SUBBIAR Vs. MANIEM SUBRAMANIA AIYAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this suit the plaintiff asked that a certain deed of sale might be set aside. The deed of sale (Exhibit I) was executed between the plaintiff and the first defendant s husband. The second defendant is the purchaser from the first defendant and is now in possession of the laud in question. Now, the deed was registered, delivery of the deed was given to the first defendant s husband, and, as I have said, the second defendant is now in possession under his purchase from the first defendant. The consideration recited in the deed is Rs. 300.

(2.) The case for the plaintiff is that the real consideration for the deed was a promise by the first defendant s husband that he would maintain the plaintiff, who we are told, was an old man when the deed was executed, for the rest of his life.

(3.) The learned District Judge considered the question whether under Section 92 of the Indian Evidence Act oral evidence was admissible for the purpose of showing what was the real consideration for this deed of sale. The learned Judge came to the conclusion that such evidence was not admissible. For the purpose of considering the question whether the plaintiff is entitled to get this deed set aside I assume that it is open to the plaintiff to show by oral evidence that the real consideration for the deed of sale was not the consideration stated in the deed itself but the promise to maintain the plaintiff. I am of opinion that the plaintiff is not entitled to have this deed set aside. It is not found or alleged that there was coercion or undue influence, fraud or misrepresentation of any kind at the time when the deed of sale was registered and possession taken thereunder. That being so, the title to the properly in question under Section 54 of the Transfer of Property Act passed to the party to whom the conveyance was executed. I do not know that is contested. If it is necessary to cite authorities in support of that proposition I might refer to the decision in Sagagi v. Namdev (1899) I.L.R. 23 B. 525, Baijnath Singh v. Palta (1908) I.L.R. 30 A. 125 and the decision of this Court in Govindammal v. Gopalachariar . As regards the case last mentioned, the learned Judges did not decide the first point whether a suit would lie in the circumstances of that case by the party who executed the sale-deed to get it set aside. But it is an authority that the transfer of ownership of land by sale is effected on the execution and registration of the conveyance even though the price be not paid. So I think I may say that where the title passes, on failure of consideration or on failure to pay the agreed purchase money, the remedy of the vendor is not to have the deed of sale set aside but to recover the purchase money.