HARIOM AGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MAL VIYA

Citation: [2007] 10 S.C.R. 772

Court: Supreme Court of India

Bench: B.N. AGRAWAL, P.P. NAOLEKAR, P. SATHASIVAM

Case summary

HARIOM AGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MAL VIYA.pdf

Judgment text

HARIOM AGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MALVIYA OCTOBER 8, 2007 [B. N. AGRAWAL, P. P. NAOLEKARAND P. SATHASIVAM, JJ. ] .. J, Stamp Act, 1899-ss. 2(14), 33, 35, 37 and 48B-lmpoundingof document-In a suit photocopy ofa document accepted in secondary evidence-On the ground that original was lost-Original document bearing the stamp ofsufficient amount, but ofimproper description- Order ofadmission ofthe document insecondary evidence set aside- Order for impounding the document-Correctness of-Held : Impounding ofa document can be done only when the document is an instrument within meaning of s. 2(14) i. e. original document- -t---- Photocopy ofa document cannot be impounded-It also cannot be accepted as secondary evidence-Madhya Pradesh Stamp Rules, 1942-r. 19-EvidenceAct, 1872-s. 63. Agreement was entered into by the parties herein. Such agreement was required to be affixed a stamp of Re. 1/- under Schedule I, Item 42 ofStamp Act, 1899. The document was affixed with a notorial stamp ofRs.

4/- instead under the statutory provision. :>- )' In the suit between the parties, appellant filed an application for acceptance of the photocopy of the agreement as a secondary evidence, on the ground that original thereofwas stolen. Trial Court admitted the same as secondary evidence. In a Writ Petition, against the order, High Court setting aside the order oftrial court, remitted the matter to decide the question as to whether a photocopy of an ). __improperly stamped original document could be received as secondary evidence. Trial Court ordered for impounding ofthe document, it being HARIOM AGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MALVIYA 773 insufficiently stamped. Document was sent to the Collector ofStamps for affixing appropriate stamp duty. Challenge to this order was dismissed by trial court in Review Petition. In Writ Petition, thereagainst, High Court held that such document could not be admitted in evidence, neither could it be impounded nor accepted in secondary evidence.

Hen\:e the present appeal. The question for consideration was : Whether the Court could impound the photocopy ofthe instrument (document) ofimproper description exercising its power under the provisions ofthe Indian Stamp Act, 1899 ? Dismissing the appeal, the Court HELD : 1. Section 33 of Stamp Act, 1899 gives power to the authority to check whether the instrument has been duly stamped and in case it is not duly stamped, to take steps to impound the same by proper stamp duty on the said document. This power can be exercised in regard to an 'instrument'. The instrument as per definition under Section 2(14) has a reference to the original instrument. [Paras 6 and 7] (777-D, F] 2. Itis an admitted fact that the photostat copy which is sought to be produced as secondary evidence does not show that on the original agreement proper stamp duty was paid. The photostat copy ofthe agreement shows that the original agreement carried only a notarial stamp of Rs. 4/-.

Thus the original instrument bears the stamp ofsufficient amount but ofimproper description. (Para 5] (776-E] 3. Sections 33 or 35 are not concerned with any copy of the instrument and party can only be allowed to rely on the document which is an instrument within the meaning ofSection 2(14). There is --} no scope for the inclusion of the copy of the document for the purposes ofStamp Act. Law is now no doubt well settled that copy ofthe instrument cannot be validated by impounding and this cannot be admitted as secondary evidence under Stamp Act, 1899. (Para 8] (780-B, C] \,/ State ofBihar v. Mis. Karam Chand Thapar and Brothers Ltd. , ~ AIR (1962) SC 110 and Jupudi Kesava Rao v. Pulavarthi Venkata Subbarao and Ors. , AIR (1971) SC 1070, relied on. 4.

Under Section 37 of Stamp Act, the State Government is authorized to make rules providing therein to impound any instrument which bears a stamp ofsufficient amount but ofimproper description and on payment ofchargeable duty to certify it to be duly stamped and to treat such document as duly stamp, 1as on the date of its execution. By virtue ofRule 19 ofthe Madhya Pradesh Stamp Rules, 1942, the Collector of Stamp is authorized to receive the proper stamp duty on an instrument which bears a stamp ofproper amount but ofimproper description, and on payment ofthe adequate duty chargeable under the Act he would certify by endorsement on the instrument that the instrument is duly stamped. But the power under Section 37 and Rule 19, even after framing the rules by the State Government, could only be exercised for a document which'is an instrument as described under Section 2(14).

Therefore, Section 37 +-and Rule 19 would not be applicable where a copy ofthe document is sought to be produced for impounding or for admission as evidence in a case. (Paras 11and13] (781-B, G, H; 782-B, C] 5. On a plain reading ofSection 48-B, it cannot be said that by virtue ofthis provision, the Collector has been authorized to impound even copy of the instrument. Section 48-B does not relate to the instrument, i. e. , the original document to be presented before any p person who is authorized to receive the document in evidence to be impounded on inadequacy ofstamp duty found. This Section only authorizes the Collector to recover the adequate stamp duty which has been avoided at the time ofexecution ofthe original instrument. This Section does not authorize the Collector to impound the copy of the instrument. [Para 15] [782-H; 783-A, B; 784-A] CIVIL APPELLATE nJRISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 4696 of 2007. From the Judgment and final Order dated 3. 5.

2006 ofthe lligh Court ofMadhya Pradesh in Writ Petition No. 11625 of2005. HARIOMAGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MALVIYA 775 Siddharth Bhatnagar and T. Mahipal for the Appellant. M. P. Acharya, Pradeep Acharya, Kuldeep Acharya and Dharrnendra Kumar Sinha for the Respondent. The Judgment ofthe Court was delivered by P. P. NAOLEKAR, J. 1. Leave granted. 2. The facts necessary for deciding the question involved in the case are that one Maganlal Jain was the original tenant of Prakash Chand Malviya, the respondent-landlord. Maganlal Jain had given the shop to the appellant for carrying out the business. On a dispute being arisen between the respondent-landlord, the original tenant Maganlal Jain and the appellant herein, an agreement was executed on 28. 3. 1988 by the respondent (landlord) and the appellant (subsequent tenant), whereby the landlord tenanted the shop to the appellant on payment ofan advance amount of Rs.

4,75,000/- which was received by the landlord in cash in front of the witnesses. The agreement further provided that in case the landlord requires eviction ofthe tenant from the shop he will have to give notice of 6 months to the tenant and will also refund the payment of Rs. 4,75,000/- to the tenant. On the other hand, if the tenant wants to vacate the shop he will have to give prior notice of6 months to the landlord and the landlord will pay back Rs. 4,75,000/-to the tenant. This document was affixed with a notarial stamp ofRs. 4/-. Under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (for short "the Act"), agreement ofthis nature requires affixture of a stamp of Re. 1/- under Schedule I, Item 42 of the said Act. 3. On 12. 5. 2003 a suit for eviction was filed by the respondentlandlord before the Civil Judge, Bhopal under Section 12(1)(£) of the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, stating the bona. fide need for the use ofthe accommodation by his elder son.

"It was the case ofthe appellant-tenant that the original copy ofthe agreement which was with him was stolen and thus he was unable to produce the original document - >dated 28. 3 . 1988, but was in possession of a photostat copy of the agreement and made a prayer for receipt of the photocopy of the agreement as secondary evidence under Section 63 ofthe Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The trial court allowed the application for admission ofthe photocopy ofthe document and admitted it as secondary evidence under \~~ Section 63 of the Evidence Act. 4. On being aggrieved by the order ofthe trial court, the respondentlandlord filed a writ petition before the High Court. The High Court set aside the order ofthe trial court and remitted the matter back to decide the question as to whether a photocopy ofan improperly stamped original document can be received in secondary evidence. After hearing the parties, the trial court by its order dated 9. 8.

2005 ordered that the document be impounded, it being insufficiently stamped; the doctiment was sent to the Collector of Stamps for affixing appropriate stamp duty and thereafter for sending the document back to the court. This order was challenged by the respondent in a review petition which was dismissed by the trial court. Thereafter, a writ petition was filed before the High Court. The High Court by its judgment dated 3. 5. 2006 held that the impugned document which is a photocopy ofthe agreement, original of which is lost, cannot be admitted in evidence; and that such a document D can neither be impounded nor can be accepted in secondary evidence. 5. It is an admitted fact that the photostat copy which is sought to be produced as secondary evidence does not show that on the original agreement proper stamp duty was paid. The photostat copy of the agreement shows that the original agreement carried only a notarial stamp ofRs. 4/-.

Thus the original instrument bears the stamp ofsufficient amount but ofimproper description. From the facts ofthe case, the issue which requires consideration is: Whether the court can impound the photocopy ofthe instrument (document) ofimproper description exercising its power under the provisions ofthe Indian Stamp Act, 1899?. For answering this question, Sections 33 and 35 ofthe Act might render some help. Relevant extracts ofthe Sections are : "33. Examination and impounding of instruments. -(1) Every person by law or consent of parties, authority to receive evidence, and every person in charge ofa public office, except an officer ofpolice, before whom any instrument, chargeable, in his opinion, with duty, is produced or comes in the performance of his functions, shall, ifit appears to him that such instrument is not duly stamped, impound the same. HARIOM AGRAWAL v.

PRAKASH CHANDMALVIYA 777 (2) For that purpose every such person shall examine every instrument so chargeable and so produced or coming before him, in order to ascertain whether it is stamped with a stamp ofthe value and description required by the law in force in(India) when such instrument was executed or first executed: " "35. Instruments not duly stamped inadmissible in evidence, etc. - No instrument chargeable with duty shall be admitted in evidence for any person having by law or consent of parties to receive evidence, or shall be acted upon, registered or authenticated by any such person or by any public officer, unless such instrument is duly stamped: " 6. Section 33 gives power to the authority to check whether the instrument has been duly stamped and in case it is not duly stamped, to take steps to impound the same by proper stamp duty on the said document. This power can be exercised in regard to an 'instrument'.

Section 2(14) ofthe Act defines 'instrument' as: "Instrument" includes every document by which any right or liabij_ity is, or purports to be, created, transferred, limited, extended, extinguished or record. " 7. The instrument as per definition under Section 2(14) has reference to the original instrument. In State ofBihar v. Mis. Karam Chand Thapar & Brothers Ltd, AIR (1962) SC 110, this Court in paragraph 6 of the judgment held as under:- "6. It is next contended that as the copy ofthe award in court was unstamped, no decree could have been passed thereon. The facts -) are that the arbitrator sent to each ofthe parties a copy ofthe award signed by him and a third copy also signed by him was sent to the court. The copy ofthe award which was sent to the Government would appear to have been insufficiently stamped. Ifthat had been produced in court, it could have been validated on payment ofthe deficiency and penalty under S. 35 ofthe Indian Stamp Act, 1899.

But the Government has failed to produce the same. The copy of the award which was sent to the respondents is said to have been seized by the police along with other papers and is not now available. When the third copy was received in court, the respondents paid the requisite stamp duty under S. 35 ofthe Stamp Act and had it validated. Now the contention ofthe appellant is that the instrument actually before the court is, what it purports to be, "a certified copy'', and that under S. 35 ofthe Stamp Act there can be validation only of the original, when it is unstamped or insufficiently stamped, that the document in court which is a copy cannot be validated and "acted upon" and that in consequence no decree could be passed thereon. The law is no doubt wellsettled that the copy ofan instrument cannot be validated. That was held in Rajah ofBobbili v.

Jnuganti China Sitaramasami Garu, 26 Ind App 262, where it was observed : "The provisions ofthis section (section 35) which allow a 'f ' document to be admitted in evidence on payment of penalty, have no application when the original document, which was unstamped or was insufficiently stamped, has not been produced; and, accordingly, secondary evidence of its contents cannot be given. To hold otherwise would be to add to the Act a provision which it does not contain. Payment of penalty ¥. ill not render secondary evidence admissible, for under the stan1p law penalty is leviable only on an unstamped or insufficiently stamped document actually produced in Court and that law does not provide for the levy ofany penalty on lost documents" " This Court had an occasion again to consider the scope and ambit of Sections 33(1 ), 35 and 36 of the Act and Section 63 of the Indian -(- Evidence Act in Jupudi Kesava Rao v. Pulavarthi Venkata Subbarao and Ors.

, AIR (1971) SC 1070 and held that:- · "13. The first limb of Section 35 clearly shuts out from evidence any instrument chargeable with duty·unless it is duly stamped. The HARIOMAGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MALVIYA 779 [NAOLEKAR, J. J second limb ofit which relates to acting upon the instrument will obviously shut out any secondary evidence ofsuch instrument, for allowing such evidence to be let in when the original admittedly chargeable with duty was not stamped or insufficiently stamped, would be tantamount to the document being acted upon by the person having by law or authority to receive evidence. Proviso (a) is only applicable when the original instrument is actually before the Court oflaw and the deficiency in stamp with penalty is paid by the party seeking to rely upon the document.

Clearly secondary evidence either by way of oral evidence of the contents of the unstamped document or the copy of it covered by Section 63 of the Indian Evidence Act would not fulfil the requirements ofthe proviso which enjoins upon the authority to receive nothing in evidence except the instrument itself. Section 35 is not concerned with any copy ofan instrument and a party can only be allowed to rely on a document which is an instrument for the purpose of Section 35. 'Instrument' is defined in Section 2(14) as including every document by which any right or liability is, or purports to be cre~ted, transferred, limited, extended, extinguished or recorded. There is no scope for inclusion of a copy of a document as an instmment for the purpose ofthe Stamp Act. 14. IfSection 35 only deals with original instruments and not copies Section 36 cannot be so interpreted as to allow secondary evidence of an instrument to have its benefit.

The words "an instrument" in Section 36 must have the same meaning as that in Section 35. The legislature only relented from the strict provisions ofSection 35 in cases where the original instrument was admitted in evidence without objection at the initial stage of a suit or proceeding. In other words, although the objection is based on the insufficiency of the stamp affixed to the document, a party who has a right to object to the reception of it must do so when the document is first tendered. Once the time for raising objection to the admission ofthe docwnentary evidence is passed, no objection based on the same ground can be raised at a later stage. But this in no way extends the applicability ofSec. 36 to secondary evidence adduced or sought to be adduced in proof of the contents of document which is unstamped or insufficiently stamped. " 8.

It is clear from the decisions ofthis Court and a plain reading of Sections 33, 35 and 2(14) ofthe Act that an instrument which is not duly stamped can be impounded and when the required fee and penalty has been paid for such instrument it can be taken in evidence under Section 35 ofthe Stamp Act. Sections 33 or 35 are not concerned with any copy ofthe instrument and party can only be allowed to rely on the document which is an instrument within the meaning ofSection 2(14). There is no scope for the inclusion ofthe copy ofthe document for the purposes of the Indian Stamp Act. Law is now no doubt well settled that copy ofthe instrument cannot be validated by impounding and this cannot be admitted as secondary evidence under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. 9.

The learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the High Court was guided by the decisions rendered by this Court while deciding D the question involved in the case whether original document was unstamped or not properly stamped and not in regard to a document which was although stamped but was improperly stamped. As per the learned counsel, the case in hand shall be governed by Section 37 of the Act and not by Section 33 read with Section 35 of the Act. The learned counsel further urged that the High Court has committed an error in overlooking Section 48-B inserted by Indian Stamp (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Act, 1990 (No. 24of1990], which received assent ofthe President and was published in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette (Extraordinary) dated 27. 11. 1990, applicable in the State of Madhya Pradesh whereby the Collector is authorized even to impound copy of the instrument. 10.

Section 33 refers to the power ofthe authority to impound the instrument not duly stamped, and by virtue ofSection 35 any document which is not duly stamped shall not be admitted in evidence. 11. Section 37 of the Act reads as under: "37. Admission ofimproperly stamped instruments. -The State Government may make rules providing that, where an instrument bears a stamp of sufficient amount but of improper description, it may, on payment ofthe duty with which the same I HARIOM AGRAWAL v. PRAKASH CHAND MALVIYA 781 f is chargeable be certified to be duly stamped, and any instrument so certified shall then be deemed to have been duly stamped as from the date ofits execution.

" Under this provision, the State Government is authorized to make rules providing therein to impound any instrument which bears a stamp of sufficient amount but of improper description and on payment of chargeable duty to certify it to be duly stamped and to treat such document as duly stamped as on the date ofits execution. 12. In the State ofMadhya Pradesh, Rule 19 ofthe Madhya Pradesh Stamp Rules, 1942 permits payment of duty on the instrument which carries stamp ofproper amount but ofimproper description.

The said Rule reads as under: "When an instrument bears a stamp of proper amount but of improper description, the Collector may, on payment ofthe duty with which the instrument is chargeable, certify by endorsement that it is duly stamped: Provided that if application is made within three months ofthe execution of the instrument, and Collector is satisfied that the improper description ofstamp was used solely on account ofthe difficulty of inconvenience of procuring one of the proper description, he may remit the further payment ofduty prescribed in this rule. " 13. Section 37 of the Act would be attracted where although the instrument bears a stamp ofsufficient amount but such stamp is ofimproper description, as in the present case where the proper stamp duty ofRe. 1/ - under the Act has not been paid but a notarized stamp of Rs. 4/- was affixed on the document. The sufficient amount ofthe stamp duty has been paid but the duty paid by means of affixture of notarized stamp is of - ,.

l improper description. By virtue of Rule 19 ofthe Madhya Pradesh Stamp Rules, 1942, the Collector of Stamp is authorized to receive the proper stamp duty on an instrument which bears a stamp of proper amount but ofimproper description, and on payment ofthe adequate duty chargeable under the Act he would certify by endorsement on the instrument that the instrument is duly stamped. Under the proviso to the Rule, the Collector may pardon the further payment ofduty prescribed in this Rule provided ""' the person holding the original instrument moves the Collector within three months ofthe execution ofthe instrument for certification by endorsement and the Collector is satisfied that the stamp ofimproper description was used solely on the account ofthe difficulty or inconvenience ofthe holder ofthe instrument to procure the adequate stamp duty required to be paid on the instrument.

But the power under Section 37 and Rule 19, even after framing the rules by the State Government, could only be exercised for a document which is aninstrument as described under Section 2(14). By various authorities ofthis Court, an instrument is held to be an original instrument and does not include a copy thereof. Therefore, Section 37 and Rule 19 would not be applicable where a copy ofthe document is sought to be produced for impounding or for admission as evidence in a case. 14. Section 48-B is a provision applicable in the State ofMadhya Pradesh which was inserted by Indian Stamp (M. P. Amendment) Act, 1990 (No. 24 of 1990] in Chapter IV under heading "Instrument not duly stamped" ofthe Act. This Section reads as under: "48-B. Original instrument to be produced before the Collector in case ofdeficiency.

- Where the deficiency of stamp duty is noticed from a copy ofany instrument, the Collector may by order require the production of original instrument from a person in possession or in custody ofthe original instrument for the purpose of satisfying himselfas to the adequacy of amount ofduty paid thereon. Ifthe original instrument is not produced before him within the period specified in the order, it shall be presumed that the original document is not duly stamped and the Collector may proceed in the manner provided in this Chapter: Provided that no action under this section shall be taken after a period of five years from the date of execution of such instrument. " 15. On a plain reading of Section 48-B, we do not find that the submission ofthe learned counsel for the appellant that by virtue ofthis provision the Collector has been authorized to impound even copy ofthe HARIOMAGRAWALv. PRAKASHCHANDMALVIYA 783 ) instrument, is correct.

Under this Section where the deficiency ofstamp duty is noticed from the copy ofany instrument, the Collector may call for the original document for inspection, and on failure to produce the original instrument could presume that proper stamp duty was not paid on the original instrument and, thus, recover the same from the person concerned. Section 48-B does not relate to the instrument, i. e. , the original document to be presented before any person who i$ authoriz. ed to receive the document in evidence to be impounded on inadequacy ofstamp duty found. The Section uses the phraseology "where the deficiency ofstamp duty is noticed from a copy of any instrument". Therefore, when the deficiency of stamp duty from a copy ofthe instrument is noticed by the Collector, the Coliector is authorised to act under this Section.

On deficiency ofstamp duty being noticed from the copy ofthe instrument, the Collector would order production oforiginal instrument from a person in possession or in custody ofthe original instrument. Production is required by the Collector for the purpose of satisfying himself whether adequate stamp duty had been paid on the original instrument or not. In the notice given to person in possession or in custody of original instrument, the Collector shall provide for time within which the original document is required to be produced before him. If, in spite ofthe notice, the original is not produced before the Collector, the Collector would draw a presumption that original document is not duly stamped and thereafter may proceed in the manner provided in Chapter IV.

By virtue ofproviso, the step for recovery of adequate stamp duty on the original instrument on insufficiency of the stamp duty paid being noticed from the copy ofthe instrument, can only be taken within five years from the date ofexecution ofsuch instrument. The words "the Collector may proceed in the manner provided in this Chapter" has reference to Section 48 ofthe Act. Under this Section, all duties, penalties and other sums required to be paid under Chapter IV, which includes stamp duty, would be recovered by the Collector by distress and sale ofthe movable property ofthe person who has been called upon to pay the adequate stamp duty or he can implement the method of recovery ofarrears of land revenue for the dues of stamp duty.

By virtue of proviso to Section 48-B, the Collector's power to adjudicate upon the adequacy of stamp duty on the original instrument on the basis of copy ofthe instrument is restricted to the period offive A years from the date ofexecution ofthe original instrument. This Section only authorizes the Collector to recover the adequate stamp duty which has been avoided at the time ofexecution ofthe original instrument. This Section does not authorize the Collector to impound the copy of the instrument. B 16. For the reasons stated above, the appeal fails and is dismissed. I7. There shall be no order as to costs. K. K. T. Appeal dismissed. y ,(_-