{"id":61859,"date":"2002-07-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2002-07-10T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/preetam-singh-died-vs-tamil-nadu-slum-clearance-board-on-11-july-2002"},"modified":"2016-04-08T09:06:52","modified_gmt":"2016-04-08T03:36:52","slug":"preetam-singh-died-vs-tamil-nadu-slum-clearance-board-on-11-july-2002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/preetam-singh-died-vs-tamil-nadu-slum-clearance-board-on-11-july-2002","title":{"rendered":"Preetam Singh (Died) vs Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on 11 July, 2002"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Madras High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Preetam Singh (Died) vs Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on 11 July, 2002<\/div>\n<pre>       \n\n  \n\n  \n\n \n \n IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS\n\nDATED: 11\/07\/2002\n\nCORAM\n\nTHE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.JAGADEESAN\nAND\nTHE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAVIRAJA PANDIAN\n\nO.S.A.NO.6 OF 1994\n\n1. Preetam Singh (died)\n2. Anitha, P.C.\n3. Vikram Singh Chhabria                .... Appellants\n        Appellants No.2 and 3 were\nbrought on record as legal\nrepresentatives of deceased first\nappellant as per orders in C.M.P.No.\n4368 of 2002 dated 15.4.2002.\n\nVersus\n\nTamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board\nNo.5, Kamarajar Salai\nMadras-600 005.                                 .... Respondent\n\n        Prayer:  Original Side Appeal filed against the  judgment  and  decree\ndated 14.6.1993  made  in  C.S.No.34  of  1984  by the Honourable Mr.  Justice\nGovardhan.\n\n!For Appellants :  Mr.V.S.Subramanian\n\n^For Respondent :  Mr.M.Muthappan for\n                Mr.K.Venkataramana\n\n:J U D G M E N T\n<\/pre>\n<p>K.RAVIRAJA PANDIAN,J.\n<\/p>\n<p>        The above appeal is directed against the judgment and  decree  of  the<br \/>\nlearned  trial  Judge dated 14.6.1993 made in C.S.No.34 of 1984 on the file of<br \/>\nthis Court, whereby the learned Single Judge non-suited the appellant for  the<br \/>\nrelief  claimed  in  the  suit,  in  the  sense,  for  a  decree directing the<br \/>\ndefendant\/respondent herein  to  pay  to  the  appellant\/plaintiff  a  sum  of<br \/>\nRs.2,45,880.41ps  with  interest on Rs.1,25,206.92 ps at 10 per cent per annum<br \/>\nfrom the date of plaint till the date of realisation.\n<\/p>\n<p>        2.  The appellant laid the suit for the said relief on the ground that<br \/>\nthe appellant is one of the leading suppliers of pipes and accessories and the<br \/>\ndefendant used to place orders for supply of  several  materials  required  by<br \/>\nthem.   At  times,  without  calling  for tenders, the defendant used to place<br \/>\norders on the plaintiff.  On certain other occasions, the defendant  call  for<br \/>\ntenders.  After becoming successful tenderer, the plaintiff used to supply the<br \/>\nmaterials  as  per  the  tender and there had been several instances where the<br \/>\ngoods were used to be supplied on oral instructions to the defendant.\n<\/p>\n<p>        3.  It is the  further  case  of  the  appellant\/  plaintiff  that  in<br \/>\npursuance of a call for tenders by the defendant, the plaintiff had offered on<br \/>\n17.11.1978 to  supply  G.I.    pipes  and  specials  and  deposited  a  sum of<br \/>\nRs.2,300\/- as Earnest  Money  Deposit  as  per  the  tender  condition.    The<br \/>\ndefendant accepted the offer for supply of goods to the value of Rs.3,18,279\/-<br \/>\nand  demanded  a  further  deposit  of  Rs.7,250\/- towards additional security<br \/>\ndeposit.  The appellant\/plaintiff has given a  Bank  Guarantee  for  the  said<br \/>\namount.   The  plaintiff also supplied some of the materials as per the tender<br \/>\nand sent an invoice for a sum of Rs.28,243.47ps.  The plaintiff also  supplied<br \/>\nmaterials  worth  about Rs.5,607.56 and Rs.5,544.12ps under different invoices<br \/>\nand further supplies were also made for a sum of Rs.3,215.87ps  on  23.4.1979.<br \/>\nWhile  that  being  so, the Executive Engineer of the defendant Board informed<br \/>\nthat a sum of Rs.31,828\/- being ten  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the<br \/>\ncontract was  withheld  as  a  penalty  for default in making the supply.  The<br \/>\nplaintiff was also asked to show cause why the name of  the  plaintiff  should<br \/>\nnot be  recommended  for  being  black-listed.    The  agreement  between  the<br \/>\nplaintiff and the defendant did not provide any clause with reference to price<br \/>\nescalation and therefore neither valid nor enforceable.   Even  assuming  that<br \/>\nthe  agreement  is a valid one, the defendant should have ascertained the loss<br \/>\nsuffered immediately.  Without ascertaining the  loss,  the  defendant  cannot<br \/>\nwithheld or  forfeit  the  amount  deposited  by the plaintiff.  It is further<br \/>\ncontended  that  there  cannot  be  two  penalties  viz.,  black-listing   and<br \/>\nimposition  of  fine  and  forfeiture  of Earnest Money Deposit and Additional<br \/>\nsecurity deposit.  The conditions to that effect in the agreement is  invalid.<br \/>\nEven  then,  the  plaintiff is entitled to the relief from the penal clause in<br \/>\nlaw.  The plaintiff&#8217;s money cannot be withheld nor can the earnest  money  and<br \/>\nadditional security deposit forfeited.  The defendant not having purchased any<br \/>\nmaterials  at  the  risk and cost of the plaintiff is not entitled to withheld<br \/>\nany amount.\n<\/p>\n<p>        4.  Likewise, pursuant to a tender, the plaintiff offered on  5.3.1979<br \/>\nto  supply  GI  pipes  and  specials and deposited bank guarantee for a sum of<br \/>\nRs.7,500\/- towards Earnest Money deposit and agreement was also entered  into.<br \/>\nThe  plaintiff supplied various materials under 3 invoices for Rs.23,805.45ps,<br \/>\nRs.7,640.85ps and Rs.21,349.37ps.  The appellant also supplied materials under<br \/>\ndifferent invoices on three other occasions.  However, the Executive  Engineer<br \/>\nof  the  defendant  informed  the plaintiff that a sum of Rs.51,984\/- being 10<br \/>\npercent of the value of the agreement has been  withheld  and  has  threatened<br \/>\npenal action  including black-listing.  In respect of the three tenders due on<br \/>\n20.3.19 79, the plaintiff submitted his offers dated 19.3.1979  together  with<br \/>\nearnest money deposits by way of bank guarantees for Rs.1500\/-, Rs.38 00\/- and<br \/>\nRs.2600\/- respectively.    The  defendant  required the plaintiff to remit the<br \/>\nadditional security deposit and also called for explanation as to  the  reason<br \/>\nfor the delay in the execution of the agreement.  A sum of Rs.1,57,686.18ps is<br \/>\ndue and  payable  by  the  defendant  towards the goods supplied.  Towards the<br \/>\nearnest money deposit and additional security deposit, a sum of Rs.39,311\/- is<br \/>\ndue to the plaintiff.  The plaintiff is also entitled to interest on the  said<br \/>\namount.   The  plaintiff  is  entitled  for  a  sum  of  Rs.1,95,206.92ps with<br \/>\nsubsequent interest from the date of plaint on  Rs.1,57,686.18ps  towards  the<br \/>\nearnest money  deposit  and  additional  security  deposit.   The defendant is<br \/>\nliable to pay the plaintiff a sum  of  Rs.39,311\/-  and  interest  of  Rs.11,3<br \/>\n62.49ps from  24.7.1980 till the date of plaint.  Hence, the suit for recovery<br \/>\nof the amount.\n<\/p>\n<p>        5.  The  suit  was  contested  by  filing  written  statement  by  the<br \/>\ndefendant, wherein it was contended inter alia that the defendant never placed<br \/>\noral order to supply materials without calling for tender.  Only after calling<br \/>\nfor  tender  and  execution  of  necessary  agreement thereto, orders would be<br \/>\npassed for supply of materials.  It is open to the plaintiff  to  claim  money<br \/>\nfor  the  supply effected as per the agreement entered into between them after<br \/>\nproducing the relevant records and vouchers signed by the authorities  of  the<br \/>\ndefendant.   NO  claim can be made on the basis of the plaintiff&#8217;s own voucher<br \/>\nor delivery note.  For supply of G.I.  pipes and specials  to  M.G.R.    Nagar<br \/>\nScheme,  the  plaintiff  has  become  successful  tenderer  for  the  value of<br \/>\nRs.3,18,279\/-.  As per the agreement, the price shall be firm through out  the<br \/>\nperiod of  supply as the time fixed was only one month.  The plaintiff did not<br \/>\nsupply the material as per the agreement but supplied only 14 percent  of  the<br \/>\ntotal quantity.    In  spite  of  repeated demands made, the plaintiff did not<br \/>\nadhere to the time schedule and made the supply, which resulted  in  issue  of<br \/>\nshow cause notice.  The agreement entered into is binding on the parties.  The<br \/>\ndefendant invoked  the  penal  clause  since  there  was  a breach.  The black<br \/>\nlisting the contractor and the enforcement of penal clause  in  the  agreement<br \/>\nare totally  two  different  acts.    Likewise,  the  plaintiff has become the<br \/>\nsuccessful tenderer for supply of G.I Spun pipes and specials to M.G.R.  Nagar<br \/>\nScheme and an agreement to the value of Rs.5,19,842\/- was entered into.   Here<br \/>\nalso,  as  per  the terms of the agreement, the price was to be firm excepting<br \/>\nfor variations in J.PC price of  piyrion  prevailing  on  the  date  of  their<br \/>\ntender.  The plaintiff did not commence supply and the plaintiff ought to have<br \/>\ncompleted  supply  of the materials within one month, but had supplied only 22<br \/>\npercent after a long interval of time.  The plaintiff  himself  has  suggested<br \/>\nfor cancellation  of  the  agreement.    The breach committed by the plaintiff<br \/>\ncalled for penalty and as such 10 percent of the value of  the  agreement  was<br \/>\nwithheld.  In respect of supply of G.I.  pipes and specials for Annai Sivagami<br \/>\nNagar  for  value  of Rs.2,52,3 65\/- plus taxes Ammaniammal Nagar for value of<br \/>\nRs.1,26,318\/- plus taxes Sivagami Ammaiyar Nagar for  value  of  Rs.1,26,318\/-<br \/>\nplus  taxes,  the  plaintiff  was  the  successful  tenderer, but breached the<br \/>\ncontract\/ tender.  Hence, the earnest money deposit was forfeited as  per  the<br \/>\nterms of the tender.  The claim of the plaintiff is unsustainable.  with these<br \/>\nallegations, the defendant\/respondent herein sought for dismissal of the suit.\n<\/p>\n<p>        6.  The learned Judge after taking into consideration of the materials<br \/>\nplaced  and  also  after  taking into consideration of the arguments advanced,<br \/>\nnon-suited the plaintiff\/appellant herein for the relief of  recovery  of  the<br \/>\namount,  which  has been forfeited by the defendant Board for violation of the<br \/>\ntender conditions.  The correctness of the said order is put in issue  in  the<br \/>\npresent appeal.\n<\/p>\n<p>        7.  The learned counsel appearing for the appellant has reiterated the<br \/>\nvery  same contentions raised before the learned Judge for supply of materials<br \/>\non oral orders.  For that purpose, he has relied on certain vouchers,  wherein<br \/>\nthe  order  numbers  are  quoted  and in certain other vouchers, no such order<br \/>\nnumber was mentioned.\n<\/p>\n<p>        8.  Though the vouchers and delivery challans were raised in favour of<br \/>\nthe respondent\/defendant, there is no material made  available  on  record  to<br \/>\nprove  that  the  goods  were supplied to the defendant on oral instruction or<br \/>\norders.  The defendant being a statutory body, cannot place  oral  orders  but<br \/>\nbound  to  call  for  tenders and place orders only after accepting the lowest<br \/>\ntender.  Unless the plaintiff is able to prove that the supply has  been  made<br \/>\non  oral  orders or directions as contended by them by clear evidence that the<br \/>\ndefendant used to receive the goods on oral orders, it  cannot  be  sustained.<br \/>\nIn the absence of any material evidence, and in the light of the oral evidence<br \/>\nof P.W.1, which has been denied by the defendant, it is not possible to accept<br \/>\nthe  case  of  the  appellant\/plaintiff  that  the  supply  of goods were made<br \/>\npursuant to the oral instructions or orders made by the  respondent\/defendant.<br \/>\nHence,  the  claim made as to the supply of materials on oral orders cannot at<br \/>\nall be sustained and the rejection of the same by the trial  Judge  cannot  at<br \/>\nall be complained off.\n<\/p>\n<p>        9.   The  learned  counsel  appearing  for the appellant relied on the<br \/>\ndecisions of SHAPOOR FREDOOM MAZDA VS.    DURGA  PROSAD  CHAMARIA  AND  OTHERS<br \/>\nreported in  AIR  1961  SUPREME  COURT  1236,  M\/S.L.C.MILLS  VS.    ALUMINIUM<br \/>\nCORPORATION OF INDIA reported in 1971 SUPREME COURT 1482 and P.D.  PILLAI  VS.<br \/>\nKALIYANIKUTTY  AMMA  reported  in  AIR  1995  KERALA 78 FULL BENCH in order to<br \/>\nsubstantiate  his  contention  that   the   goods   were   supplied   to   the<br \/>\ndefendant\/respondent  on  oral  orders placed by them and contended that there<br \/>\nwas a jural relationship of debtor and creditor.  In those cases, it was  held<br \/>\nthat  the acknowledgement as prescribed under Section 19 of the Limitation Act<br \/>\nmerely renews the date.  A mere acknowledgement of the liability in respect of<br \/>\nthe right in question is enough.  It need not be accompanied by a  promise  to<br \/>\npay either  expressly  or  even  implication.    So far as the present case is<br \/>\nconcerned, as stated already, there is absolutely no material  to  prove  that<br \/>\nsupply of material by the appellant\/plaintiff has been made on the oral orders<br \/>\nor directions  and  the  supply  has  been  received by the defendant.  In the<br \/>\nabsence of any material to prove that supply has been made  to  the  defendant<br \/>\nexcept  the  evidence  of  P.W.1,  which  has been categorically denied by the<br \/>\ndefendant, the reliance of the above three judgements would  not  in  any  way<br \/>\nadvance the case of the appellant.\n<\/p>\n<p>        10.   Yet  another  point,  which  was  very  vehemently argued by the<\/p>\n<p>learned counsel for the appellant is that the defendant  is  not  entitled  to<br \/>\nwithhold  any amount in view of Section 74 of the Contract Act without proving<br \/>\nthe actual loss or damage caused.\n<\/p>\n<p>        11.  There is no dispute as to the appellant was a  successful  bidder<br \/>\nin  respect  of  three  tenders  and  the earnest money deposit and additional<br \/>\nsecurity deposit deposited by the appellant\/plaintiff in accordance  with  the<br \/>\nterms  and  conditions  of  the  tender\/agreement entered into pursuant to the<br \/>\ntender and also the Madras Detailed Standard Specifications and the clauses in<br \/>\nthe standard preliminary specification would also form part of the  agreement,<br \/>\nwhich  provides  for  forfeiture of earnest money deposit, additional security<br \/>\ndeposit and ten percent of the value of the contract in case of default.    In<br \/>\nthe  admitted  factual  position, it was contended by the learned counsel that<br \/>\nunless or otherwise the actual loss or damage is proved, the defendant  cannot<br \/>\nforfeit the  same  in  view  of  Section  74  of the Indian Contract Act.  The<br \/>\nheading under which Section 34 was arrayed is  of  consequence  of  breach  of<br \/>\ncontract.  Section 74 of the Contract Act provides that<br \/>\n&#8220;when  a  contract  has  been broken, if a sum is named in the contract as the<br \/>\namount be paid in case of such breach, or if the contract contains  any  other<br \/>\nstipulation  by  way  of  penalty,  the  party  complaining  of  the breach is<br \/>\nentitled, whether or not actual damage or loss is proved to have  been  caused<br \/>\nthereby,  to  receive  from  the  party who has broken the contract reasonable<br \/>\ncompensation not exceeding the amount so named or, as the  case  may  be,  the<br \/>\npenalty stipulated for.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>        12.  As per the above said provision, the party faced with a breach of<br \/>\ncontract  is  not  compelled to prove the extent of loss or damage suffered by<br \/>\nhim in fact or actually.  He need not prove in an exact manner the  extent  of<br \/>\nreal loss  or  damages  suffered  by him.  Even if he fails to prove it, Court<br \/>\ncannot throw out his case on that ground,  but  must  proceed  to  assess  the<br \/>\nreasonable compensation, which is to be awarded to him on the materials before<br \/>\nthe  Court  and subject to the limit of the amount stipulated in the contract.<br \/>\nThere may be cases where the actual loss or  damage  is  incapable  of  proof.<br \/>\nFacts  of  such  case  may  be so complicated that it might be difficult for a<br \/>\nparty to prove the actual extent of loss or damage.  The  above  provision  of<br \/>\nthe Contract Act thus exempt such a party from such responsibility and enables<br \/>\nhim  to  claim  compensation in spite of not proving the actual extent of loss<br \/>\nand damages.\n<\/p>\n<p>        13.  The scope of Section 74 has been explained in  several  cases  by<br \/>\nthe Supreme Court.    In FATEH CHAND VS.  BALKISHAN DASS reported in AIR 1 963<br \/>\nSUPREME COURT 1405, while explaining the background of Section 7 4 of the Act,<br \/>\nthe Supreme Court observed thus:\n<\/p>\n<p>        &#8220;In assessing damages the Court has,  subject  to  the  limit  of  the<br \/>\npenalty  stipulated,  jurisdiction  to  award  such  compensation  as it deems<br \/>\nreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.    Jurisdiction<br \/>\nof  the  Court  to  award  compensation  in  case  of  breach  of  contract is<br \/>\nunqualified except as to the maximum stipulated; but compensation  has  to  be<br \/>\nreasonable,  and  that  imposes  upon  the  Court  duty  to award compensation<br \/>\naccording to settled principles.    The  Section  undoubtedly  says  that  the<br \/>\naggrieved  party  is  entitled  to receive compensation from the party who has<br \/>\nbroken the contract, whether or not actual damage or loss is  proved  to  have<br \/>\nbeen caused  by the breach.  Thereby it merely dispenses with proof of &#8220;actual<br \/>\nloss or damage&#8221;, it does  not  justify  the  award  of  compensation  when  in<br \/>\nconsequence  of  the  breach  no  legal  injury  at  all has resulted, because<br \/>\ncompensation for breach of contract can be awarded to make good loss or damage<br \/>\nwhich naturally arose in the usual course of things, or which the parties knew<br \/>\nwhen they made the contract, to be likely to result from the breach.\n<\/p>\n<p>        14.  In MAULA BUX VS.  UNION OF INDIA reported  in  AIR  1970  SUPREME<br \/>\nCOURT 1955, the Supreme Court held thus:\n<\/p>\n<p>        &#8220;Under  the  terms  of  the  agreements  the  amounts deposited by the<br \/>\nplaintiff as security for due performance  of  the  contracts  were  to  stand<br \/>\nforfeited in case the plaintiff neglected to perform his part of the contract.<br \/>\nThe  High  Court observed that the deposits so made may be regarded as earnest<br \/>\nmoney.  But that view cannot be accepted.  According to Earl  Jowitt  in  &#8220;The<br \/>\nDictionary of English Law&#8221; at p 689:  &#8220;Giving an earnest or earnest-money is a<br \/>\nmode  of  signifying assent to a contract of sale or the like by giving to the<br \/>\nvendor a nominal sum ( e.g.  A shilling) as a token that the  parties  are  in<br \/>\nearnest or have made up their minds.&#8221; As observed by the Judicial Committee in<br \/>\nChiranjit Singh Vs.  Har Swarup (AIR 1926 P C.1).\n<\/p>\n<p>        &#8220;Earnest Money is part of the purchase price when the transaction goes<br \/>\nforward  it  is  forfeited when the transaction falls through by reason of the<br \/>\nfault or failure of the vendee.\n<\/p>\n<p>In the present case the deposit was  made  not  of  a  sum  of  money  by  the<br \/>\npurchaser  to  be  applied towards part payment of the price when the contract<br \/>\nwas completed and till then as evidencing an intention  on  the  part  of  the<br \/>\npurchaser to  buy  property  or  goods.   Here the plaintiff had deposited the<br \/>\namounts claimed as security for guaranteeing due performance of the contracts.<br \/>\nSuch deposits cannot be regarded as earnest-money.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>        In this case also the EMD was deposited at the time of tender.  Though<br \/>\nthe nomenclature is so stated it cannot be regarded as earnest money  and  the<br \/>\namount can only be claimed as security for guaranteeing due performance of the<br \/>\ncontract.   This is also fortified by calling for the plaintiff to deposit the<br \/>\nadditional security amount depending upon the value of the contract.  The word<br \/>\nadditional security connotes what was deposited by the  plaintiff  as  EMD  is<br \/>\nonly a security.  The Supreme Court further proceeds as follows:<br \/>\n&#8220;It is true that in every case of breach of<br \/>\ncontract  the  person  aggrieved by the breach is not required to prove actual<br \/>\nloss or damage suffered by him before he can claim a decree and the  Court  is<br \/>\ncompetent to award reasonable compensation in case of breach even if no actual<br \/>\ndamage  is  proved  to  have  been  suffered  in  consequence of the breach of<br \/>\ncontract.  But the expression &#8220;Whether or not actual damage or loss is  proved<br \/>\nto  have  been  caused  thereby&#8221;  is  intended  to  cover different classes of<br \/>\ncontracts which come before the Courts.  In case of breach of  some  contracts<br \/>\nit may be impossible for the Court to assess compensation arising from breach,<br \/>\nwhile  in  other  cases  compensation  can  be  calculated  in accordance with<br \/>\nestablished rules.  Where the Court is unable to assess the compensation,  the<br \/>\nsum  named  by  the parties if it be regarded as a genuine pre-estimate may be<br \/>\ntaken into consideration as the measure of reasonable compensation, but not if<br \/>\nthe sum named is in the nature of a penalty.  Where loss in terms of money can<br \/>\nbe determined, the party claiming compensation must prove the loss suffered by<br \/>\nhim.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>        So far as the present case is concerned, there is no pleading  in  the<br \/>\nplaint  to  the  effect  that the actual damage caused has to be proved or the<br \/>\ndefendant never sustained any damage.  As stated already, in  this  case,  the<br \/>\ndamage  or  actual  loss  caused  can  not  be  easily  proved  because of the<br \/>\ncomplicity of contracts ente red into  for  the  project  of  construction  of<br \/>\ntenements  with  various  persons  and  the  delay  caused by the plaintiff in<br \/>\nnon-supplying  the  material  caused  delay  in  the  chain  of  contracts  in<br \/>\ncompleting the project at every stage.\n<\/p>\n<p>        15.  In  SHREE  HANUMAN  COTTON  MILLS AND ANOTHER VS.  TATA AIR CRAFT<br \/>\nLTD.  REPORTED IN AIR 1970 SUPREME COURT 1986, the Supreme Court held that  if<br \/>\nthe  person  contesting  the  forfeiture  of  earnest  money  deposit  or  the<br \/>\nadditional  security  deposit  as  unreasonable,  they  should  have  laid   a<br \/>\nfoundation  for  the  same by raising appropriate pleas and also let in proper<br \/>\nevidence regarding the same so that the respondent would have  an  opportunity<br \/>\nof making such claim.  Admittedly, in the case on hand, no such foundation has<br \/>\nbeen laid as to unreasonableness except saying that the forfeiture is invalid.<br \/>\nFor  be tter clarity , we feel it is appropriate to refer the relevant passage<br \/>\nof the Supreme Court:\n<\/p>\n<p>        &#8220;31.  The learned Attorney General very strongly urged that the  pleas<br \/>\ncovered by the second contention of the appellant had never been raised in the<br \/>\npleadings nor  in  the contentions urged before the High Court.  The questions<br \/>\nof the quantum of earnest deposit which was forfeited  being  unreasonable  or<br \/>\nthe  forfeiture  being by way of penalty, were never raised by the appellants.<br \/>\nThe Attorney General also pointed out that as noted  by  the  High  Court  the<br \/>\nappellants led no evidence at all and after abandoning the various pleas taken<br \/>\nin  the  plaint,  the only question pressed before the High Court was that the<br \/>\ndeposit was not by way of earnest and hence the amount could not be forfeited.<br \/>\nUnless  the  appellants  had  pleaded   and   established   that   there   was<br \/>\nunreasonableness  attached  to  the  amount required to be deposited under the<br \/>\ncontract or that the clause regarding forfeiture amounted to a stipulation  by<br \/>\nway  of a penalty the respondents had no opportunity to satisfy the Court that<br \/>\nno question of unreasonableness or the stipulation being  by  way  of  penalty<br \/>\narises.   He  further urged that the question of unreasonableness or otherwise<br \/>\nregarding earnest money does not at all arise when it is  forfeited  according<br \/>\nto the terms of the contract.\n<\/p>\n<p>        32.   In  our  opinion the learned Attorney General is well founded in<br \/>\nhis contention that the appellants raised no such contentions covered  by  the<br \/>\nsecond point,  noted above.  It is therefore unnecessary for us to go into the<br \/>\nquestion as to whether the amount deposited by the appellants, in this case by<br \/>\nway of earnest and forfeited as such, can be considered to  be  reasonable  or<br \/>\nnot.   We  express  no  opinion  on  the question as to whether the element of<br \/>\nunreasonableness can ever be considered regarding the forfeiture of an  amount<br \/>\ndeposited  by  way  of  earnest and if so what are the necessary factors to be<br \/>\ntaken into account in considering  the  reasonableness  or  otherwise  of  the<br \/>\namount deposited  by  way  of  earnest.  If the appellants were contesting the<br \/>\nclaim on any such grounds, they should have laid the foundation for  the  same<br \/>\nby  raising appropriate pleas and also led proper evidence regarding the same,<br \/>\nso that the respondents would have  had  an  opportunity  of  meeting  such  a<br \/>\nclaim.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>        16.  In UNION  OF  INDIA  VS.  RAMPUR DISTELLERY AND CHEMICAL CO.  LTD<br \/>\nreported in AIR 1973 SUPREME COURT 1098, the principle as enunciated in  MAULA<br \/>\nBUX VS.    UNION  OF  INDIA  reported  in AIR 1970 SUPREME COURT 1955 has been<br \/>\naccepted on the ground that the contract was of a nature  in  which  the  loss<br \/>\nalleged to  have  been caused could have been proved.  But on the facts of the<br \/>\ncase,  it  was  found  that  subsequently,  the  rum  contract  for  has  been<br \/>\nsubsequently supplied with accepted quality.  From the above said judgment, it<br \/>\nis  clear  that if the extent of loss or damages sustained is capable of being<br \/>\nproved, the same has to be proved by the person, who claims the  amount.    If<br \/>\nthe  quantification  of  loss  or  damage is not possible, the party, who have<br \/>\nsuffered on account of the breach is not without  any  remedy  and  claim  the<br \/>\namount as agreed to is found reasonable, he is entitled for.\n<\/p>\n<p>        17.   So  far  as  the present case is concerned, the defendant is the<br \/>\nstatutory body and the conditions for payment of earnest money deposit as well<br \/>\nas additional security deposit and withholding of ten percent of the value  of<br \/>\nthe contract  if the contractor breached the contract is standard for all.  It<br \/>\nis not thrusted or imposed on the appellant alone.  Further, in this case, the<br \/>\nnature of the contract is also supply of materials, for the purpose of putting<br \/>\nup of tenements and construction and laying down the pipe line  and  sewerage.<br \/>\nFor  that  purpose,  several  independent  contracts have been entered into as<br \/>\nstated above.  If the supply is delayed by breach of time schedule, it  causes<br \/>\ndelay  in  all  the  chain of subsequent stages in the project and that is the<br \/>\nreason the loss on breach has been reasonably pre-determined and mentioned  in<br \/>\nthe tender  and the agreement itself.  Because of the complicity of the nature<br \/>\nof the contract in the entire project, the exact loss and exact damages in the<br \/>\ncontract of the disputed nature cannot be assessed with certainty.  Hence,  we<br \/>\nare  of  the  view that the contention that the actual loss and actual damages<br \/>\nhave to be proved as raised by the appellant is not sustainable and  as  such,<br \/>\nwe  find  no  infirmity  in the judgment and decree of the learned trial Judge<br \/>\nwhile considering the material placed and also the evidence.\n<\/p>\n<p>        In the result, the Original side Appeal is dismissed.  However,  there<br \/>\nshall be no order as to costs.\n<\/p>\n<p>        (S.J.,J.) (K.R.P.,J.)<br \/>\n                                        11.07.2002<br \/>\nWebsite:  Yes<br \/>\nIndex:  Yes<br \/>\nusk<\/p>\n<p>To:\n<\/p>\n<p>The Sub Asst.Registrar<br \/>\nOriginal Side<br \/>\nHigh Court<br \/>\nMadras.\n<\/p>\n<p>S.JAGADEESAN,J.\n<\/p>\n<p>AND<br \/>\nK.RAVIRAJA PANDIAN,J<\/p>\n<p>JUDGMENT IN<br \/>\nO.S.A.No.6 OF 1994<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Madras High Court Preetam Singh (Died) vs Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on 11 July, 2002 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11\/07\/2002 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.JAGADEESAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAVIRAJA PANDIAN O.S.A.NO.6 OF 1994 1. Preetam Singh (died) 2. Anitha, P.C. 3. Vikram Singh Chhabria &#8230;. Appellants Appellants No.2 [&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":[8,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-high-court","category-madras-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Preetam Singh (Died) vs Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on 11 July, 2002 - 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\/preetam-singh-died-vs-tamil-nadu-slum-clearance-board-on-11-july-2002\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Preetam Singh (Died) vs Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on 11 July, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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