Pragilal Kanhaiya Lal v. Ratan Lal Mathra Prasad

Pragilal Kanhaiya Lal v. Ratan Lal Mathra Prasad

(High Court Of Judicature At Allahabad)

| 12-02-1931

Sen, J.This is an application for revision by the defendant u/s 25, Provincial Small Cause Courts Act. Defendant borrowed from the plaintiff Rs. 300 on the Divali day. The suit was for recovery of that sum together with interest. The Court below found that the money had been borrowed on the Divali day for the purpose of gambling. This was not a circumstance which vitiated the debt and a suit for its recovery was maintainable. The Court therefore gave the plaintiff a decree. It has been contended by Mr. Surendra Nath Gupta who holds the brief for Mr. Indu Bhushan Banerji that a claim for enforcement of a loan of this character is opposed to public policy u/s 23, Contract Act, I am clearly of opinion that this contention has no force. Where the defendant borrows money from the plaintiff with the clear intention of utilizing the money for the purpose of gambling but there is nothing to indicate that the plaintiff was privy to this intention, there is nothing to preclude the plaintiff from recovering the amount from the defendant by suit.

2. I dismiss this application with costs.

Advocate List
Bench
  • HON'BLE JUSTICE SEN, J
Eq Citations
  • 131 IND. CAS. 546
  • AIR 1931 ALL 458
  • LQ/AllHC/1931/32
Head Note

A. Contract and Specific Relief — Contract — Performance of contract — Debt — Recovery of debt — Debt borrowed for gambling — Held, if plaintiff was not privy to intention of defendant to use money for gambling, plaintiff can recover debt by suit — Contract Act, 1872, S. 23 — Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Or. 34 R. 5