Can a Partner sue another partner for recovery of money when firm is unregistered?

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Shubham Budhiraja[1]




A and B entered into a partnership through an unregistered partnership deed. A filed a suit for recovery against B. The Trial Court held suit to be maintainable but HC reversed the findings. The Hon’ble Supreme Court held as under:[2]

 

1.    Section 69 is mandatory in character and a suit instituted by a plaintiff in respect of a right which was vested in him by virtue of a contract and entered into in his capacity as a partner of a partnership firm, would be void, if such a firm was unregistered.

 

2.    Section 69(1) prohibits a suit amongst the partners of an unregistered partnership firm, for the enforcement of a right either arising from a contract or conferred by the Act, unless the suit amongst the partners is in the nature of dissolution of the partnership firm and/or rendition of accounts. Section 69(2) prohibits the institution of a suit by an unregistered firm against third persons for the enforcement of a right arising from a contract. As a consequence, a suit filed by an unregistered partnership firm and all proceedings arising thereunder, which fall within the ambit of Section 69 would be without jurisdiction.

 

3.    It would have instead been appropriate to have preferred a suit for dissolution of the partnership firm and rendition of accounts, especially considering that the factum of non-registration of the partnership firm would not have acted as bar in a suit for dissolution in light of the exception carved out under Section 69(3).

 

4.    The present suit had not been instituted by or on behalf of the firm against any third persons so as to fall under the ambit of Section 69(2). The petitioners have also not filed the instant suit for enforcing any statutory right conferred under any other law or a common law right so as to exempt the application of Section 69.

 

 


[1] LLB, ACS, BCOM(H), Budhirajalawchambers@gmail.com, +91-9654055315

[2] Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal(C) No. 30442/2019

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