Specific Relief Act, 1963: s.20 – Discretion under – Exercise
of, scope – Held: Discretion under s.20 of the Act is required to be
exercised judiciously, soundly and reasonably – Plaintiff cannot
be punished by refusing the relief of specific performance despite
the fact that the execution of the agreement to sell in his favour was
established and proved and that he was found to be always ready
and willing to perform his part of the contract – Not to grant the
decree of specific performance despite the execution of the
agreement to sell and part sale consideration having been proved
and the plaintiff being always ready and willing to perform his part
of the contract would encourage the dishonesty – In such a situation,
the balance should tilt in favour of the plaintiff rather than in favour
of the defendant-executant of the agreement to sell, while exercising
the discretion judiciously.
Specific Relief Act, 1963: s.16(c) – Suit for specific
performance of the agreement to sell – Both, the Trial Court as well
as the First Appellate Court held all the issues in favour of the
plaintiff including the issue that the plaintiff was always ready and
willing to perform his part of contract – However, High Court in
exercise of powers under s.100 of the CPC reversed the concurrent
findings recorded by both the Courts below on readiness and
willingness, solely on the ground that there were no specific
averments in the plaint required as per s.16(c) of the Act – High
Court also allowed the appeal on the ground that the relief of specific
performance is the discretionary relief under s.20 of the Act and
that even though the execution of the agreement to sell is proved
and even the plaintiff was found to be always ready and willing to
perform his part of the obligation under the agreement to sell, the
decree of specific performance is not automatic and such grant of
decree is dependent upon the principles of justice, equity and good conscience – On appeal, held: High Court committed a grave error
in holding the issue with respect to readiness and willingness against
the plaintiff solely on the ground that there were no specific
averments/pleadings in the plaint as required under s.16(c) of the
Act – The fact that initially payment of Rs.25,000/- was made at the
time of execution of the agreement to sell and further sum of
Rs.15,000/- in two installments were paid at the time when the
subsequent two documents were executed for extension of time and
even the time was extended at the instance of defendant No.1 and
the balance amount of Rs.16,000/- was to be paid at the time of
execution of the sale deed proved that the plaintiff was always ready
and willing to perform his part of the contract under the agreement
to sell – Suit for specific performance of agreement of sell decreed.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908: s.100 – Scope of interference
– Held: There were concurrent findings of fact recorded by Trial
Court as well as First Appellate Court on readiness and willingness
on the part of the plaintiff, which were on appreciation of evidence
on record – Therefore, in exercise of powers under s.100 of the
CPC, High Court ought not to have interfered with such findings of
fact unless such findings are found to be perverse – The findings
recorded by the Trial Court as well as the First Appellate Court on
readiness and willingness on the part of the plaintiff showed that
they were not perverse and/or contrary to the evidence on record –
On the contrary, High Court had ignored the necessary aspects on
readiness and willingness including the conduct on the part of the
parties – Specific Relief Act, 1963 – s.16(c).