FA-36-2019 1 51 Niti IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA FIRST APPEAL NO.36 OF 2019 1) M/S. RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, A partnership firm, constituted under Indian Partnership Act, represented by Its Partner Shri Dipak M. Rajani, Son of Shri M. Rajani, Major in age, Married, Indian National, Partner in Resources International, having office at Sesa 2nd floor, Ghor, Plaza, Panaji-Goa. Entrance II, Patto 2) SHRI DIPAK M. RAJANI, Son of Shri M. Rajani, Major in age, Married, Indian National, Partner in Resources International, having office at Sesa Ghor, 2nd floor, Entrance II, Patto Plaza, Panaji-Goa. 3) MRS. MEENA DEEPAK RAJANI, Wife of Mr. Deepak Rajani, Major in age, married, Indian National, Partner in Resources International, Having office at C/o. Sesa Ghor, 2nd floor, Entrance II, Patto Plaza, Panaji-Goa. ...Appellants Versus 1) M/S. LITHOFERRO, A partnership Firm under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, having office at Khalap Mansion, Mapusa, Bardez Goa Represented through its Partners a) SHRI RAJIV MAGHASHYAM NEVGI, 2025:BHC-GOA:1261 FA-36-2019 2 51 Son of Late Meghashyam Nevgi, Major in age, married, business, Indian National, House No: unknown, Khorlim, Mapusa, Goa b) SHRI KAUSTHUBH VINAYAK SAWKAR, Son of Late Vinayak Sawkar, Major in age, married Indian National, Business, resident o Flat No: C-1/F-1-F2, Eliza Estate, Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa. c) SMT. VAISHALI SHRIRAM NEVGI, Daughter of Late Shriram M. Nevgi, Major in age, unmarried, business, Indian National, Resident of "Shriram Sadan" Dattawadi, Mapusa-Goa. …Respondents CORAM : NIVEDITA P. MEHTA, J. Reserved on : Pronounced on: 24th APRIL 2025 18th JULY 2025 JUDGMENT : 1. FA-36-2019 3 51 2. 3. 4. FA-36-2019 4 51 5. 6. FA-36-2019 5 51 7. 8. FA-36-2019 6 51 9. 10. FA-36-2019 7 51 11. 12. FA-36-2019 8 51 13. FA-36-2019 9 51 14. 15. 16. FA-36-2019 10 51 17. FA-36-2019 11 51 18. 19. FA-36-2019 12 51 20. 21. 22. FA-36-2019 13 51 23. 24. 25. 26. FA-36-2019 14 51 FA-36-2019 15 51 FA-36-2019 16 51 FA-36-2019 17 51 FA-36-2019 18 51 FA-36-2019 19 51 FA-36-2019 20 51 FA-36-2019 21 51 FA-36-2019 22 51 FA-36-2019 23 51 FA-36-2019 24 51 27. 1 AIR 2011 SC 1150 2 (2011) 12 SCC 220 3 SA No.437/2008 order dtd. 28.04.2014 4 2002 SCC OnLine Cal 430 5 2004 SCC OnLine Bom 1071 6 2018 SCC OnLine Ori 470 7 (2003) 8 SCC 745 8 (2023) 13 SCC 563 FA-36-2019 25 51 28. 9 SA No.151/2013 order dtd. 08.04.2021 10 AIR 1999 BOM 41 11 (2008) 2 SCC 444 12 Air 1930 ALL 461 13 1925 SCC OnLine MP 37 14 (2001) 1 SCC 596 15 (2002) 1 SCC 434 16 AIR 1976 SC 1058 17 AIR 1981 BOM 446 18 AIR 1966 SC 24 19 AIR 1988 BOM 187 20 AIR 1980 MAD 7 21 (2002) 1 SCC 367 FA-36-2019 26 51 FA-36-2019 27 51 FA-36-2019 28 51 FA-36-2019 29 51 FA-36-2019 30 51 29. 30. 31. 22 (2003) 8 SCC 752 23 2022 SCC OnLine Guj 2258 24 1968 SCC OnLine SC 63 25 (1999) 3 SCC 573 26 (1996) 1 SCC 435 FA-36-2019 31 51 32. FA-36-2019 32 51 33. 34. 35. 36. FA-36-2019 33 51 37. 38. 39. FA-36-2019 34 51 40. 41. 42. 43. FA-36-2019 35 51 44. FA-36-2019 36 51 45. 46. 27 2010 (2) SCC 407 FA-36-2019 37 51 47. FA-36-2019 38 51 FA-36-2019 39 51 FA-36-2019 40 51 FA-36-2019 41 51 48. ⁠ ⁠ 28 MANU/UP/2236/2018 FA-36-2019 42 51 ⁠ ⁠ FA-36-2019 43 51 ⁠ ⁠ 49. FA-36-2019 44 51 50. Event Date Observation M/s. Lithoferro registered under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 with three partners, Meghashyam Nevgi, Jagannath Khalap and Vinayak Sawkar 18.05.1987 Death of Jagannath Khalap 1989 Partnership continues between remaining 2 partners i.e. Meghashyam Nevgi and Vinayak Sawkar FA-36-2019 45 51 Retirement of Meghashyam Nevgi 25.07.1991 Partnership between Meghashyam Nevgi and Vinayak Sawkar stand dissolved. However, the same is disputed by Meghashyam Nevgi by filing Special Civil Suit No. 203/91/A Death of Meghashyam Nevgi 14.02.1992 Partnership between Meghashyam Nevgi and Vinayak Sawkar stands irrevocably dissolved by operation of law Partnership between Vinayak Sawkar, Nanda Sawkar and Kaustubh Sawkar 24.12.1992 Although stated to be reconstituted verily a new partnership of the same name i.e. M/s. Lithoferro is formed. M/s Lithoferro Agreement with M/s Damodar Mangalji and Co. Ltd. for extraction and transportation of ore 03.03.1992 M/s. Lithoferro agreement with M/s Damodar Mangalji and Co. Ltd. for sale of iron ore 04.03.1992 Appellants enter into agreements with M/s. Lithoferro 1993 Deemed to commence from 01.12.1992 to 30.11.1997 automatic renewal till 30.11.2004. Option to M/s. Lithoferro for further renewal of 3 years on mutually agreeable terms Ashok Kenkre appointed Receiver of M/s Lithoferro 06.10.1997 Receiver takes charge of M/s Lithoferro 09.10.1997 Receiver, send legal notice to appellants claiming Rs. 41,13,000/- as due and payable 17.07.1999 Suit against Appellants filed by Receiver 07.10.2003 Suit by original M/s. Lithoferro and not one reconstituted in 1992 by Sawkars 51. FA-36-2019 46 51 52. 53. FA-36-2019 47 51 54. 55. 56. FA-36-2019 48 51 57. 58. FA-36-2019 49 51 59. 60. 61. FA-36-2019 50 51 62. 63. FA-36-2019 51 51 64. NIVEDITA P. MEHTA, J. 65. 66. 67. NIVEDITA P. MEHTA, J. Signed by: NITI KISHOR HALDANKAR Designation: Private Secretary Date: 19/07/2025 16:10:35