(1.) The legal issue which arises for consideration in the present appeal is whether K. Veluswamy, as a Karta, has legal authority to execute agreement to sell dated 8th December 2006 for sale of the suit land, being agricultural land - (i) Sy.No. 7/1P1, measuring 4 acres, 21 guntas of land; (ii) Sy.No. 7/1P2 measuring 5 acres of land; and (iii) Sy.No. 8/3P3 measuring 2 acres of land, in all 11 acres 21 guntas of wet land, situated in Bagganadu Kaval Village, J.G. Hally Hobli, Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District, Karnataka.
(2.) It is an accepted position that on 8th December 2006, K. Veluswamy as a Karta of the joint Hindu family had executed the agreement to sell of the suit property for Rs.29 lakhs and had received Rs.4 lakhs in advance from Beereddy Dasaratharami Reddy, the appellant before us. K. Veluswamy, the second respondent before us, has not entered appearance and contested this appeal. The appeal is contested by the first respondent before us, namely V. Manjunath, who is the son of K. Veluswamy. (For convenience, K. Veluswamy and V. Manjunath, wherever required have been collectively referred to the respondents).
(3.) On 26th November 2007, Beereddy Dasaratharmi Reddy instituted the suit for specific performance of the agreement to sell impleading both K. Veluswamy and V. Manjunath. The Court of Senior Civil Judge, Hiriyur decreed the suit vide judgment dated 22nd January 2013 rejecting the defence that the agreement was a camouflage for a loan agreement as K. Veluswamy was in need of money for construction of a farm house. K. Veluswamy as the Karta of the joint Hindu family property was entitled to execute the agreement to sell, which agreement being on account of legal necessity is valid.