SHIBBA MAL Vs. GULAB RAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a defendants appeal arising out of a suit for dissolution of partnership and rendition of accounts. The appeal is against the order of a learned Single Judge of this Court who disposed of the case in second appeal. In August 1931 the plaintiff, defendant 1, and one Lachhman Das entered into a partnership. In November of the same year, Laohhman Das left the partnership and one Nanak Chand came in; in June 1932, Nanak Chand left the partnership and defendant 2 became a partner. Differences arose between defendants 1 and 2 and the plaintiff, and) in consequence the plaintiff filed the present suit for dissolution of the partnership and for accounts. The main defence to the suit was that inasmuch as the partner, ship was not registered in accordance with law the plaintiff was not entitled to a decree for accounts in view of the provisions of Section 69, Partnership Act. The suit was decreed by the learned Munsif. In appeal however it was dismissed in the lower Appellate Court. The learned Single Judge who heard the second appeal has restored the decree of the trial Court.

(2.) Before us in appeal it was maintained for the defendants that the suit as framed was incompetent inasmuch as in view of the provisions of Section 69(1), Partnership Act, no suit for accounts by one partner against the other lies where the partnership was not dissolved. Section 69 imposes certain disabilities upon unregistered firms. An unregistered firm cannot in view of the provisions of Section 69 sue a third party on a contract. The Section however in a proviso makes provision for suits for dissolution of a partnership and for accounts. The proviso is in the following terms: (3) The provisions of Sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply also to a claim of set-off or other proceedings to enforce a right arising from a contract, but shall not affect (a) the enforcement of any right to sue for the dissolution of a firm or for accounts of a dissolved firm, or any right or power to realize the property of a dissolved firm.

(3.) It would appear that the Legislature intended that no disability should be attach, ed to any partner in regard to winding up and accounting as between the partners on dissolution. For the appellants it was maintained however that so far as accounting was concerned a suit would lie only where the partnership had already been dissolved. If the partnership were not dissolved, it was contended, a suit for dissolution which Included a relief for accounts was incompetent at least so far as the claim for accounts was concerned. In support of this proposition reliance was placed upon the decision in Magan Behari Lal V/s. Ram Partap Singh, . A Bench of this Court hold in that case that a decree for rendition of accounts could not be granted where the partnership was unregistered because the decree to be granted under Order 20, Rule 15, Civil P.C., foil to be modified in view of the provisions of Section 69, Partnership Act. We are unable to agree. In our judgment, the Legislature intended to leave the right of a partner to sue for dissolution and accounts unaffected by the disabilities created by the provisions of Section 69, Partnership Act. It is not disputed that a partner of an unregistered firm in virtue of the above proviso to Section 69 may sue for dissolution of partnership. The proviso in so many words enjoins that the right to sue for dissolution shall remain unaffected. If a partner therefore of an unregistered firm sues for the dissolution of partnership he is entitled to the ordinary decree which the Court passes in such a suit. Provision is made for this decree in Order 20, Rule 15, Civil P.C. Rule 15 is in the following terms, viz.: Where a suit is for the dissolution of a partnership, or the taking of partnership accounts, the Court, before pausing a final decree, may pass a preliminary decree declaring the proportionate shares of the parties, fixing the day on which the partnership shall stand dissolved or be deemed to have been dissolved, and directing such accounts to be taken and other acts to be done, as it thinks fit.