TMI Blog2015 (8) TMI 1111X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... is of aunty and niece, between Pratima Chodhury and Sova Mukherjee. If on account of love and affection, for her niece, Pratima Chowdhury desired to transfer flat no. 5D which she had purchased for a consideration of ₹ 4 lakhs, she would have done so by transferring it to the name of her niece Sova Mukherjee. - It is, therefore, improper for the adjudicating authorities to have accepted the factum of close relationship of the parties, in so far as, the transfer of flat no. 5D, is concerned. There is hardly any justification for having accepted another important factual position depicted in the letters dated 11.11.1992 and 13.11.1992 - In the written reply filed before the Arbitrator, Kalpana Mukherjee took the express stance, that Pratima Chwodhury had transferred flat no. 5D to her name, by accepting a consideration of ₹ 4,29,000/-. She further asserted, that the aforesaid consideration had passed from Kalpana Mukherjee to Pratima Chowdhury through Partha Mukherjee. According to Kalpana Mukherjee, Partha Mukherjee transferred shares in his name valued at ₹ 4,29,000/-, to the name of Pratima Chowdhury. Per se therefore, even Kalpana Mukherjee denied the factual ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... he Arbitrator, is shown to be false. There was substance in the determination of the Arbitrator, specially on account of the fact that transfer of shares from the name of Partha Mukherjee to the name of Pratima Chowdhury came to be effected, well after the transfer of flat no. 5D to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee. For the above reason as well, the findings of fact recorded by the Co-operative Tribunal as well as by the High Court, are bound to be considered as having been recorded without taking into consideration all the material and relevant facts. Society sought the approval of the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies for the transfer of membership, as also, flat no. 5D to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee on 13.3.1995. Undoubtedly, Pratima Chowdhury had sought revocation, before the transfers under reference had assumed finality. It is in the above background, that one needs to evaluate the reply of the Society dated 10.4.1995. Through the letter dated 10.4.1995, Pratima Chowdhury was informed, that the Society had no authority to look into the matter, after the resolution of the Board of Directors dated 2.4.1995. We find the above explanation, untenable. It was imperativ ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ge space was transferred to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee, on 25.4.1995. The said transfer was not at the behest of, or with the concurrence of Pratima Chowdhury. - Co-operative Tribunal as well as the High Court, seriously erred in recording their conclusions. We are satisfied in further recording, that the Arbitrator was wholly justified in allowing the Dispute Case filed by Pratima Chowdhury, by correctly appreciating the factual and legal position. Order dated 16.5.2002 passed by the Co-operative Tribunal, and the order dated 14.2.2006 passed by the High Court, are hereby set aside. The determination rendered by the Arbitrator in his award dated 5.2.1999, is hereby affirmed. Kalpana Mukherjee is directed to handover the possession of flat no. 5D to Pratima Chowdhury, within one month from today. The Society is also directed to retransfer the shares of the Society earlier held by Pratima Chowdhury, and the ownership rights of flat no. 5D to the name of Pratima Chowdhury, without any delay. - Decided in favour of Appellant. - CIVIL APPEAL NO. 1938 OF 2014 (Arising out of SLP (Civil) Nos. 15252 of 2006) - - - Dated:- 10-2-2014 - P Sathasivam Jagdish Singh Khehar, JJ. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nd license, for a period of three years (with effect from 1.4.1992), for the residence of Partha Mukherjee. The pleadings also reveal, that with effect from 1.4.1992, Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited, took the aforesaid flat on a monthly rent of ₹ 5,000/-. The above said monthly rent, was deposited in the joint account of the petitioner Pratima Chowdhury and Partha Mukherjee. 4. On 29.6.1992, the petitioner Pratima Chowdhury addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Society, requesting the Society to transfer flat no. 5D to the name of her nominee Kalpana Mukherjee. The letter dated 29.6.1992 of Pratima Chowdhury, made some express factual disclosures. Firstly, that she was not in good health. Secondly, that she was not in a position to move to Calcutta from Bombay in the near future. Thirdly, that Kalpana Mukherjee was already residing in the flat in question along with Partha Mukherjee. Fourthly, that above nominee Kalpana Mukherjee was her close relative. In addition to the request of transfer of flat no. 5D in favour of her nominee Kalpana Mukherjee, Pratima Chowdhury also informed the Society through her letter dated 29.6.1992, that all municipal taxes and service c ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... na Mukherjee for membership had not been submitted in the proper format. It was also pointed out, that the original affidavit had not been appended to the application. Lastly, it was brought out, that the Salary Certificate, Income Tax Clearance Certificate and Professional Tax Certificates had not been appended to the application of Kalpana Mukherjee, for the transfer of the flat in her name. On 22.9.1993, the Secretary of the Society provided all the required documents sought by the Department of the Co-operative Societies. 10. Partha Mukherjee was transferred by his employer Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited, from Calcutta to Bombay. Consequently, Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited terminated the agreement executed by it with Pratima Chowdhury on 19.10.1993, with immediate effect. In the letter dated 19.10.1993, Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited required Partha Mukherjee to hand over vacant possession of flat no. 5D to Pratima Chowdhury, after refund of security. On 21.10.1993, Kalpana Mukherjee, from her own account, deposited rent in the Bank account of Pratima Chowdhury. On 28.10.1993, Partha Mukherjee addressed a letter to P.R. Keswani, Company Secretary of Colgate Palmoli ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ter dated 22.3.1995, depicts the fact that Pratima Chowdhury was unaware of the deliberations of the Society, as also, the approval (of the deliberations of the Society), by the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, on 13.3.1995. In pursuit of the same objective, Pratima Chowdhury wrote another letter dated 28.3.1995, to the Secretary of the Society. She enclosed therewith, the letter which she had addressed to the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies dated 22.3.1995. Therein, she again reiterated, that her request for transfer of membership in favour of Kalpana Mukherjee be treated as withdrawn. In order to consider the request made by Pratima Chowdhury in her letter dated 22.3.1995 (to the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies) and the letter dated 28.3.1995 (to the Secretary of the Society); the Society convened a meeting of the Board of Directors on 2.4.1995. Rather than considering the issue on merits, the Board of Directors resolved, that it had no legal competence to restore the membership of the Society, as also, the retransfer of the ownership of the flat no. 5D, to Pratima Chowdhury. Having so resolved, the Secretary of the Society forwarded a copy of the resol ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... that the same had been duly acknowledged on 6.3.1995. The petitioner highlighted the fact, that the approval of the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies should not have been sought (by the Secretary of the Society), after the receipt of the petitioner s communication dated 28.2.1995. 16. Since, the petitioner was not communicated any determination, by the concerned authorities. She addressed a notice on 9.9.1995, calling upon the Secretary of the Society, to deliver the possession of the flat no. 5D, along with the share certificates, to her within seven days of the receipt of the said notice. On 21.11.1995, the Society denied all the allegations made by the petitioner against the Society (contained in the notice). On the claim of retransfer of the shares and flat made by the petitioner, the Society responded by asserting, that the shares had been transferred to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee, and on the basis thereof flat no. 5D also had been transferred in her name, thereupon, the Society did not have any legal authority to restore/retransfer the same to the name of the petitioner. On 19.12.1995, the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies also informed Pratima Chowdhury, ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... D to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee was approved at the request of Pratima Chowdhury, made through her letter dated 11.11.1992. It was submitted, that the aforesaid request was considered by the Department of Co-operative Societies, which approved the resignation of Pratima Chowdhury and the consequential transfer of membership vide Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Society dated 14.2.1993. The above resolution had been forwarded by the Secretary of the Society, to the Deputy Registrar, Co- operative Societies (by letter dated 10.3.1993), for approval. It was pointed out that the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies had approved the Resolution of Board of Directors of the Co-operative Societies on 13.3.1995. Additionally, it was pointed out, that after the approval of the change of membership to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee, the petitioner Pratima Chowdhury had required the Senior Commercial Executive of Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, to transfer the electricity-supply meter of flat no. 5D to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee. According to the Society, the above facts clearly evidenced the unequivocal intention of Pratima Chowdhury to transfer her shares and flat n ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ng the contents thereof. The categoric stance adopted by Pratima Chowdhury in her rejoinder was, that she was not aware of the contents of letter dated 11.11.1992, and furthermore, Partha Mukherjee had obtain her signature on other blank papers as well, by falsely informing her that the papers would be used to explain his stay in flat no. 5D. She also denied having executed the document dated 13.11.1992, which was allegedly notarized at Calcutta. In fact she denied her presence at Calcutta on 13.11.1992. She further stated, that Partha Mukherjee did not remain in employment of Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited after his transfer to Bombay. It was also pointed out by her, that on his return to Bombay, Partha Mukherjee started his independent business in aluminium products. For the said business Pratima Chowdhury claims to have advanced a loan of ₹ 2 lakhs to Partha Mukherjee. The loan stated to have been extended to Partha Mukherjee was by way of a cheque drawn in favour of Bharat Aluminium Company, for the supply of raw material for the business of Partha Mukherjee. She further contended, that Partha Mukherjee also took loan of ₹ 1,50,000/- from Bani Roy (sister of the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tracted hereunder: QUESTIONS OF FACT INVOLVED i) Whether the Plaintiff tendered resignation on 11.11.92 from the membership of the Society or not. ii) Was the document executed on 13.11.92 a deed of transfer of flat or an agreement for transfer of flat. iii) Whether consideration money was paid by the Defendant no. 1 to the plaintiff or not. iv) Whether the payment of consideration money by way of transfer of shares of companies can be treated as valid payment of consideration money or not. v) Whether the Defendant no. 2 accepted the admission of the membership of the Defendant no. 1 on 14.2.93 or vi) Whether the flat in question was encumbered due to existence of lease and license agreement at the material point of time i.e. on 11.11.92 or on 13.11.92. QUESTIONS OF LAW INVOLVED i) Whether the instant dispute is barred by law of limitation. ii) Whether sub-section 9 of section 85 of West Bengal Co- Operative Societies Act, 1983 was followed in case of transfer of flat in question of the plaintiff. iii) Whether section 69 and 70 of the West Bengal Co-Operative Societies Act 1983 were followed in respect of admission of membership of the Defendan ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... completely absent from the text of the letter dated 11.11.1992. (ii) In respect of letter dated 13.11.1992 the Arbitrator pointed out, that the same was notarized by S.N. Chatterjee, Advocate, who was the son- in-law of the sister of Kalpana Mukherjee (defendant No. 1, before the Arbitrator). Although, the above notary stated that the letter dated 13.11.1992 was signed by all the parties concerned before him at Calcutta, he acknowledged, that he did not issue any notarian certificate in terms of Section 8 of the Notary Act. According to the Arbitrator, Pratima Chowdhury and all the witnesses appearing for her, had unequivocally and categorically affirmed, that she (Pratima Chowdhury) was in Bombay on 11.11.1992, as also, on 13.11.1992. Therefore, according to the Arbitrator, the question of her appearing before the notary at Calcutta on 13.11.1992, did not arise at all. According to the Arbitrator, the registration number of the Society had not been mentioned in the document dated 13.11.1992, this according to the Arbitrator, made the document suspicious because Anil Kumar Sil, the Secretary of the Society, had mentioned that the above document dated 13.11.1992 was executed at ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... sferring his shares in different companies to the name of Pratima Chowdhury. But Pratima Chowdhury categorically denied the passing of any consideration, as she had no intention to sell the property. She also asserted, that the shares shown to have been transferred from the name of Partha Mukherjee to the name of Pratima Chowdhury, were acquired by Partha Mukherjee long after November, 1992 (when the letters dated 11.11.1992 and 13.11.1992 were issued) i.e. from August, 1993 to April, 1994. The details of the transfer of shares was disclosed in the award passed by the Arbitrator as under:- COMPANY S NAME NO. OF SHARES ACQUIRED Tata Chemicals Ltd. 50 nos. 8.9.93 Tata Chemicals Ltd. 450 nos. 27.10.93 Siemens 50 nos. 2.8.93 Indian Aluminium 500 nos. 4.3.94 I.T.C. Hotels 100 nos. acquired with Mr. H.P. Roy 4.4.94 The above shares were acquired by Partha Mukherjee jointly, either with his wife or with his father-in-law, long after the material point of time. Pratima Chowdhury s assertion before the Arbitrator, questioning truthfulness of the assertion of Kalpana Mukherjee, was also based on the fact that, Kalpana Mukherjee (or Partha Mukherjee) could not have agreed to transfer ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... o Pratima Chowdhury. To deposit the above consideration Partha Mukherjee opened a joint account in the names of Pratima Chowdhury and himself. The Arbitrator noted, that when Partha Mukherjee drafted the letter dated 11.11.1992, he utterly neglected to mention the subsisting lease and license agreement between Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited and Pratima Chowdhury. The Arbitrator also noticed, that Kalpana Mukherjee did not inform Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited that flat no. 5D had been transferred from the name of Pratima Chowdhury to her name. On the contrary the Arbitrator pointed out, that Kalpana Mukherjee on 21.10.1993, deposited rent in the account of Pratima Chowdhury, by filing the bank deposit slips. Furthermore, the Arbitrator noticed, that Partha Mukherjee in his letter dated 28.10.1993 mentioned, that Pratima Chowdhury as the landlady of flat no. 5D. According to the Arbitrator, the above factual position clearly indicates, that Kalpana Mukherjee along with her son Partha Mukherjee were aware, that flat no. 5D belonged to the petitioner, even on 21/28.10.1993. Whereas, they wrongly depicted the transfer thereof from the name of Pratima Chowdhury to the name of Kalp ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e 135(3)(a), Rule 142(1) have been flouted. 3) Bye-laws have been contradicted. 4) No consideration money was paid by the Defendant no. 1 to the Plaintiff. 5) Societies accepted the resignation of the Plaintiff on 14.2.93 which she had not tendered, if that be so, the society did not act as per Rule 143 also. 6) The flat in dispute was under the lease and license agreement at the material time since bank account in this respect was operated by the son of the Defendant no. 1 who also deposited cheque on Plaintiff s behalf. 7) The instant dispute case is not barred by limitation. 8) The transaction of 13.11.92 does not attract the doctrine of estoppel. 21. Based on the abovementioned conclusions drawn by the Arbitrator on the factual and legal issues canvassed by the rival parties. The Arbitrator passed the following award: AWARD Keeping in view of the above, based on documents, assessing all the pros and cons, on the basis of equity, justice and good conscience, I pass the following AWARD : a) The agreement dt. 13.11.92 between the Plaintiff and Defendant no. 1 is invalid, void and incomplete and b) The relevant r ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Balvediare Road, Alipur. Partha Mukherjee, Son of K. Mukherjee is an Engineer from I.I.T., Kharagpur and obtained M.B.A. from Ahmedabad and at the material time worked as Sales Manager/Regional Manager of Colgate Palmolive Ltd. in Bombay, Calcutta and other places. Partha Mukheree married Sova Mukherjee, who was the daughter of H.P. Roy of Bombay. P. Chowdhury, her sister Bani, H.P. Roy, Partha and Sova, all lived together for a prolonged period of time in the house of H.P. Roy at Bombay. Partha married Sova sometimes in 1987 and little after marriage, he and Sova started living in the house of H.P. Roy. Evidence has it to say that the relationship of Pratima with Sova Rinki is, as Pratima herself says, like my daughter . Similarly, the evidence of Pratima runs that after marriage, her relationship with Partha was like my son . In 1992, Partha worked for Palmolive Co. Ltd. in Bombay and while working there he, as we have earlier observed, would stay in the house of H.P. Roy. In January, 1992, Pratima was allotted a flat being no. 5B at 48E, Gariahat Road, Calcutta-19 belonging to the society. The said flat was originally allotted to Smt. Indrani Bhattacharya and the said Smt. Ind ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... determination rendered by the Arbitrator was erroneous on account of the fact that the Arbitrator did not take into consideration a letter of vital importance to the controversy. In this behalf, the Co-operative Tribunal examined the letter dated 29.6.1992, which Pratima Chowdhury had written to the Society, wherein she had indicated that due to her indifferent health, she was not in a position to visit Calcutta in the immediate future. She accordingly requested the Society to transfer her flat to my nominee Kalpana Mukherjee, a close relative of mine . In the above letter Pratima Chowdhury had also stated, that Kalpana Mukherjee was already occupying the flat, and was staying in it with her son (Partha Mukheree), and her daughter-in-law (Sova Mukherjee). She accordingly requested the Society, that for the maintenance of the flat, charges payable should be recovered from the residents of the flat. It would be relevant to mention, that Pratima Chowdhury had accepted having written the above letter (in the rejoinder filed by her before the Arbitrator). Despite the above Pratima Chowdhury had explained, that the letter dated 29.6.1992 had been signed by her at the instance of Partha ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... s indicated in document dated 29.6.1992. It was mentioned, that on account of her (Pratima Chowdhury s) indifferent health and on account of having decided to permanently settle in Bombay, she had agreed to transfer the flat no. 5D in favour of Kalpana Mukherjee. It was also duly recorded in the above document, that possession of flat no. 5D had already been handed over to Kalpana Mukhrjee. It was also pointed out, that Kalpana Mukherjee had already applied for membership of the Society, whereafter, she would be entitled to all rights and privileges over flat no. 5D in terms of the bye-laws of the Society. According to the Co-operative Tribunal, Pratima Chowdhury did not deny execution of document dated 13.11.1992. As per the Co-operative Tribunal, the submission of Pratima Chowdhury about having signed a blank paper, on which Partha Mukherjee had executed the document dated 13.11.1992, was not acceptable. The Co-operative Tribunal was of the view, that Pratima Chowdhury having admitted her signatures on the document dated 13.11.1992, it was not open to her to deny the execution thereof. For the same reason, the Co-operative Tribunal rejected the contention advanced on behalf of Pr ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... elt, that it could not be conclusively held, that Pratima Chowdhury had no intention to transfer flat no. 5D in the name of Kalpana Mukherjee. In fact, according to the Co-operative Tribunal, the issue of passing of consideration and the issue of transfer of the property were two independent issues. The said issues, according to the Tribunal, had to be determined as per the totality of the circumstances of the case. On the instant aspect of the matter the Co-operative Tribunal expressed the view, that the rival parties were tied up by a matrimonial relationship, inasmuch as, the niece (Sova Mukherjee) of Pratima Chowdhury was the cementing factor, of their relationship. Accordingly, whether or not consideration had passed between the parties, could not be considered as a decisive factor. In fact, the Co-operative Tribunal was pleased to further conclude, Even assuming for the sake of argument that no monetary transaction was involved, the factum of transfer is not abrogated thereby . According to the Co- operative Tribunal, the provisions of the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, and the Rules framed thereunder, do not mandate, that transfer could only be made by way of sale. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... a dispute in respect of the transfer of flat no. 5D only after a marital discord had developed between Partha Mukherjee and Sova Mukherjee. vii) According to the Co-operative Tribunal the question as to why Kalpana Mukherjee was not made a nominee in January, 1992 when she was put in possession of the flat, lies in the fact that since 1987, Kalpana Mukherjee s son Partha Mukherjee had been residing in Bombay with his father in law H.P. Roy and Pratima Chowdhury. According to the Co- operative Tribunal, the Arbitrator recorded a useless reasoning, that the nomination in favour of Kalpana Mukherjee was not acceptable. Referring to Sections 79 and 80 of the West Bengal Co-Operative Societies Act, the Co-operative Tribunal expressed the view, that it was not compulsory that transfer of nomination could only be in favour of a member of the family of the person making the nomination. According to the Co-operative Tribunal, the letters/documents dated 29.6.1992, 11.11.1992 and 13.11.1992 were sufficient proof of the nomination by Pratima Chowdhury in favour of Kalpana Mukherjee. It was also pointed out, that the Society had accepted the above nomination, which was approved by the Dep ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... It was argued before the Co-operative Tribunal, that when the lease and license agreement came to an end, Partha Mukherjee wrote a letter to Colgate Palmolive India Limited informing it of the termination of the lease and license agreement by asserting, that Landlady refunded back the security deposit of ₹ 60,000/- . Factually, Partha Mukherjee had deposited the above amount of ₹ 60,000/-, in the Calcutta office of Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited. It was argued before the Co-operative Tribunal, that the use of the expression landlady by Partha Mukherjee, was indicative of the fact that the transfer of flat no. 5D had actually not taken place. According to the Co-operative Tribunal, the aforesaid argument was not acceptable because in the eyes of Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited, Pratima Chowdhury was a landlady and accordingly it was not required that Partha Mukherjee should inform Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited, that Pratima Chowdhury had transferred flat no. 5D to the name of his mother Kalpana Mukherjee. Based on the aforesaid findings recorded by the Co-operative Tribunal, both the appeals were allowed. The impugned award passed by the Tribunal dated 5.2 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of the view, that the stance adopted by Pratima Chowdhury was impermissible under the principle of justice and equity, the doctrine of fairness, as also, the doctrine of estoppel. This aspect of the matter came to be examined in the following manner:- After due consideration of all relevant facts and materials it appears that there could be very little scope for the society to recall its stand just because after about three years, Pratima Chwodhury decided otherwise. In fact resolution of the dated 14.2.1993 was forwarded to the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies with recommendation for transfer of flat and shares in favour of Kalpana Mukherjee as far back as on 10.3.1993. It appears that the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, asked for certain document on 26.7.1993, which were submitted by the society on 22.9.1993. Thereafter, membership of Kalpana Mukherjee in place of Pratima Chowdhury was approved. Thus, backing out by Pratima Chowdhury after about three years of her own consistent request for transfer in favour of Kalpana Mukherjee and her request to C.E.S.C. to transfer electric meter, cannot have any support in the eyes of law. Pratima Chowdhury also did not ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... , and the souring of the relationship between the two spouses, i.e., Partha Mukherjee and Sova Mukherjee. Having examined the dispute in the aforesaid prospective, the High Court observed as under:- On behalf of the petitioner it was also submitted that the learned Tribunal failed to appreciate the findings of the learned Arbitrator arrived at after proper appreciation of the evidence in the said proceeding. The learned Tribunal seem to be in agreement with the view that the document dated 13.11.1992 cannot be called as a proper and complete document of transfer. The learned Tribunal, thereafter explored as to whether such a document is at all necessary for effecting transfer of an apartment by a member to another person. Relying upon the letters dated 29.6.1992 and 11.11.1992 and quite rightly, without attempting to read more than what meets the eyes, the learned Tribunal held that Pratima Chowdhury by such letters, expressed her desire to transfer the flat in favour of her nominee Kalpana Mukherjee. This was quite relevant in the context of relationship between two families arising out of the marital tie. It cannot be said that the learned Tribunal was not at all justified ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... rcumstances of the present case, were not seen to have nay legs, to stand upon. Having recorded the aforesaid findings, the High Court in its conclusion recorded the following observations:- But, as observed earlier, the judgment and order under challenge does not seem to be suffering from any such infirmity or jurisdictional error, which calls for or justifies any interference by this Court. Based on the analysis of the controversy in the manner summarized hereinabove, the High Court dismissed the challenge raised by Pratima Chowdhury by a common order dated 14.2.2006. The common order passed by the Co-operative Tribunal dated 16.5.2002, and the common order passed by the High Court dated 14.2.2006 were assailed by Pratima Chowdhury by filing Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) no. 15252 of 2006. 24. Leave granted. 25. The factual narration recorded by us, the circumstances taken into consideration by the Arbitrator, and the Co-operative Tribunal, as also, the analysis of the High Court have all been detailed hereinabove. Suffice it to state, that there were no further facts besides those already referred to hereinabove, which were brought to our notice during the course o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... r had recorded his findings in his award dated 5.2.1999. We are therefore of the view, that the Arbitrator had acted in accordance with law, and therefore the exclusion from consideration, of the factual position asserted by Pratima Chowdhury in her rejoinder, by the Co- operative Tribunal and the High Court was wholly unjustified. The factual narration by Pratima Chowdhury, could not be excluded from consideration, while adjudicating upon the rival claims between Pratima Chowdhury and Kalpana Mukherjee. The instant aspect of the decision of the High Court, is therefore liable to be set aside, and is accordingly set aside. Just the instant determination, would result in a whole lot of facts which were not taken into consideration by the adjudicating authorities, becoming relevant. Despite that, we feel, that remanding the matter for a denovo consideration, would place a further burden on the parties. Having heard learned counsel at great length, we shall settle the issues finally, here and now. 27. The Co-operative Tribunal in its order dated 16.5.2002 had invoked the principle of estoppel, postulated in Section 115 of the Indian Evidence Act. The High Court affirmed the conclus ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ew, none of the ingredients of principle of estoppel contained in Section 115 of the Indian Evidence Act, can be stated to have been satisfied, in the facts and circumstances of this case. Herein, the first party has made no representation. The second party has therefore not accepted any representation made to her. Furthermore, the second party has not acted in any manner, nor has the second party altered its position. Therefore, the question whether the restoration of the original position would be iniquitous or unfair does not arise at all. Even if consideration had passed from Kalpana Mukherjee to Pratima Chowdhury, on the basis of the representation made by Pratima Chowdhury, we could have accepted that Kalpana Mukherjee had altered her position. In the facts as they have been presented by the rival parties, especially in the background of the order passed by the Arbitrator, that no consideration had passed in lieu of the transfer of the flat, and especially in the background of the factual finding recorded by the Co-operative Tribunal and the High Court, that passing of consideration in the present controversy was inconsequential, we have no hesitation whatsoever in concluding ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... to change his/her position. In such a case, the former shall be estopped from going back on the word given. The principle of estoppel is, however, only applicable in cases where the other party has changed his position relying upon the representation thereby made. (emphasis is ours) As already noticed hereinabove, none of the ingredients of estoppel can be culled out from the facts and circumstances of the present case. In view of above, we hereby set aside the determination by the Co-operative Tribunal, as also the High Court, in having relied on the principle of estoppel, and thereby, excluding the pleas/defences raised by Pratima Chowdhury to support her claim. 28. The admitted factual position in the present controversy, in our considered view, is absolutely clear and unambiguous. Had the different adjudicating authorities taken into consideration the undisputed factual position, there ought not to have been much difficulty in resolving the difficulty. We shall highlight a few relevant admitted facts which crossed our mind while hearing the matter and whilst recording the order:- (i) The reason for transferring flat no. 5D indicated in the letters dated 11.11.1992 and 13 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of ₹ 4,29,000/-. She further asserted, that the aforesaid consideration had passed from Kalpana Mukherjee to Pratima Chowdhury through Partha Mukherjee. According to Kalpana Mukherjee, Partha Mukherjee transferred shares in his name valued at ₹ 4,29,000/-, to the name of Pratima Chowdhury. Per se therefore, even Kalpana Mukherjee denied the factual position indicated in the above letters, whereby flat no. 5D was transferred from the name of Pratima Chowdhury, to that of Kalpana Mukherjee. (iii) The letters dated 11.11.1992 and 13.11.1992 expressly recorded, that the factual position narrated in the above letters was on account of compliance with the rules regulating such transfer, and also, for avoiding future complications . In view of the factual position noticed in the foregoing paragraphs, it is apparent, that false facts were being recorded for compliance with the rules and regulations, as also, for avoiding future complications. One would have appreciated the recording of consideration in lieu of the transfer of property from the name of Pratima Chowdhury to that of Kalpana Mukherjee, to avoid future complications, rather than withholding the same. It is clea ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Kalpana Mukherjee claims to have been transferred in lieu of consideration (to the name of Pratima Chowdhury), were shown to have been acquired on or after 8.9.1993. The dates of acquisition of the said shares, as were recorded in the order passed by the Arbitrator, which position has not been disputed before us, are as follows:- COMPANY S NAME NO. OF SHARES ACQUIRED Tata Chemicals Ltd. 50 nos. 8.9.93 Tata Chemicals Ltd. 450 nos. 27.10.93 Siemens 50 nos. 2.8.93 Indian Aluminium 500 nos. 4.3.94 I.T.C. Hotels 100 nos. acquired with Mr. H.P. Roy 4.4.94 It is therefore apparent, that Partha Mukherjee did not even have the shares referred to by the transferee Kalpana Mukherjee, in his name, when the transfer documents were executed on 11.11.1992 and 13.11.1992, or even on 14.2.1993 when the Board of Directors of the Society, passed the transfer resolution. The above shares are shown to have been transferred to the name of Pratima Chowdhury on 16.12.1994. Well before 16.12.1994, even according to the stance adopted by Kalpana Mukherjee, Pratima Chowdhury had executed all the transfer documents. It is therefore difficult to accept, that the parties had agreed to pass on cons ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the determination of the Arbitrator, specially on account of the fact that transfer of shares from the name of Partha Mukherjee to the name of Pratima Chowdhury came to be effected, well after the transfer of flat no. 5D to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee. For the above reason as well, the findings of fact recorded by the Co-operative Tribunal as well as by the High Court, are bound to be considered as having been recorded without taking into consideration all the material and relevant facts. (vi) The fact that Pratima Chowdhury had addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Society, dated 28.2.1995, for withdrawal of her earlier letter dated 11.11.1992, is not in dispute. It is also not a matter of dispute, that at the time when Pratima Chowdhury addressed the above letter, neither the transfer of membership, nor the transfer of the flat, had assumed finality. The transfer of membership, as also the transfer of the flat, would assume finality only upon the approval of the same by the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies. The factual position emerging from the record of the case reveals, that the Society sought the approval of the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies for t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... non- consideration clearly invalidates the approval granted by the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies. (viii) The veracity of the execution of the documents dated 11.11.1992 and 13.11.1992 by Pratima Chowdhury, was also examined by the Arbitrator. In the above examination, the Arbitrator arrived at the conclusion, that Pratima Chowdhury was in Bombay and not in Calcutta when the above documents were executed. The above finding was recorded on the basis of three witnesses produced on behalf of the complainant (before the Arbitrator). While rejecting the conclusion drawn by the Arbitrator, the Co-operative Tribunal overlooked the statements of the witnesses produced by Pratima Chowdhury, merely because the notary was an Advocate. The Co- operative Tribunal reasoned, that the statement of S.N. Chatterjee, an Advocate, had to be given more weightage, than the witnesses produced by Pratima Chowdhury. The above determination at the hands of the Co- operative Tribunal, besides being perverse, is also totally unacceptable in law. In the facts and circumstances of the present case, the statement of the notary should have been rejected and discarded, simply because the notary in his ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Limited, wherein, he described Pratima Chowdhury as the landlady . Undoubtedly, if the documents relied upon by Kalpana Mukherjee were genuine, Partha Mukherjee would not have acknowledged the ownership of Pratima Chowdhury over flat no. 5D (on 28.10.1993). These aspects of the matter were totally overlooked by the Co- operative Tribunal, as well as, by the High Court. These were vital facts, and needed to be examined, if the order passed by the Arbitrator was to be interfered with. In the absence of such consideration, the findings of fact recorded by the Co-operative Tribunal and by the High Court, are bound to be considered as perverse. Since the factual position attributed to the actions of 21.10.1993 and 28.10.1993, which emanated and emerged from Kalpana Mukherjee and Partha Mukherjee respectively, we are of the view that entire sequence of transfer, is rendered doubtful and suspicious. (x) The determination of the Arbitrator, on the subject of the transfer of the covered garage, to the name of Kalpana Mukherjee was also overlooked by the Co-operative Tribunal, as well as, by the High Court. From the facts already narrated above, it is clear that Pratima Chowdhury, had o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... in the house of H.P. Roy and Bani Roy. Bani Roy, as stated above, is the sister of Pratima Chowdhury. H.P. Roy is a wealthy person. Partha Mukherjee son of Kalpana Mukherje, is an engineering graduate from IIT, Kharagpur. He also possesses the qualification of MBA, which he acquired from Ahmedabad. Originally Partha Mukherjee was employed as Sales Manager/Regional Manager with Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited, at Bombay. Partha Mukherjee married Sova Mukherjee (the daughter of H.P. Roy), whilst he was posted at Bombay in 1987. Soon after his marriage, Partha Mukherjee and Sova Mukherjee also started to live in the house of H.P. Roy (father-in-law of Partha Mukherjee). The evidence available on the record of the case reveals, that Pratima Chowdhury treated Sova Mukherjee as her daughter, and Partha Mukherjee as her son. In 1992, Partha Mukherjee was transferred from Bombay to Calcutta. Immediately on his transfer, Pratima Chowdhury accommodated him in flat no. 5D. Subsequently, Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited entered into a lease and licence agreement, in respect of flat no. 5D with Pratima Chowdhury, so as to provide residential accommodation to Partha Mukherjee (as per the term ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... en the defendant is called upon to show that the contract or gift was not induced by undue influence. The instant case is one of gift but it is well settled that the law as to undue influence is the same in the case of a gift inter- vivos as in the case of a contract. Under s. 16 (1) of the Indian Contract Act a contract is said to be induced by undue influence where the relations subsisting between the parties are such that one of the parties is in a position to dominate the will of the other and uses that position to obtain an unfair advantage over the other. This shows that the court trying a case of undue influence must consider two things to start with, namely, (1) are the relations between the donor and the donee such that the donee is in a position to dominate the will of the donor and (2) has the donee used that position to obtain an unfair advantage over the donor'? Sub-section (2) of the section is illustrative as to when a person is to considered to be in a position to dominate the will of another. These are inter alia (a) where the donee holds a real or apparent authority over the donor or where he stands in a fiduciary relation to the donor or (b) where he ma ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... uch persons so that the protector may not use his influence or the confidence to his advantage. When the party complaining shows such relation the law presumes everything against the transaction and the onus is cast against the person holding the position of confidence or trust to show that the transaction is perfectly fair and reasonable, that no advantage has been taken of his position. This principle has been engrained in Section 111 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (in short the 'Evidence Act'). The rule here laid down is in accordance with a principle long acknowledged and administered in Courts of Equity in England and America. This principle is that he who bargains in a matter of advantage with a person who places confidence in him is bound to show that a proper and reasonable use has been made of that confidence. The transaction is not necessarily void ipso facto, nor is it necessary for those who impeach it to establish that there has been fraud or imposition, but the burden of establishing its perfect fairness, adequacy and equity is cast upon the person in whom the confidence has been reposed. The rule applies equally to all persons standing in confidential relat ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... phasis is ours) The above conclusions recorded by this Court, came to be reiterated recently in Anil Rishi Vs. Gurbaksh Singh, (2006) 5 SCC 558. 31. While deciding the proposition in hand, we must keep in mind the law declared by this Court on the subject of fiduciary relationship. We will also proceed by keeping in mind, what we have already concluded in the preceding paragraph, i.e., that relationship between Partha Mukherjee and Pratima Chowdhury was a relationship of faith, trust and confidence. Partha Mukherjee was in a domineering position. He was married to Sova Mukherjee. Sova Mukherjee is the daughter of H.P. Roy. Pratima Chowdhury has lived for a very long time in the house of H.P. Roy. During that period (after his marriage) Partha Mukherjee also shared the residential accommodation in the same house with Pratima Chowdhury, for over a decade. In Indian society the relationship between Partha Mukherjee and Pratima Chowdhury, is a very delicate and sensitive one. It is therefore, that Pratima Chowdhury extended all help and support to him, at all times. She gave him her flat when he was transferred to Calcutta. She also extended loans to him, when he wanted to set up ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ere seems to be a ring of truth, in the assertion made by Pratima Chowdhury, that Partha Mukherjee had obtained her signatures for executing the letter and document referred to above. We find no justification whatsoever for Pratima Chowdhury, to have transferred flat no. 5D to Kalpana Mukherjee, free of cost, even though she had purchased the same for a consideration of ₹ 4 lakhs in the year 1987. Specially so, when she had no direct intimate relationship with Kalpana Mukherjee. By the time the flat was transferred, more than a decade had passed by, during which period, the price of above flat, must have escalated manifold. Numerous other factual aspects have been examined by us above, which also clearly negate the assertions made by Kalpana Mukherjee. The same need not be repeated here, for reasons of brevity. Keeping in mind the above noted aspects, we are of the considered view, that invocation of the principle of justice and equity, and the doctrine of fairness, would in fact result in returning a finding in favour of Pratima Chowdhury, and not Kalpana Mukherjee. 32. For the reasons recorded hereinabove, the instant appeal is allowed, the order dated 16.5.2002 passed b ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
|
