S.N Phukan, J.— This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment of the Delhi High Court dated 20-12-1991 passed in RFA No. 50 of 1977.
2. We may briefly state the undisputed facts:
The appellant agreed to sell the disputed property situated at Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi for a consideration of Rs 16,000 to the respondent and accordingly on 24-1-1973 an agreement to sell was executed and a sum of Rs 1000 was paid as earnest money to the appellant. The respondent filed the suit for specific performance of the contract as the appellant failed to execute the sale deed within time. On 6-10-1976 the suit was decreed and the respondent deposited balance consideration of Rs 15,000 in the trial court. The appeal filed by the appellant in the High Court was also dismissed by the impugned judgment dated 20-12-1991. However, to mitigate the hardship to the appellant and as the respondent agreed to pay more sum, the High Court directed the respondent to deposit a further sum of Rs 1,00,000 which was to be released to the appellant on giving possession of the suit property. The said sum was also deposited in the Registry of the High Court by the respondent and it is being kept in interest-bearing fixed deposit. The appellant has filed the present appeal and that is how the parties are before us.
3. We have heard learned Senior Counsel for the parties. The only contention urged before us by the learned Senior Counsel for the appellant is that instead of decree for specific performance, compensation may be awarded.
4. At the time of issuance of notice in the special leave petition, learned Senior Counsel for the appellant offered to pay Rs 1,16,000 to the respondent to cancel the contract and get out of the decree. The respondent after his appearance before this Court offered another sum of Rs 50,000 so as to make the total consideration of Rs 1,50,000. In view of the above position leave was granted. When the matter came up before us another attempt was made for a settlement, which failed. At that time learned Senior Counsel for the respondent on instruction made an offer that the respondent would pay further sum of Rs 1,50,000 as consideration.
5. Learned Senior Counsel for the appellant has relied on this Court's judgment in Damacherla Anjaneyulu v. Damcherla Venkata Seshaiah 1987 Supp SCC 75, AIR 1987 SC 1641. On the facts of that case the Court recorded the finding that in case of grant of a decree of specific performance hardship would be caused to the defendant and therefore compensation was granted. Facts of the present case are different.
6. Next decision on which learned Senior Counsel for the appellant relied is in Parakunnan Veetill Joseph's Son Mathew v. Nedumbara Kuruvila's Son 1987 Supp SCC 340, AIR 1987 SC 2328 We may extract the relevant portion of the said judgment:
“14. Section 20 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 preserves judicial discretion of courts as to decreeing specific performance. The court should meticulously consider all facts and circumstances of the case. The court is not bound to grant specific performance merely because it is lawful to do so. The motive behind the litigation should also enter into the judicial verdict. The court should take care to see that it is not used as an instrument of oppression to have an unfair advantage to the plaintiff.”
7. It is the settled position of law that grant of a decree for specific performance of contract is not automatic and is one of the discretions of the court and the court has to consider whether it will be fair, just and equitable. The court is guided by principle of justice, equity and good conscience. As stated in P.V Joseph's Son Mathew 1987 Supp SCC 340, AIR 1987 SC 2328 the court should meticulously consider all facts and circumstances of the case and motive behind the litigation should also be considered.
8. The High Court considering the facts of this case observed as follows:
“We are conscious of the fact that the defendant has been in possession of the said quarter for the last several decades and logical consequence of affirming the judgment of the trial court would mean considerable hardship to him, at the same time the conduct of the defendant does not justify any further indulgence by the court. We have no doubt that the defendant has tried to wriggle out of the contract between the parties because of the tremendous escalation in the prices of real estate properties all over the country and in Delhi, in particular in the last few years.”
9. In view of the above clear finding of the High Court that the appellant tried to wriggle out of the contract between the parties because of escalation in prices of real estate properties, we hold that the respondent is entitled to get a decree as he has not taken any undue or unfair advantage over the appellant. It will be inequitable and unjust at this point of time to deny the decree to the respondent after two courts below have decided in favour of the respondent. While coming to the above conclusion we have also taken note of the fact that the respondent deposited the balance of the consideration in the trial court and also the amount in the High Court, as directed. On the other hand the appellant, as held by the High Court, tried to wriggle out of the contract in view of the tremendous escalation of prices of real estate properties. However, to mitigate the hardship to the appellant we direct the respondent to deposit a further sum of Rs 3,00,000 within 4 months from today with the Registry of this Court and the amount shall be kept in short-term deposit in a nationalised bank. While giving the above direction we have taken note of the offer made to us on behalf of the respondent. This amount is to be paid to the appellant on his giving possession of the suit property to the respondent within 6 months from the date of the deposit of the above amount. The appellant shall also be entitled to withdraw the amount already deposited in the trial court and the amount of Rs 1,00,000 which has been kept in interest-bearing fixed deposit in the Registry of the High Court.
10. With the above modification of the judgment of the High Court, the appeal is dismissed. However, on the facts and circumstances of the case parties are directed to bear their own costs.