SOMU ACHARI Vs. SINGARA ACHARI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The plaintiff executed Ex. P-1 in favour of his brother, Singara Achari, on 3 December 1929. The two were brothers find the plaintiff relinquished his share in the family properties for a sum of Rs. 150. The relevant part of this document runs thus: In respect of the properties belonging to both of us in 108 Narayana Mangalam, Nannilam taluk, Kodavasal Sub-district, Tanjore District, and in respect of my share therein, you shall yourself take the entire properties and discharge all the debts due and recover the out standings, if any. To this effect we have agreed, and in full quit of my right for a share, it is settled that I should take Rs. 150 and as I have received the said sum of Rs. 150 by the execution of a promissory note by you this date, I have no manner of right or claim in respect of the under mentioned family properties or the debts and outstandings. To this effect I have executed this release.

(2.) The promissory note was transferred to one Swaminatha Pathar who filed a suit upon it and obtained a decree. The decree-holder was unable to realise any amount and he thereafter assigned his decree under Ex. P-3 on 3 July 1942. The present suit was filed on 3 August 1942 to recover the amount of Rs. 150 with interest claiming a charge on the property. The charge claimed is that of the in paid vendor given under the Transfer of Property Act. It is found that defendant 2 is not a bona fide purchaser who took an alienation of the property without notice of the charge if one is to be held to exist in favour of the plaintiff. The only question therefore is whether there was a charge created under the Transfer of Property Act in favour of the plaintiff and whether the suit is in time. On the first question the lower Courts have held that the document is only a release and not a sale and that therefore the provisions of Section 55, T.P. Act, are not applicable. I am unable to agree with this conclusion. The document which has been set out clearly says that in full quit of the executant's right to a share he was to be paid Rs. 150. The definition of the sale contained in Section 54, T.P. Act, is satisfied in this case. Under Section 54, "sale" is a transfer of ownership in exchange for a price paid or promised or part-paid and part-promised. In the present case, a sum of Rs. 150 promised to be paid is the price. The price must no doubt be in money and that requirement is satisfied in this case. The answer would have been different if what was promised to the plaintiff under the document was some other property or something which is not money. Here, it is Rs. 150 which is the consideration and this part of the definition is therefore satisfied. Then it is said that the expression used is release and that a release is a mere relinquishment and does not operate as a transfer. It has been pointed out repeatedly by this, Court that what we have to do is to see all the terms of the document and consider whether there is not an intention that what was till then the right of the executant is being conveyed to the person in whose favour the document is executed. The word release is not conclusive. Doraiswami Pillai V/s. Chinnia Goundan ( 18) 5 A.I.R. 1918 Mad. 272 is in point. In that case, the plaintiff filed the suit on the footing that his father was adopted by the widow of the last male-holder. The adoption was denied by the defendants and thereupon the plaintiff armed himself with a document from a person who would be entitled to succeed to the property if the adoption of the plaintiff's father was not true or valid. The document was produced in Court and marked as Ex. R. By that document the executant released all his rights in favour of the plaintiff. It was contended that the document was only a release and not a conveyance. The learned Judges in dealing with this contention say at page 266: By that document the heir released all his rights in favour of the plaintiff. We cannot agree with the Subordinate Judge that Ex. E does not purport to be and is not a conveyance. The word used is release but the intention to transfer any rights which the executant of the document has is clear and we see no sufficient reason why it should not be treated as a conveyance.

(3.) In the present case, the right of the executant was to a half share in the entire family properties. That is made over to Singara Achari Jin consideration for a sum of Rs. 150. I hold that the document satisfies the terms of Section 54, T.P. Act. There is nothing in the Hindu law to prevent a member of a joint family from selling his share to another member of the family, and Ex. P-1 appears to me to be a sale of, this nature. Consequently Section 55, T.P. Act, applies and the plaintiff had a charge for the unpaid purchase money. It is not contended that the mere execution of a promissory note for the amount of the unpaid purchase money is a contract to the contrary within Section 55 of the Act.