PERIANAMBI SRIRANGACHARIAR Vs. NARASIMHA AIYAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application to revise the order of the District Judge of Madura dismissing the appeal of the petitioner against the order of the Subordinate Judge declining to adjudicate him an insolvent. The learned Judge has held that it has not been shown that the petitioner was unable to pay his debts. When a debtor files an application to be adjudicated an insolvent under Section 24 of the Provincial Insolvency Act, he has to show that he is unable to pay his debts. But the proof that is required is only a prima facie proof, for proviso to Section 24 (a) provides that Where the debtor is the petitioner, he shall. for the purpose of proving his inability to pay his debts. be required to furnish only such proof as to satisfy the Court that there arc prima facie grounds for believing the same.

(2.) The mere fact that the debtor has large properties is no ground for holding that he is able to pay his debts. A man may have property but he may be unable to raise money to pay his debts and therefore the Court is not entitled to come to the conclusion that the man is unable to pay his debts because he has got properties the value of which is more than that of his debts he has to pay. This point was decided so long ago as 23 September, 1925, in a case reported in Narayanappa V/s. Bheemappa (1925) 24 L.W. 219 In holding an enquiry under Section 24 a Court is not entitled to consider whether the debtor has committed acts which would make him liable under the penal provisions of the Insolvency Act. In this case two issues were raised, issues Nos. 3 and 4, by the Subordinate Judge, which are as follows: (3) Is the petition bad on account of the suppression of prior insolvency proceedings? (4) Have the petitioners suppressed any of their assets?

(3.) These are not germane to the enquiry which a Court ought to hold under Section 24. The fact that the petitioner has not brought to the notice of the Court all his property is no ground for holding that he is able to pay his debts. I think the consideration of these two issues has materially prejudiced the Subordinate Judge in the disposal of the case for in paragraph 10 he remarks: In this case the debtors having suppressed a major portion of the properties, it is impossible for me to find that they are unable to pay their debts.