RAMALINGA REDDI Vs. MUTHU THEVAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In these cases the lower Court has held no satisfactory trial. It has in each formulated the points for decision far too generally, and has failed to consider that the defendant in each set up a particular case in evidence, to which he had made no definite reference in his written statement. The conclusion that the debts sued for were contracted for gambling purposes is not clearly sufficient to render them irrecoverable with reference to Section 23 or 30, Indian Contract Act, since it might cover alike money lent (1) for payment to others for losses already incurred, or (2) to enable defendant to gamble in the future, or (3) even to pay the amount of loss already due to plaintiff for past play. It is not clear that money lent in each of these different sets of circumstances could be irrecoverable, vide, for instance Subbaraya v. Devandra 7 M. 301.

(2.) It is a further objection to these decisions that they do not refer to or contain any conclusions regarding the details of the defence evidence. For instance, in Small Cause No. 481, though the written statement denied receipt of consideration, the defendant in evidence admitted that in exchange for the promissory note chits, apparently representing costs, were given yet the judgment contains no reference to this. Nor do the other judgments to similar points.

(3.) In Civil Revision Petition No. 544 we consider that the lower Court has dealt with the evidence, as though the burden of proof regarding the passing of valid consideration were on plaintiff. It should have imposed it on defendant.