{"id":225097,"date":"2003-12-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2003-12-18T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/videocon-properties-ltd-vs-dr-bhalchandra-laboratories-on-19-december-2003-2"},"modified":"2015-07-08T02:06:22","modified_gmt":"2015-07-07T20:36:22","slug":"videocon-properties-ltd-vs-dr-bhalchandra-laboratories-on-19-december-2003-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/videocon-properties-ltd-vs-dr-bhalchandra-laboratories-on-19-december-2003-2","title":{"rendered":"Videocon Properties Ltd vs Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; &#8230; on 19 December, 2003"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Videocon Properties Ltd vs Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; &#8230; on 19 December, 2003<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: Doraiswamy Raju, Arijit Pasayat.<\/div>\n<pre>           CASE NO.:\nAppeal (civil)  10135 of 2003\nSpecial Leave Petition (civil)  21705 of 2002\n\nPETITIONER:\nVideocon Properties Ltd.                                                              \n\nRESPONDENT:\nDr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; Ors. \n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT: 19\/12\/2003\n\nBENCH:\nDoraiswamy Raju &amp; Arijit Pasayat.\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n<p>J U D G M E N T<\/p>\n<p>D. RAJU, U.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tLeave granted.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe appellants are the plaintiffs in suit No.2145 of 2000, on the original<br \/>\nside of the High Court of Bombay and the respondentsdefendants are<br \/>\nregistered firm of partnership and its partners, respectively.  The plaintiffs are<br \/>\nbuilders and developers and they have entered into an agreement with the<br \/>\ndefendants on 13.5.1994 to sell the landed property owned by the respondents<br \/>\nand a sum of Rs.38 lakhs was said to have been paid by the appellants as<br \/>\ndeposit or earnest money on the execution of the agreement, which the<br \/>\nrespondents received under the agreement.  Clause 2.3 of the agreement,<br \/>\ninsofar as it is relevant for the purpose, reads as hereunder:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If for any reason the vendors fail to fulfill their<br \/>\nobligation under Clause 2, the purchasers shall have<br \/>\nan option either to fulfill the said obligation themselves<br \/>\nat the cost and expenses of the vendors or to<br \/>\nterminate the agreement, in which event the vendors<br \/>\nshall return to the purchasers the earnest with interest<br \/>\nat 21% per annum&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tClauses 17 and 18 also read as under:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;17. If the vendors fail to make out a marketable title<br \/>\nto this said land agreed to be sold, as herein agreed,<br \/>\nthe purchasers shall be entitled to cancel this<br \/>\nagreement.  In the event of cancellation of this<br \/>\nagreement under this clause, the said earnest money<br \/>\nor deposit shall be forthwith returned to the<br \/>\npurchasers by the vendors without any interest, cost<br \/>\nor compensation.\n<\/p>\n<p>18. If the sale be not completed due to any willful<br \/>\ndefault on the part of the vendors, the purchasers<br \/>\nshall be entitled (a) to require specific performance by<br \/>\nthe vendors of this agreement or (b) to payment by<br \/>\nthe vendors of the interest at the rate of 21% per<br \/>\nannum on the said earnest money or deposit and all<br \/>\ncosts, charges and expenses incurred and all loss<br \/>\nand damages sustained by the purchasers in addition<br \/>\nto the return by the vendors of the said earnest<br \/>\nmoney or deposit.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tIt is the stand of the appellants that for nearly five years the respondents<br \/>\ndid not perform their part of the contract or fulfill their obligations under Clause 2<br \/>\nof the agreement, in spite of repeated requests and reminders and this<br \/>\nnecessitated their issuing a Notice dated 3.3.1999 calling upon the respondents<br \/>\nto fulfill their obligations within 15 days of receipt.  On 15.3.1999, the<br \/>\nrespondents appear to have, for the first time, expressed their inability to fulfill the<br \/>\nterms within time and informed the appellants in writing to invoke their right under<br \/>\nClause 2.3, in the following words:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Under these circumstances, we sincerely and<br \/>\nearnestly request you to please exercise your other<br \/>\noption of getting all the necessary permissions<br \/>\nyourselves to complete the said transaction at your<br \/>\nearliest.  We hope that you will consider this proposal<br \/>\nsympathetically and take the necessary action as<br \/>\nstated above, looking to our present situation<br \/>\nexplained above.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThereupon, the appellants seem to have opted to terminate the agreement<br \/>\nas envisaged under Clause 2.3 and by their Notice dated 27.9.1999, while so<br \/>\nterminating, called upon the respondents to return the sum of Rs.38 lakhs along<br \/>\nwith interest at the rat e of 21% from 13.5.1994 till payment.  In response thereto,<br \/>\nwhile disputing the claims of the appellants, the respondents along with their<br \/>\nletter dated 8.1.2000 sent a cheque for Rs.38 lakhs by way of &#8220;refund of deposit<br \/>\nor earnest money in full satisfaction of your claim under the agreement or<br \/>\notherwise.  Your claim for interest is both false and untenable and is denied by<br \/>\nus.&#8221;  The appellants seem to have been not satisfied since they, according to<br \/>\ntheir stand, should have been repaid a sum of Rs.74,34,203\/- instead of merely<br \/>\nreturning the deposit or earnest money and filed the suit No.2145 of 2000, as<br \/>\nnoticed above, seeking for several reliefs  one among which is as hereunder:\n<\/p>\n<p>Relief and Prayer: (c) in the plaint:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That it be declared by this Hon&#8217;ble Court that the<br \/>\namount and interest mentioned in prayer (a) above<br \/>\nand the cost of the suit are validly secured by a<br \/>\nstatutory charge on the said land more particularly<br \/>\ndescribed in Exhibit B to the plaint. &#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tAs per prayer (a), the plaintiffs claimed for a judgment and decree for<br \/>\nRs.80,15,903\/- with further interest at 21% p.a. from the date of suit till payment<br \/>\nor realization and the costs.  In prayer clause (d) of the plaint, the appellants<br \/>\nseem to have also prayed for a declaration that the amount and interest claimed<br \/>\nin prayer (b) towards damages and the costs of the suit are validly secured by a<br \/>\nstatutory charge on the said land described in Exhibit B to the plaint.  The<br \/>\nappellants have also chosen to appropriate the sum repaid in a different manner<br \/>\nas per their choice and at their discretion as explained in the plaint.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe appellants seem to have also filed an application for interim reliefs by<br \/>\nway of Notice of Motion No.1952 of 2000 praying among other things for <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;(d) that pending the hearing and final disposal of the<br \/>\nsuit, the defendants by themselves, their servants and<br \/>\nagents be restrained by an order and injunction of this<br \/>\nHon&#8217;ble Court, from selling, disposing of, alienating,<br \/>\nencumbering or creating any third party rights of any<br \/>\nnature whatsoever or from carrying out any<br \/>\nconstruction or any other work in any manner<br \/>\nwhatsoever, in respect of the suit properties more<br \/>\nparticularly described in Exhibit `B&#8217; to the plaint.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tAfter hearing both parties, the learned Single Judge passed the following<br \/>\norder:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;2. Admitted position is that there was an agreement<br \/>\nto sell between the parties, and that an amount of<br \/>\nRs.38 lakh has been paid as an earnest money.  It is<br \/>\nalso admitted position that the agreement was<br \/>\nterminated by the plaintiff.  It is also admitted position<br \/>\nthat in the agreement there is a provision made for<br \/>\npayment of interest at the rate of 21% p.a. on the<br \/>\namount of earnest money, in case that amount is<br \/>\nrequired to be refunded in terms of the agreement.\n<\/p>\n<p>The defendants has refunded the amount of earnest<br \/>\nmoney, i.e., Rs.38 lakh, but has not paid the amount<br \/>\nof interest.  The controversy involved in the suit is<br \/>\nwhether the plaintiff is entitled to claim an amount of<br \/>\ninterest on the amount of earnest money that was<br \/>\nrefunded by the defendant.\n<\/p>\n<p>3. Perusal of the agreement shows that there is a<br \/>\nclear duty casts on the defendant to pay interest on<br \/>\nthe amount of earnest money, unless it is required to<br \/>\nbe refunded.  Therefore, it appears that the plaintiff<br \/>\nhas a prime facie case in its favour.\n<\/p>\n<p>4. So far as prayer for temporary injunction is<br \/>\nconcerned, perusal of the provisions of Section 55 of<br \/>\nthe Transfer of Property Act shows that buyer is<br \/>\nentitled to a charge on the property as against the<br \/>\nseller to the extent of the seller&#8217;s interest in the<br \/>\nproperty, for the amount of any purchase money paid<br \/>\nand for interest on such amount.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tTherefore, even if it is assumed that the<br \/>\nplaintiff was not justified in appropriating the amount<br \/>\npaid by the defendants towards the interest treating<br \/>\nthe earnest money still remaining unpaid, then also as<br \/>\nper the agreement the plaintiff is definitely entitled to<br \/>\ninterest on the amount.  In terms of the provisions of<br \/>\nSection 55 of the Transfer of Property Act, even for<br \/>\nthe unpaid amount of interest, there is charge on the<br \/>\nproperty.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tIn view of the matter, therefore, in any opinion,<br \/>\nthe plaintiff would be entitled to a temporary injunction<br \/>\nrestraining the defendants from disposing of the land<br \/>\nduring the pendency of the suit.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThereupon, the respondents have pursued the matter on appeal before a<br \/>\nDivision Bench, challenging the order of the learned Single Judge.  The learned<br \/>\nJudges of the Division Bench by their order under challenge in this appeal, after<br \/>\nadverting to certain factual details, on the scope of Section 55 (6) of the Transfer<br \/>\nof Property Act, expressed its views as hereunder, with particular reference to<br \/>\nthe case on hand, by allowing the appeal of respondents herein:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now when one looks at the wording of Section 55<br \/>\n(6)(b), a clear distinction is made by the statute<br \/>\nbetween the purchase money on one hand and<br \/>\nearnest money on the other when it comes to creating<br \/>\na charge.  As far as purchase money is concerned, a<br \/>\ncharge is created for the purchase money as well as<br \/>\nthe interest amount thereon, whereas when it comes<br \/>\nto earnest money, in the latter part of Section 55<br \/>\n(6)(b), there is no such specific mention of interest on<br \/>\nthe earnest money.  We are concerned with the<br \/>\nquestion as to whether this section creates a statutory<br \/>\ncharge on the property to protect the claim of interest<br \/>\non the earnest money and a plain reading of the<br \/>\nsection shows that it does not make any such<br \/>\nprovision.\n<\/p>\n<p>This being the position, in our view, the learned Single<br \/>\nJudge was in error in holding that a charge was<br \/>\navailable to the respondents under Section 55 (6)(b)<br \/>\nfor claiming interest on the earnest money and,<br \/>\ntherefore, was in error in granting the injunction.  The<br \/>\nauthorities and propositions cited by Mr. Doctor do not<br \/>\nhelp us in interpreting section 55 (6)(b).  Once the<br \/>\nbasis of this claim of charge is disclosed, one cannot<br \/>\nclaim injunction to secure the alleged claim for<br \/>\ninterest on the earnest money.  We have, therefore, to<br \/>\ninterfere with the order passed by the learned Single<br \/>\nJudge and accordingly we set a side the same.\n<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, there will not be any injunction as prayed<br \/>\nby the respondents.\n<\/p>\n<p>The claim of the respondents is principally for money<br \/>\nand they will get the amount due to them if they<br \/>\nestablish their case in trial.  However, we are also<br \/>\nconscious of the fact that the amount of Rs.38 lakhs<br \/>\nwas lying with the appellants from 13.4.1994 till<br \/>\n8.1.2000.  We, therefore, tried to explore on overall<br \/>\nsettlement, but that was not possible.  It appears that<br \/>\ndue to financial constraints the appellants can<br \/>\ndevelop the property only when they enter into an<br \/>\nagreement with another developer.  Hence, we would<br \/>\nlike to put the appellants to terms and in our view, the<br \/>\nappropriate interim order would be to direct the<br \/>\nappellants to deposit an amount equivalent to interest<br \/>\nat the rate of 10% for the aforesaid period which they<br \/>\nwill deposit in this Court as and when they decide to<br \/>\ndevelop this property.  This order will work as an<br \/>\ninterim order till the disposal of the suit.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tHence, this appeal.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThough, normally this Court would have been reluctant to entertain this<br \/>\nappeal at this stage, keeping in view the views expressed by the Division Bench<br \/>\nof the High Court on the scope and purport of statutory charge engrafted in<br \/>\nSection 55 (6), and the serious repercussion that may follow not only in this case<br \/>\nbut generally as a principle of law, it became necessary for this Court to deal with<br \/>\nthe legal issue, leaving otherwise, the parties to work out their ultimate rights<br \/>\nrespectively, finally in the pending suit, ensuring of course in the meantime<br \/>\nproper and sufficient safeguards, as would emanate from the statutory charge<br \/>\nenvisaged under Section 55 (6) of the Transfer of Property Act.  Though the<br \/>\nlearned counsel on either side attempted to make submissions generally on the<br \/>\ndisputes between the parties, we indicated to them that they must confine their<br \/>\nclaims and submissions to the actual issues that would arise on the interim<br \/>\norders passed as to the scope and ambit of the statutory charge generally and<br \/>\nfor the protection of rights of parties in this case leaving aside other claims and<br \/>\nissues, which are only to be adjudicated in the main suit, which is still pending on<br \/>\nthe original side of the High Court.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe learned senior counsel for the appellants contended that the statutory<br \/>\ncharge envisaged under Section 55(6)(b) of the Transfer of Property Act would<br \/>\nenure not only to the amount of any purchase money paid and for interest on<br \/>\nsuch amount, but also for the earnest money deposit paid and for interest due<br \/>\nthereon besides for the costs awarded to the purchaser to compel specific<br \/>\nperformance of the contract or to obtain a decree for its rescission and the contra<br \/>\nview taken by the Division Bench differing from the view taken by the learned<br \/>\nSingle Judge is contrary to law and cannot be sustained.  It was also contended<br \/>\nthat the omission to specifically specify in the said provision of the Act interest on<br \/>\nearnest money may, at the most, be indicative of the discretion left with the Court<br \/>\nin the matter of the rate of interest permissible on the earnest money deposit and<br \/>\nnot to deny the same once and for all.  It was also urged on behalf of the<br \/>\nappellants that on the peculiar terms and conditions of the agreement between<br \/>\nparties, which in Clause 2.3 specifically provided for the rate of interest with<br \/>\nwhich the earnest money deposit has to be refunded in case the respondents-<br \/>\nvendors fail to fulfill their obligations, the entire sum of earnest money deposit<br \/>\ninclusive of the interest so provided for being repaid would form the subject<br \/>\nmatter of the statutory charge envisaged under Section 55(6)(b) of the Transfer<br \/>\nof Property Act.  It was also contended for the appellants that in a matter like the<br \/>\none on hand where the earnest money deposited is to be part of the sale<br \/>\nconsideration agreed to between the parties, the said sum of Rs.38 lacs will not<br \/>\ncease to be purchase money merely because it is referred to also as deposit or<br \/>\nearnest money as well and, therefore, it would fall even within the first limb of<br \/>\nSection 55(6)(b) and satisfy the stipulation expressed as `any purchase money<br \/>\nproperly paid by the buyer&#8217; and for interest on such amount and consequently,<br \/>\nthe order of the learned Single Judge should be restored by setting aside the<br \/>\norder of the learned Judges of the Division Bench.  Per contra, the learned<br \/>\ncounsel appearing for the respondents, while adopting the reasoning of the<br \/>\nDivision Bench of the High Court, reiterated the stand taken on their behalf<br \/>\nbefore the High Court to justify the order passed by the Division Bench under<br \/>\nchallenge.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThough initially no interim orders were passed after the respondents<br \/>\nentered their appearance and the matter was being adjourned from time to time<br \/>\nan apprehended alienation of the property and an attempt to further encumber<br \/>\nthe same to the prejudice of the appellants was highlighted and when the<br \/>\ncounsel, after instructions from the respondents, expressed his client&#8217;s inability to<br \/>\nfurnish any security to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Judge or give any<br \/>\nundertaking not to alienate or encumber, by an order dated 31.10.2003 the<br \/>\nrespondents were directed to maintain the status quo and an interim order that<br \/>\nthey shall not alienate the property, pending further orders, was also made.  The<br \/>\nlearned counsel for the respondents, in addition to responding to the contentions<br \/>\non behalf of the appellants, also submitted that if for any reason this Court is not<br \/>\ninclined to agree with the stand of the respondents, their right to sell the property<br \/>\nshould not be completely freezed and appropriate liberties may be granted to<br \/>\nalienate the same, with the leave of the learned Trial Judge and subject to<br \/>\nsufficient safeguards being made to protect the claims and interest of the<br \/>\nappellants in the suit.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tWe have carefully considered the submissions of the learned counsel<br \/>\nappearing on either side.  It would be necessary to set out the relevant portions<br \/>\nof Section 55 to the extent necessary for appreciating the contentions of the<br \/>\nparties on either side.\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;55.  Rights and Liabilities of buyer and seller.<br \/>\nIn the absence of a contract to the contrary, the buyer<br \/>\nand seller of immovable property respectively are<br \/>\nsubject to the liabilities, and have the rights,<br \/>\nmentioned in the rules next following, or such of them<br \/>\nas are applicable to the property sold:\n<\/p>\n<p>(6) The buyer is entitled&#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>(a)  where the ownership of the property has passed<br \/>\nto him, to the benefit of any improvement in, or<br \/>\nincrease in value of, the property, and to the rents and<br \/>\nprofits thereof;\n<\/p>\n<p>(b) unless he has improperly declined to accept<br \/>\ndelivery of the property, to a charge on the property,<br \/>\nas against the seller and all persons claiming under<br \/>\nhim,* * * to the extent of the seller&#8217;s interest in the<br \/>\nproperty, for the amount of any purchase-money<br \/>\nproperly paid by the buyer in anticipation of the<br \/>\ndelivery and for interest on such amount; and, when<br \/>\nthe properly declines to accept the delivery, also for<br \/>\nthe earnest (if any) and for the costs (if any) awarded<br \/>\nto him of a suit to compel specific performance of the<br \/>\ncontract or to obtain a decree for its rescission.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe buyer&#8217;s charge engrafted in clause (b) of paragraph 6 of Section 55 of<br \/>\nthe Transfer of Property Act would extend and enure to the purchase-money or<br \/>\nearnest money paid before the title passes and property has been delivered by<br \/>\nthe purchaser to the seller, on the seller&#8217;s interest in the property unless the<br \/>\npurchaser has improperly declined to accept delivery of property or when he<br \/>\nproperly declines to accept delivery  including for the interest on purchase<br \/>\nmoney and costs awarded to the purchaser of a suit to compel specific<br \/>\nperformance of the contract or to obtain a decree for its rescission.   The principle<br \/>\nunderlying the above provision is a trite principle of justice, equity and good<br \/>\nconscience.  The charge would last until the conveyance is executed by the<br \/>\nseller and possession is also given to the purchaser and ceases only thereafter.<br \/>\nThe charge will not be lost by merely accepting delivery of possession alone.<br \/>\nThis charge is a statutory charge in favour of a buyer and is different from<br \/>\ncontractual charge to which the buyer may become entitled to under the terms of<br \/>\nthe contract, and in substance a converse to the charge created in favour of the<br \/>\nseller under Section 55(4)(b).  Consequently, the buyer is entitled to enforce the<br \/>\nsaid charge against the property and for that purpose trace the property even in<br \/>\nthe hands of third parties and even when the property is converted into another<br \/>\nform by proceeding against the substituted security, since none claiming under<br \/>\nthe seller including a third party purchaser can take advantage of any plea based<br \/>\neven on want of notice of the charge.  The said statutory charge gets attracted<br \/>\nand attaches to the property for the benefit of the buyer the moment he pays any<br \/>\npart of the purchase money and is only lost in case of purchaser&#8217;s own default or<br \/>\nhis improper refusal to accept delivery.  So far as payment of interest is<br \/>\nconcerned, the section specifically envisages payment of interest upon the<br \/>\npurchase-money\/price prepaid, though not so specifically on the earnest money<br \/>\ndeposit, apparently for the reason that an amount paid as earnest money<br \/>\nsimplicitor, as mere security for due performance does not become repayable till<br \/>\nthe contract or agreement got terminated and it is shown that the purchaser has<br \/>\nnot failed to carry out his part of the contract, and the termination was brought<br \/>\nabout not due to his fault, the claim of the purchaser for refund of earnest money<br \/>\ndeposit will not arise for being asserted.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe further aspect that requires to be noticed is as to the nature and<br \/>\ncharacter of earnest money deposit and in that context the distinguishing<br \/>\nfeatures, which help to delineate the differences, if any.  The matter is not, at any<br \/>\nrate, res integra.   In (Kunwar) Chiranjit Singh vs. Har Swarup [AIR 1926 P.C.<br \/>\n1], it was held that the earnest money is part of the purchase price when the<br \/>\ntransaction goes forward and it is forfeited when the transaction falls through, by<br \/>\nreasons of the fault or failure of the purchaser.  This statement of law had the<br \/>\napproval of this Court in <a href=\"\/doc\/158693\/\">Maula Bux vs. Union of India<\/a> [AIR 1970 SC 1955].<br \/>\nFurther, it is not the description by words used in the agreement only that would<br \/>\nbe determinative of the character of the sum but really the intention of parties and<br \/>\nsurrounding circumstances as well, that have to be looked into and what may be<br \/>\ncalled an advance may really be a deposit or earnest money and what is termed<br \/>\nas `a deposit or earnest money&#8217; may ultimately turn out to be really an advance<br \/>\nor part of purchase price.  Earnest money or deposit also, thus, serves two<br \/>\npurposes of being part payment of the purchase money and security for the<br \/>\nperformances of the contract by the party concerned, who paid it.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tComing to the facts of the case, it is seen from the agreement dated<br \/>\n13.5.1994 entered into between parties  particularly Clause 1, which specifies<br \/>\nmore than one enumerated categories of payment to be made by the purchaser<br \/>\nin the manner and at stages indicated therein, as consideration for the ultimate<br \/>\nsale to be made and completed.  The further fact that the sum of Rs. 38 lakhs<br \/>\nhad to be paid on the date of execution of the agreement itself, with the other<br \/>\nremaining categories of sums being stipulated for payment at different and<br \/>\nsubsequent stages as well as execution of the sale deed by the Vendors taken<br \/>\ntogether with the contents of the stipulation made in Clause 2.3, providing for the<br \/>\nreturn of it, if for any reason the Vendors fail to fulfill their obligations under<br \/>\nClause 2, strongly supports and strengthens the claim of the appellants that  the<br \/>\nintention of the parties in the case on hand is in effect to treat the sum of Rs.38<br \/>\nlakhs to be part of the prepaid purchase-money and not pure and simple earnest<br \/>\nmoney deposit of the restricted sense and tenor, wholly unrelated to the<br \/>\npurchase price as such in any manner.  The mention made in the agreement or<br \/>\ndescription of the same otherwise as &#8220;deposit or earnest money&#8221; and not merely<br \/>\nas earnest money, inevitably leads to the inescapable conclusion that the same<br \/>\nhas to and was really meant to serve both purposes as envisaged in the decision<br \/>\nnoticed supra.  In substance, it is, therefore, really a deposit or payment of<br \/>\nadvance as well and for that matter actually part payment of purchase price, only.<br \/>\nIn the teeth of the further fact situation that the sale could not be completed by<br \/>\nexecution of the sale deed in this case only due to lapses and inabilities on the<br \/>\npart of the respondents  irrespective of bonafides or otherwise involved in such<br \/>\ndelay and lapses, the amount of rupees 38 lakhs becomes refundable by the<br \/>\nVendors to the purchasers as of the prepaid purchase price deposited with the<br \/>\nVendors.  Consequently, the sum of rupees 38 lakhs to be refunded would attract<br \/>\nthe first limb or part of Section 55(6)(b) of the Transfer of Property Act itself and<br \/>\ntherefore necessarily, as held by the learned Single Judge, the defendants prima<br \/>\nfacie became liable to refund the same with interest due thereon, in terms of<br \/>\nClause 2.3 of the agreement.  Therefore, the statutory charge envisaged therein<br \/>\nwould get attracted to and encompass the whole of the sum of rupees 38 lakhs<br \/>\nand the interest due thereon.  In the light of the above, in our view, the learned<br \/>\nSingle Judge on the original side was right in passing the order dated 23.10.2001<br \/>\nand the order of the Division Bench, taking a contrary view in the order under<br \/>\nchallenge, is contrary to law and the reasons assigned therefor cannot be<br \/>\ncountenanced.  Hence, the same is hereby set aside and the order of the learned<br \/>\nSingle Judge shall stand restored and to be in force pending disposal of the suit.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe question relating to manner of appropriation, attempted to be argued<br \/>\nbefore us, is really a matter, which has to be, properly speaking canvassed and<br \/>\ngot adjudicated in the suit only and we express no opinion on the same.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tSo far as the submission made that the injunction granted should not<br \/>\ncompletely foreclose the liberties of the respondents, if an appropriate offer<br \/>\ncomes to sell the property after seeking directions of the judge on the original<br \/>\nside, we leave liberties with the parties as and when necessary to approach the<br \/>\ncourt before which the suit is pending for any such permission and the court after<br \/>\nhearing the plaintiffs as well on any such request may consider the request in this<br \/>\nregard on the defendants\/respondents sufficiently securing and safeguarding the<br \/>\ninterests of the plaintiff by depositing in court to the credit of the suit so much of<br \/>\nthe sale consideration, as would be necessary to meet the claims of the plaintiffs<br \/>\nbefore granting any such permission so that  the amount so deposited may abide<br \/>\nby the ultimate decision in the suit, to satisfy the decree that may be passed.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe appeal is accordingly allowed as indicated above.  No costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India Videocon Properties Ltd vs Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; &#8230; on 19 December, 2003 Bench: Doraiswamy Raju, Arijit Pasayat. CASE NO.: Appeal (civil) 10135 of 2003 Special Leave Petition (civil) 21705 of 2002 PETITIONER: Videocon Properties Ltd. RESPONDENT: Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; Ors. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 19\/12\/2003 BENCH: Doraiswamy Raju &amp; Arijit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-225097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Videocon Properties Ltd vs Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; ... on 19 December, 2003 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/videocon-properties-ltd-vs-dr-bhalchandra-laboratories-on-19-december-2003-2\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Videocon Properties Ltd vs Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories &amp; 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