FIRM MOOLCHAND-RAM PRASAD Vs. GIPRY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is the appeal of a firm Mool Chand-Ram Prasad from a decision of the District Judge of Cawnpore who, affirming the decision of the Subordinate Judge, rejected the appeal of the plaintiff. The plaintiff firm had consigned 41 bags of betel-nuts from a place Bhola to Banda. That was on the 7 May 1923. One bag went astray, and for that the lower Court gave compensation. That matter is final as between the parties. The remaining 40 were destroyed by fire. On the 7 June 19 3 the wagon with the 40 bags was at Manikpur Station. The wagon was examined and was despatched to Karwi arriving there on the next day the 8th June. At Karwi certain packages were taken out of the wagon and ten bags of rice and five bundles of gunny bags were put into the wagon which left at 12:30 at night on the 9 on route to Banda. The train ran through one station and stopped at Bharat Kup, and there a pointsman noticed the fire in wagon No. 25015 and gave the alarm. This was the wagon in which the plaintiffs goods were contained. The engine-driver, the guard, the assistant station master and other persons came up. The wagon was taken to a sidi g, efforts were made by means of a hook to drag out packages, but this could not be done. Efforts were made to put out the fire with water. This proved unavailing. The fire was according to the evidence very fierce and consumed the betel-nuts, gunny bags, rice and the covered van itself.

(2.) Under these circumstances the plaintiff commenced a suit for the recovery of Rs. 2,065 damages. Mr. Gauri Shankar Tewari who tried the case drafted, in our opinion, the proper issues and in every way appreciated what the point was that had to be decided. It may be stated that the railway company alleged that they were protected by a risk-note Form H, but on investigation it was found that no such note had been signed by the consignor, and that, therefore, as between the consignor and the railway company they were governed by the ordinary law applicable to goods carried at railway risk.

(3.) The railway company traced the whole history of the consignment, from the moment when undoubtedly it was safe and secure at Manikpur to the time when it had been totally destroyed at Bharat Kup; and they showed to the satisfaction of the Subordinate Judge that they had taken the same care of the consignor's goods as a prudent and reasonable man would have done of his own; that is to say, they had placed the goods in a wagon reasonably fit for the purpose with a fire proof iron roofing, that they had been careful not to put any inflammatory goods with the consignment, that the wagon had been examined internally and externally at proper times, and that when at Bharat Kup the fire was found all acts were done which a reasonable and prudent man would have done to protect and endeavour to save his own property.