KOSALAI RAMA PILLAI Vs. PULOSTHIAM PILLAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) I am quite clear that in these cases before the Village Munsif there was no contract on which a suit could He. The plaints only allege that according to a village custom subscriptions are raised from persons of the caste of plaintiff and defendants for conducting a festival. It is not alleged that it was in consequence of any prior agreement by the defendants, plaintiff incurred the obligations, nor, so far as appears from the records, is there any proof therefor. The principle quoted by respondents in Kedarnath Bhattacharji V/s. Gone Mahomed 14 C. 64 : 7 Ind. Dec. (N.S.) 43 has, therefore, no application. All that is relied upon is a subsequent promise by petitioners to subscribe for the expenses already incurred by plaintiff and it 13, also neither alleged nor proved that there was any promise by petitioners to compensate plaintiff for something which plaintiff had already voluntarily done for the petitioners, hence Section 25(2) of the? Indian Contract Act will not avail.

(2.) So far as appears on these plaints and the judgment of the Village Munsif, the promise by petitioners to pay was purely voluntary for no legal consideration and payment is not, therefore, enforceable in law as payment of money due under a contract. Hence the Village Munsif, under Section 13 of the Village Courts Act, has no jurisdiction to entertain the plaints and his decrees are contrary to law.

(3.) Obviously, when decrees of Subordinate Courts are contrary to law, this Court should interfere I, therefore, reverse and set aside the order of the District Munsif dismissing the petitioner's petitions before him and set aside the decrees of the Village Munsif in these suits. Each petitioner will get his costs here and in the lower Court and share the Vakil's fee fixed at Rs. 50 (equal to Rs. 10 foreach case).