rs.3,00,OAOl-?

2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for specific performance as PraYed for?

3.Whethertheclaimofplaintiffforrefundofearnest moneY is barred bY limitation?

4. To what relief?

10. Respondent-plaintiff is examined as PW.1 and also examined pw.2-G.Upender-scribe, PW.3-Bhukya chinna-scribe and got marked Exs.Al to A5. Appellant-defendant is examined as DW' 1, got examined DW.2 Mittapally Sreenu and got marked Ex'81'

11. The learned Trial Court after considering the evidence led in by the parties has decreed the suit of the respondent-plaintiff for specific performance of contract and directed him to deposit Rs'9,00,0o0/- in tie Court on or before zo.oz.2o2o and after deposit of the said amount, he should inform the appellant-defendant by way of issuing notice within 15 days from the date of such intimation, defendant shall execute registered sale deed in favour of the plaintiff (respondent herein) and deliver possession of the schedule property, the plaintiff (respondent herein) shall bear the expenses of sta'mp duty and registration and the amount deposited by the plaintiff can be withdrawn by the defendant (appellant herein) after execution of the sale deed and after delivery of possession of the suit property V'iho^ --' d 7122 BRMR,J AS.No.356_2020 which the plaintiff is at liberty to take steps for execution of the decree Lz.L. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that Section 16(c) of Specific Flelief Act, 1963 postulates continuous readiness and willingness on the part of the respondent-ptaintirr as a condition precedent for obtaining the relief of grant of specific performance of agreemenl: and has to plead his readiness and willingness through his pleadings, prove the same. Respondent-plaintiff admittedly failed to bring documentary evidence on record to prove that he is financially strong enough to pay the alleged balance sale consideration of Rs.9,00,000/- from the very beginning except making bald averments that he is ready and willing to perform his part of the contract and no evidence is brought on record to substantiate the same. The Trial court ought not to have granted the relief of specific performance in his favour'. PW.1 admitted in his cross-examination that he has not deposited the remaining consideration of Rs.9,00 ,ooo/- in the court nor produced Bank statement to prove that he is capable of paying the said amount. The initial burden lies on the respondent-plaintiff to prove his case, he failed to discharge his burden and in such case, the onus of proof cannot be put on the appellant-defendant. Respondent- plaintiff tras also entered into another agreement of sale with one chilaka Venkateshwarlu on the same day of the suit agreement of sale for which he filed suit for specific performance vide os.No.25 of 2o),3 \,\ \ \ 8122 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020 on the file of IV Additional District Judge at Khammam and he failed to prove his willingness and readiness by adducing documentary evidence and the said suit was dismissed. L2.2. The boundaries of the land in possession of the appellant- defendant are different from that of the suit schedule propefty. The determination of the boundaries is an essential activity that must be done at the time of agreement itself and the description of the property in the agreement of sale (Ex.A1) is uncertain and unenforceable in law. The Trial Court has shifted the burden on the appellant-defendant without the respondent-plaintiff fulfilling the basic pre-condition for seeking the relief of specific performance. As per Ex.A1 dated 10.02.2012, the balance sale consideration is to be paid within six months from the date of agreement of sale i.e., by

10..08.2012 but the legal notice was issued on 05. L2.2Ot2 and the suit was filed on 01.03.2OL3, there is a delay of almost four months in sending the initial legal notice and further delay of almost seven months in filing the suit. "Time is of essence" of the contract aS per Ex.Al. Ex.A1 is insufficiently stamped and the Trial Court did not take appropriate steps to rectify this defect rendering Ex.A1 inadmissible. Appellant-defendant is not the absolute owner of the schedule land as it was inherited from his forefather, his children are also the joint owners of the ancestral property. The description of the property is wrong in terms of survey number, extent and bounda{es.uny'th"." a.u ,? C d"- el22 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020 catastrophic latches on the part of the respondent-plaintiff which ought to have bt:en considered by the Trial court. counsel to substantiate his contention has relied on the decisions in the cases of 1) N.P.Thirugnanam (D) By Lrs. Vs. Dr.R.Jagan Mohan Rao and Othersl 2) Nahar Singh Vs. Harnak Singh and Other.s2 31 pawan Kumar Dutt and Another vs. Shakuntala Devi and others3 4) c.S.Venkatesh Vs. A.S.C.Murthy (D) bV Lrs. And Othersa 5) Vijay Kumar and Others vs. om Prakashs 6) Pydi Ramana @ Ramulu Vs. Davarasety Manmadha Rao6, pralrsf, to set aside the impugned order.

13. Learned counsel for the respondent-plaintiff submits that plaintiff has proved his readiness and willingness and also pr"oved Ex.A1 by examining two independent witnesses i.e., pw.2 and pw.3. Counsel fufther submits that Ex.A1 specifically states that the balance amount shall be paid after the measurements of the land. As the appellant-defendant failed to measure the property thereby respondent-plaintiff has got issued legal notice under Ex.A2. The Trial court has discussed all the contentions and issues raised by- the appellant-defendant in its judgment, no interference is calledt'or andin 1 1995INS'3 394 2 tgg'INs,c 1245 3 2o1o scc: 15 601 : 2013 scc cIV 2 235 4 Manu/SCr'0L4Z1ZOZO ; tytlittrEl No.101e1 of 2018 of supreme court of rndia, dated 03.10.2018 L0122 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2O20 support of his contention, he relied on the decision in the case of Basavaraj Vs. PadmavathiT, and prayed to dismiss the Appeal. L4. Heard learned counsel, perused the record'

15. Now the point for consideration is: whether the impugned order passed by the learned special sessions Judge - cum -VIII Additional District Judge at Khammam in o.s.No.24 of 2013, dated 20'0L'2020 suffers from perversity or'illegality, if so, does it requires interference of this Court?

16. As per the impugned judgment dated 28.06.2019 respondent - plaintiff has deposited an amount of Rs.9,00,000/- in the account of Principal District and sessions Judge, Khammam towards balance sale consideration on Lg.02.2020 and informed the appellant - defendant by way of notice dated 29.02.2020' POINT: L7. Section 16 of the Specific Act provides certain bars to the relief of specific Performance. h:- ..16. Personal bars to relief:- specific performance of a contract cJnnot be enforced in favour of a person (a) (b) ..(c)whofailstoaverandprovethathehasperformedor hasalwaysbeenreadyandwillingtoperformtheessenti{. 'RtR 2oz: sc 282 / LU22 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020 [erms of the contract which are to be performed by him, cther than terms the performance of which has been prevented or waived by the defendant". Explanation- for the purpose of clause (c),- (i) Where a contract involves the payment of money, it is not essential for the plaintiff to actually tender to the defendant or to deposit in Court any m6ney except when so directed by the Court; (ii) The plaintiff must aver performance of, or readiness and willingness to perform, the contract according to its true construction."

18. Ex.A1 is the agreement of sale, dated 10.02.2012. The schedule mentioned therein is land admeasuring Ac.0-20 guntas in Survey No.315/AA and land admeasuring Ac.0-20 guntas in Survey No.316/44, total extent of Ac.01-00 guntas situated at Vandanam Village, Cihintakani Mandal, Khammam District with specific boundaries as shown in Paragraph No.2.3 supra. The tenor of the agreement is that the '-'ntire property is valid at Rs.12,00,000/- and the respondent- plaintiff 'ras paid an amount of Rs.3,00,000/- as an advance. The conditior in Ex.A1 is that "the remaining sale consideration shall be decided after measuring the land and after deciding the same, the remaining sale consideration shall be paid within six months from this date (10.02.20L2)".

19. Appellant's counsel contended that Ex.A1 is allegedly executed on Rs.4.0/- stamp paper, it is insufficiently stamped and it is /- t2122 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020 inadmissible document. Ex.A1 document goes to show that stamp duty and penalty is collected on 01.03.2013 which is paid by the respondent-plaintiff. During the course of the evidence of the respondent-plaintiff as PW.1, while marking the documents, no such objection was raised by the defendant, for the firSt time it is raised in the grounds of Appeal. As stamp duty penalty is paid by the respondent-plaintiff on Ex.A1, the contention of the appellant counsel that Ex.A1 is insufficiently stamped is negative.

20. Respondent-plaintiff before instituting the suit got issued a legal notice on 05. L2.2OL2 (Ex.A2) to the appellant-defendant stating that the parties are acquainted with each other and out of such acquaintance, appellant-defendant has approached him to sell the schedule property for a total sale consideration of Rs.12,O0,000/- and accordingly on 10.02.2012 respondent-plaintiff has paid Rs.3,00,000/- aS advance and the appellant-defendant executed the agreement of sale in the presence of the witnesses and the respondent-plaintiff was ready to perform his part of contract and called upon the appellant- defendant to execute registered sale deed in his favour within seven days from the receipt of the notice. Appellant-defendant has got issued a reply on 22.L2.2O12 under Ex.A4 denying the allegations made in the legal notice under Ex.A2 and sought for a Xerox copy of alleged agreement of sale dated 10.02.2012 for giving a detailed reply. Respondent-plaintiff has sent the copy of the agreement of .sal{dated lJ f L3l22 BRMR,J AS.No.356_2020

10.02.2012 by way of legal notice, dated 07.ot.2oi.3 under Ex.AS. No reply i:; given by the appellant-defendant to Ex.A5 till he filed his written stetement in the suit. 2L. Ex.til is the pattadar pass book of the appelrant - defendant, the land possessed by him is to an extent of Ac.0-23 guntas in survey No.315/e9 and Ac.0-23 guntas in Survey No.316/er, total Ac.1-06 guntas. Ex.A1-property is to an extent of Ac.01_00 gts.

22.L In ltl.P.Tirugnanam caset, an application is fired by the defendant therein with a direction to deposit Rs.2,00,000/- or furnish Bank guarantee and the same was ordered by the court on 11.02.1991 by giving time up to 11.03.1991. The plaintiff therein neither deposited the amourrt nor has given Bank guarantee and he was not ready and he failed to prove readiness and willingness to perform the part of contract.

22.2 In [{ahar singh's case2, there are no Kasara numbers, no area, no bounditries, no length and breadth of the land mentioned therein in Ex.A1 agreement.

22.3 In i)awan Kumar Dutt's case3, there were no boundaries in the suit agree:ment and it is not clear from what point the area is to be measured. so also, it is not clear whether the land situated is in the L4122 BRMR,J AS.No.356-2O2O middle of the total land or in one portion or at the extreme end of a particular Place.

22.4 In C.S.Venkatesh's case4, it is a suit for reconveyance of the propertyandthesaledeedmarkedasEx.P8isanoutrightsaledeed.

22.5. The decisions cited by the appellant's counsel stated supra from ParaNos.22,L_22.4donotassisthiscaseinanymannerasthefacts defer from the case on hand'

23. In Vijay Kumar,s cases, the supreme court held that in order to obtain a decree for specific performance, the plaintiff has to prove his readiness and willingness to perform his part of the contract and the readiness and willingness has to be shown throughout and has to be established bY the Plaintiff' 24: In pydi Ramana @ Ramulu's case6, the Supreme Court held that the plaintiff has to adduce evidence either oral or documentary to establish that there was any demand made by him for the land been surveYed bY defendant.

25.L. In Basavaraj's case7, the Supreme Court held that unless the plaintiff was not called upon to produce pass book either by vendor or by the Court to show readiness and willingness on his part, noTfidverse / -/. inference can be drawn against him' tsl22 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020

25.2. The above said decision cited by respondent's counsel do not assist his ,:ontention in view of the fact that the facts in the above decision are slightly different with the facts of the case.

26. Applying the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Vijay Kumars and Pydi Ramana @ Ramuluu, now have to see whether the respondent-plaintiff falls within the principles laid down therein.

27. The rider in Ex.A1 is that "the remaining sale consideration shall be decidel after measuring the land and shall be paid within six months from this date (10.02.2oL2.). Ex.A2 is the legal notice, dated

05.12.2012 which set the law into motion forfiling the suit. on reading of the legal notice (Ex.A2) the respondent-plaintiff did not call upon the appell.ant-defendant to measure the. land. It only stated that he is ready to pay the balance sale consideration.

28. As stated supra, appellant-defendant is having Ac.0-23 guntas each in Srrrvey No.315/AA and survey No.316/AA and the total extent in the ab,ove said two survey numbers is Ac.1-06 guntas but the schedule shown in Ex.A1 is Ac.01-00 guntas of land with boundaries. There is rro explanation from the plaintiff how he has arrived that the land of clefendant falls on the northern side of the amended suit schedule propefty, but the agreement of sale under Ex.A1 shows the land of Cttilaka Venkateshwarlu. \ \ t6122 BRMR,J AS.No.356-202O

29. It is not the case of the respondent-plaintiff that he requested the appellant-defendant to measure the land, which is also missing in Ex.Az-legal notice, dated 05.L2.2OL2. Respondent -plaintiff admitted in his cross-examination that after going through the pahanies, he came to know that the land which he purchased from the appellant- defendant falls in the Survey Nos.315/AA and 316/AA' On the date of Ex.A1, he also entered into agreement of sale with one chilaka Venkateshwarlu and he also filed a suit vide O.S'No'25 of 2013 on the file of IV Additional District Judge, which agreement was entered at 11.00 8.ffi., and Ex.A1 took place at 04.30 p.m. one suri Ganesh has filed recovery suit covered by registered mortgage deed in the year 2005, which was decreed and he preferred an Appeal against the said judgment. Respondent-plaintiff denied the suggestion that he has no capacity to purchase land worth Rs.24,00,000/- from the appellant- defendant and ch.venkateshwarlu and that he has no capacity to advance sale consideration to a tune of Rs.6,00,000/- on a single day i.€., Rs.3,00,000/- to the appellant-defendant and Rs.3,o0,000/- to chilaka venkateshwarlu and also denied the suggestion that Ex.A1 is brought into existence subsequent to issuance of legal notice under Ex.A1 and that he is facing criminal cases for the offence under Section 138 of N.I. Act.

30. PW.z deposed that the suit schedule property is a compact block to an extent of Ac.01-00 guntas in Sy.No.315/AA to an .ex(nt of -" l/ ) / L7lZ2 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020 Ac.00-20 guntas and in Sy.No.316/4,4 to an extent of Ac.00-20 guntas. He knows the respondent-plaintiff and the appellant-defendant and on LO.O2.20LZ, appellant-defendant offered to alienate the land for a total sale consideration of Rs.12,00,000/- and accordingly, respondent- plaintiff paid Rs.3,00,000/- as an advance and the appellant-defendant has acknowledged the receipt and he has to receive the balance sale consideration of Rs.9,00,000/- within six months and to execute valid registered sale deed in favour of the respondent-plaintiff, during the said tran:;action, himself, Bhukya Chinna and Nakkala Srinu were present and they have attested Ex.Pl. In his cross-examination, he stated th;rt he has gone through Ex.A1 before he signed it and the transaction took place at about 4.30 p.m., he got acquaintance with the appell ant-defendant.

31. PW.3 is also an attestor to Ex.Al, his evidence is similar to that of ine e\/idence of PW.2. In his cross-examination, he stated that appellant-defendant has put his signature on the agreement of sale and as prer Ex.Al, respondent-plaintiff has to pay the balance sale considerertion to the defendant within six months from the date of Ex.A1. He denied the suggestion that himself, pw.z, respondent- plaintiff r:olluded with each other and formed a gang and brought into existenc<: Ex.A1. L tBl22 BRMR,J AS.No.356-2O2O

32. PW.z and PW.3 did not speak about the condition in Ex.A1 that the land has to be measured. Even otherwise, plaint is also silent that the property has to be measured.

33. The evidence of appellant-defendant as DW.1 is total denial and his bone of contention is that Ex.A1 is a created document and that the respondent-plaintiff has no capacity to purchase the land and fufther he had no occasion to sell the same. In his cross-examination, he has admitted that he requested the respondent-plaintiff to send Ex.A1 agreement of sale to send a detailed reply but he failed to do so and he has not filed any case against the respondent-plaintiff after receipt of the rejoinder notice nor gave reply. He denied the suggestion that he executed Ex.A1 and the boundaries were also given by him and a suggestion is put to the witness that the boundaries mentioned in the agreement of sale are correct and the signature shown to him on the vakalath is not that of him and the signatures on Ex.A3 - postal acknowledgment, written statement and chief affidavit are that of him.

34. DW2 is a third party and he deposed that the suit schedule property is the ancestral property of the appellant - defendant and he has no necessity to alienate his agriculture lands. In his cross examination he stated that he do not know the facts of the case. 3t- -It is worth mentioning that a suggestion is put to the appellant- defendant that the boundaries mentioned in the agreeV", of sale are I : i I t I 'lI 19122 BRMR,J AS.No.356 2020 correct which is denied by the witness. Respondent-plaintiff has amended l:he plaint vide IA.No.3 of 2019 dated 02.12.2019 wherein he has amenJed the suit schedule showing the appellant-defendant land on the northern side.

36. Section 16 (c) of Specific Relief Act mandates readiness and willingness of the plaintiff to be averred and proved and it is a condition precedent to obtain the relief of specific performance. Readiness is the capacity of the respondent-plaintiff to perform the contract which includes its financial position to pay the sale consideration. Willingness is the conduct of the party. Respondent- plaintiff could able to prove the sale agreement, dated 10.02.2012 (Ex.A1) cn which date he paid Rs.3,00,000/- to the appellant- defendant which is supported with the evidence.of pWs.2 and 3. As per Ex.A1, the balance amount to be paid by the respondent- plaintiff to the a ppella nt-defendant is Rs.9,00,000/-, suit land has to be surve,red and the total sale consideration was agreed to settle after the surve:y.

37. Respondent-plaintiff counsel contends that appellant-defendant did not come forward to survey the suit land. As stated supra, there is no pleading in the plaint that the respondent-plaintiff requested the appellanl:-defendant to measure the land, which is also missing in Ex.A2 leqal notice so also PWs.2 and 3 did not depose about the same. \ 20122 BRMRJ AS.No.356 2O2O Respondent-plaintiff did not produce any evidence to establish that a demand is made by him to the appellant-defendant to survey the land'

38. The respondent-plaintiff failed to prove his willingness to perform his part of contract in view of the fact that there is no pleading in the plaint calling the appellant-defendant to measure the suit property. Ex.81 shows that appellant-defendant is having property to an extent of Ac.Q1-06 guntas i.e., Ac.00-23 guntas in Sy.No'315/AA and Ac.00-23 guntas in Sy.No.316/AA. In Ex.Al, the boundaries shown does not show the remaining part of the appellant-defendant land but schedule came to be amended on 02.lz.z}Lg vrde IA'No'3 of 2OL9 after a Period of six Years.

39. No independent witness are examined by the respondent plaintiff to show that he was ready and willing to pay the balance sale cohsideration except his testimonies and he failed to establish the same. The ratio laid down by the Supreme Court in Vijay Kumar's cases, Pydi Ramana case6 are applicable to the facts on hand and that the respondent-plaintiff failed to prove the willingness. The learned Trial Court has lost sight of the same and the findings in Para Nos'19 to 22,26 to 4O are perverse and liable to be set aside'

40. In so far as refund of earnest money is concerned, the learned Trial Court answered the issue in favour of the respondent-plaintiff that the altegrate relief seeking refund of money is within limitation' The "'-"-, '- / / \ \ 21122 BRMR,J AS.No.356_2O20 relief of refund of money is sought y/ue IA.No.319 of 2019 dated 02.L2.20L9. The amendment of praint dates backs to the presentation of the suit i.e., on 01.03.2013 and it can be safery said that the suit fired by thr: respondent-praintiff is within rimitation for refund of the amount. 4L. Respcndent-praintiff courd abre to prove through his evidence and with the evidence of pws.2 and 3 that he paid an earnest amount of Rs.3,00,1)oo/- to the appellant-defendant under Ex.Al and it has to be necessariry paid back to the respondent-praintiff with interest @ L|o/o per a.num from the date of agreement-Ex.Al dated Lo.o2.zotz till date i.e., 11.09.2025 and thereafter @ 10o/o per annum till the date of realizing the payment. Appellant-defendant to pay the above said amount by way of Demand Draft in favour of the respondent-plaintiff within eight weeks from today i.€., 11.09.2025. Respondent_praintiff has diposited Rs.9,00,000/- before the principre District and sessions Judge, Khammam, vide chailan No.019033733g dated Lg.o2.2o2o and he is permitted to withdraw the same with interest if any accrued on the said amount.

42. In the resurt, AS.No.356 of z02o is ailowed and the judgment and decree passed in os.No.24 of 2013 date d 20.ot.2020 on the fire of Speciar sessions Judge cum VIII Additionar District Judge at Khammam is set aside. Respondent-plaintiff is entifled for a return of amount as indicated in the judgment. .n \ f / I

60.tru.oug_zvzv Interim orders if ?try, stands vacated. Consequently, Miscellaneous application/s if any, are closed. There shall be no order as to costs. SD/- A.V.S.S.C.S.M. SARMA JOINT REGISTRAR G one Fair Copy to the Hon'ble Sri Justice B.R. Madhusudhan *"ot="ttON To (For His Lordships Kind perusal) /TRUE COPYII OFFICER I i i, I I i l ') IJ t; t I I \

1. Ih" Special Sessions Judge Atrocities against Women c ffrSlmam ( with records ) for Fast Tracking Cases Relating to um Vlll Additionat District Judge] at Company Affairs, NLw Delhi

2. 11 LR Copies 3. The Under secretary, Union of tndia Ministry of raw, Justice and 4- The secretary Terangana Advocates Association, Library, High court 5' one cc to SRr. SANDEEP KUMAR BODLA, Advocate topucl 6. one cc to sRr- KowruRU KUMAR, Advocate topucJ 7. Two CD Copies Buildings, Hyderabad 'AVAN Kul/AB o t I c at 2 3 rtB 1$t$ .F L) i, f.$,.];.ri _ HIGH COURT DATED:{ 1l0glzfl2s L.R. Copy to be rrarked +DECREE JUDGMENT AS.No.356 ot 2O2O ALLOWING TI{E APPEAL SUIT WITHOUT CO:STS &q IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THURSDAY,THE ELEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE B.R.MADHUSUDHAN RAO APPEAL SUIT NO: 356 OF 2020 Between: Avula Krishnaiah, S/o. Vera Mallaiah, Vandanam Village, Chintakani Mandal, Aged about 47 years, Occ. Agriculture, R/o Khammam District, Telangana. ...APPELLANT/ Defendant AND Banoth Shankar, S/o Sakru, Aged about 40 years, Occ. Agriculture, R/o V. Venkatayapalem Village, Khammam Rural Mandal, Khammam District, Telangana ..RESPONDENT, Defendant Appeal Under Section 96 of C.P.C. against the Decree and Judgment dated 20-01-2020 in O.S.No.24 of 2013 on the file of the Court of the Special Sessions Judge for Fast Tracking Cases Relating to Atrocities against Women cum Vlll Additional District Judge, at Khammam The Appeal coming on for hearing, upon perusing the Memorandum of grounds filed in the Appeal, the Judgment and Decree of the Lower Court and the record in the case and upon hearing the arguments of Sri Sandeep Kumar Bodla, Advocate for the Appellant and of Sri Kowturu Pavan Kumar, Advocate for Respondent. This Court doth order and decree as follow:

1. That the Appeal be and hereby is allowed. 2. That the Judgment and decree passed in O.S. No. 24 of 2013 dated 20-01-2020 on the file of the Special Sessions Judge cum Vlll Additional District Judge Khammam be and hereby is set aside.

3. That the Respondent-plaintiff be and hereby is entitled for'a return of amount as indicated in the judgment.

4. That there shall be no order as to costs in this appeal. Q TLU€ brv u SD/. A.V.S.S.C.S.M. SARMA JOINT Scc-t So 6PPtc4q. The Special Sessions Judge for Fast Tracking Cases Relating to Atrocities against Women cum Vlll Additional District Judge, at Khammam Two C.D.Copies To 1 2 ( t t HIGH COURT DATED:1 1l0gl2025 DECREE AS.No.356 of 2020 ALLOWING I'HE APPEAL SUIT WITHOUT COSTS )h