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Malayan Law Journal Reports/1971/Volume 1/NASRI v MSA! " #1971$ 1 MLJ %2 " & Septem'er197(

% pages

#1971$ 1 MLJ %2

NASRI v MESAH

FEDERAL COURT IPOHONG CJ (MALAYA) GILL AND ALI FJJCIVIL APPEAL NO X 93 OF 19698 Se!e"#e$ 19%&

Limitation -- Action for specific performance of agreement for sale of land -- Action to recover land

-- When period of limitation begins to run -- When "cause of action" arises -- LimitationOrdinance, 1953

Land Las -- Agreement to sell land -- !oratorium -- reach -- "#ause of action"

)*e appellant +la,me- .or spe+,.,+ per.orman+e o. an agreement -ate- June 0 197 w*ere'y t*erespon-ent agree- to sell to *,m some lan- 'elong,ng to *er )*e appellant *a- pa,- t*e agree-pr,+e .or t*e lan- 'ut no -o+ument o. trans.er was e3e+ute- 'e+ause o. t*e morator,um t*en ,n.or+e A.ter t*e e3p,rat,on o. t*e morator,um on Septem'er %(0 199 t*e appellant approa+*e- t*erespon-ent on several o++as,ons an- re4ueste- *er to e3e+ute a trans.er o. t*e lan- ventuallyt*e appellant +ommen+e- t*e a+t,on on Mar+* %0 1957 )*e a+t,on was -,sm,sse- ,n t*e !,g*6ourt on t*e groun- o. l,m,tat,on )*e appellant appeale-

He'allow,ng t*e appeal

1) ,n t*,s +ase w*et*er t*e a+t,on was .or spe+,.,+ per.orman+e o. an agreement .or t*esale o. lan- or .or a -e+larat,on o. t,tle to lan-0 ,t was essent,ally an a+t,on to re+overlan-0 an- t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on t*ere.ore woul- 'e twelve years8

1) t,me 'eg,ns to run .or t*e purposes o. l,m,tat,on .rom t*e -ate o. any ,n.r,ngement ort*reat o. ,n.r,ngement o. t*e appellants r,g*t un-er t*e agreement A +ause o. a+t,onon a +ontra+t a++rues on t*e -ate o. 'rea+* an- ,n t*e +ase o. a+t,ons .oun-e- on+ontra+t0 t*ere.ore0 t*e t,me runs .rom t*e 'rea+*

C*+e+ $e,e$$e !-

$o%es v #rale%:1&7&"79; 1( 6* < %1

&onnusam% ' Anor v $athu (am#199$ MLJ &5

$g !oh v )an o* +im ' Anor#1959$ 1 MLJ 5

Lala oni (am v +anhai%a LalLR ( IA 7

Williams v )homas#19(9$ 1 6* 71%

olo v +o*lan ' OrsLR 7 IA %2

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(ead v ron:1&&&; 22 =>< 12&

(eeves v utcher:1&91; 2 => (9

emp v .arlandLR => 19

oard of )rade v #a%/er, 0rvine ' #o#1927$ A6 51(

.ibbs v .uild#1&&1$ & =>< 295

)ool !etal #o v )ungsten lectric #o#19$ 2 All R 57

FEDERAL COURT

A !ahendran.or t*e appellant

( &onnudurai.or t*e respon-ent

GILL FJ

)*,s ,s an appeal aga,nst t*e -,sm,ssal 'y 6*ang M,n )at J o. t*e appellants a+t,on ,n t*e !,g*6ourt at Ipo*0 ,n w*,+* *e +la,me- .or spe+,.,+ per.orman+e o. an agreement -ate- t*e t* -ay o.June0 197 w*ere'y t*e respon-ent *a- agree- to sell to *,m *er lan- *el- un-er ntry Mu?,mReg,ster No %(( .or lot No %97( ,n t*e Mu?,m o. Sa'a? ,n t*e -,str,+t o. Sa'a? >ernam )*ea+t,on was -,sm,sse- on t*e groun- t*at ,t was 'arre- 'y l,m,tat,on

)*e .a+ts o. t*e +ase as set out ,n t*e pla,nt,..s statement o. +la,m are as .ollows )*e pla,nt,..pa,- to t*e -e.en-ant t*e agree- pur+*ase pr,+e o. @10((( on t*e -ate o. t*e agreement0 an- t*e-e.en-ant on t*e same -ay *an-e- to t*e pla,nt,.. t*e ,ssue -o+ument o. t,tle ,n respe+t o. t*esa,- lan- No -o+ument o. trans.er was e3e+ute- as ,t woul- not *ave 'een poss,'le to *ave ,treg,stere- 'e+ause o. t*e morator,um t*en ,n .or+e0 'ut t*e -e.en-ant un-ertoo? to e3e+ute a

val,- an- reg,stra'le trans.er o. t*e lan- ,n .avour o. t*e pla,nt,.. w*en t*e morator,um was l,.te-)*e pla,nt,.. went ,nto o++upat,on o. t*e lan-0 'u,lt a plan? *ouse w,t* ,n+ roo. t*ereon an- *asl,ve- t*ere w,t* *,s .am,ly ever s,n+e an- pa,- t*e 4u,t rent )*e greater part o. t*e lan- was+overe- w,t* se+on-ary Bungle at t*e t,me o. t*e sale !e spent a'out @1(0((( ,n +lear,ng an-+ult,vat,ng t*e lan- w,t* +o+onut trees w*,+* are now 'ear,ng .ru,t

A.ter t*e e3p,rat,on o. t*e morator,um per,o- on %(t* Septem'er0 199 t*e pla,nt,.. approa+*e-t*e -e.en-ant on several o++as,ons an- re4ueste- *er to e3e+ute a val,- an- reg,stra'le trans.ero. t*e lan- )*e -e.en-ant re+e,ve- sums o. money .rom t*e pla,nt,.. as travell,ng e3penses 'ut.a,le- to +all at t*e lan- o..,+e at Sa'a? >ernam to e3e+ute t*e trans.er Some t,me ,n 1955 t*epla,nt,.. lo-ge- a caveataga,nst t*e lan-0 v,-e caveatpresentat,on No 99 o. 1955 Cn 2t*C+to'er0 1955 *,s sol,+,tors sent a not,+e to t*e -e.en-ant re4u,r,ng *er to e3e+ute a trans.erw,t*,n 1 -ays .rom t*e re+e,pt t*ereo.0 'ut t*e letter was returne- un-el,vere- w,t* t*e remar?

Dun?nownD Cn &t* Novem'er0 1955 *e +ause- anot*er not,+e to 'e sent to t*e -e.en-ant +are o.one Ear-, ',n )atang0 o. Par,t 0 Sunge, )ung?u0 )elo? Anson )*ere 'e,ng no response .rom t*e-e.en-ant0 *e +ommen+e- *,s a+t,on on %r- Mar+*0 1957

Apart .rom *er ot*er -e.en+es w*,+* now +all .or no +ons,-erat,on0 t*e -e.en-ant ra,se- t*e-e.en+e o. l,m,tat,on F*en t*e a+t,on +ame up .or tr,al0 +ounsel .or 'ot* part,es ,n.orme- t*e+ourt t*at t*ey *a- agree- not to +all any ev,-en+e an- t*at ,. l,m,tat,on was *el- not to apply t*e-e.en-ant woul- +onsent to Bu-gment )*,s was tantamount to a plea o. l,m,tat,on 'e,ng ta?en asa prel,m,nary po,nt o. law0 'y way o. -emurrer0 un-er Cr-er 20 rule 2 o. t*e Rules o. t*e Supreme6ourt0 1970 so t*at t*e +ourt ,n -e+,-,ng t*at po,nt o. law *a- to a++ept t*e .a+ts state- ,n t*e

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statement o. +la,m as 'e,ng +orre+t :see $o%es v #rale%:1&7&"79; 1( 6* < %1; )*e learne-tr,al Bu-ge 4u,te r,g*tly -ealt w,t* t*e +ase on t*at 'as,s

)*e arguments put .orwar- 'y +ounsel .or t*e part,es ,n support o. t*e,r respe+t,ve +ases weres*ort an- s,mple 6ounsel .or t*e -e.en-ant +onten-e- t*at as t*e relevant per,o- o. l,m,tat,on

was 12 years an- t*at s,n+e t,me 'egan to run .rom 1st C+to'er0 1990 t*e -ay ,mme-,ately.ollow,ng t*e e3p,rat,on o. t*e morator,um per,o-0 t*e pla,nt,..s a+t,on was t,me"'arre- Gor t*,s+ontent,on *e rel,e- on t*e -e+,s,on o. t*e +ourt o. appeal ,n &onnusam% ' Anor v $athu (am#199$ MLJ &50 an- *e went on to say t*at t*e -e+,s,on o. t*,s +ourt ,n $g !oh v )an o* +im '

Anor#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 was not appl,+a'le !e also po,nte- out t*at t*e -e.en-ant was st,ll t*ereg,stere- propr,etor o. t*e lan- an- re.erre- to se+t,on %1 o. t*e Nat,onal Lan- 6o-e relat,ng toa-verse possess,on

1921 1 !L 34 at 33

6ounsel .or t*e pla,nt,.. sa,- t*at *e was rely,ng on $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ &50 an- t*at ,nt*e present +ase t,me 'egan to run as .rom 1t* C+to'er0 1955 )*e reason .or *,s p,+?,ng on t*at-ate0 t*oug* no ment,on o. ,t was ma-e to t*e learne- tr,al Bu-ge0 presuma'ly was t*at on t*at-ate t*e -e.en-ant *a- wr,tten a letter to t*e pla,nt,.. as?,ng *,m to *an- over to *er w,t*,n 1-ays .rom t*e -ate o. t*e letter t*e grant o. t,tle ,n respe+t o. t*e lan- an- .or',-,ng *,m to entert*e lan- or ta?e any pro-u+e t*ere.rom )*,s letter was not pro-u+e- to t*e +ourt 'ut a +opy o. ,t*as 'een ,n+lu-e- ,n t*e appeal re+or- w,t*out any o'Be+t,on *av,ng 'een ta?en 'y t*erespon-ent to su+* ,n+lus,on

I woul- pause *ere to o'serve ,n pass,ng t*at t*e law relat,ng to l,m,tat,on on t*e -ate o. t*eagreement was +onta,ne- ,n t*e L,m,tat,on na+tment :GMS 6ap 1&; )*at na+tment wasrepeale- 'y t*e L,m,tat,on Cr-,nan+e0 19% w*,+* +ame ,nto .or+e on 19t* Ge'ruary0 19% It ,s+lear t*at t*e law o. l,m,tat,on w*,+* appl,es ,s t*e law ,n .or+e on t*e -ate o. ,nst,tut,on o. t*ea+t,on an- not t*e -ate on w*,+* t*e +ause o. a+t,on ar,ses :see Lala oni (am v +anhai%a Lal( IA 7;

)*e .a+ts ,n &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ 5 were as .ollows In August0 190 -ur,ng t*eJapanese o++upat,on0 Nat*u Ram .or valua'le +ons,-erat,on e3e+ute- ,n .avour o. one Na,na atrans.er ,n statutory .orm0 *an-e- over to *,m t*e relevant ,ssue -o+ument o. t,tle an- put *,m ,n

possess,on o. t*e lan- Gor reasons w*,+* were not +lear0 t*e trans.er was not reg,stere- -ur,ngt*e o++upat,on )*erea.ter0 'y reason o. t*e Morator,um Pro+lamat,on0 ,t was not +apa'le o. 'e,ngreg,stere- unt,l 1st C+to'er0 199 w*en t*e morator,um was l,.te- Na,na *a- -,e- testate on 11t*Ge'ruary0 199 'ut t*ere was +ons,-era'le -elay ,n e3tra+t,ng pro'ate ventually0 w*en pro'atewas ta?en out0 Nat*u Ram re.use- to e3e+ute a .res* trans.er ,n .avour o. t*e e3e+utors w*ot*ereupon +ommen+e- an a+t,on ,n t*e !,g* 6ourt at Ipo* on 2%r- Novem'er0 195 +la,m,ng a-e+larat,on o. t,tle to t*e lan- an- an or-er on t*e reg,ster,ng aut*or,ty to reg,ster t*e e3e+utors aspropr,etors )*e,r a+t,on was -,sm,sse- on t*e groun- t*at ,t was 'arre- 'y l,m,tat,on )*eyappeale- It was argue- on 'e*al. o. t*e respon-ent ,n t*e 6ourt o. Appeal t*at t*e per,o- o.l,m,tat,on was s,3 years )*at argument0 *owever0 was reBe+te- 'y t*e +ourt )*omson 6J :as *et*en was; ,n t*e +ourse o. *,s oral Bu-gment sa,-

DAs I put ,t +ollo4u,ally t*,s morn,ng ,n t*e +ourse o. -,s+uss,on w,t* +ounsel0 w*at t*e pla,nt,..s are -o,ng,s t*,s )*ey are +om,ng to t*e +ourt an- say,ng we are ent,tle- to t*,s lan- an- we want t*,s lan- An- ,.t*e +ourt ,s ,n agreement w,t* t*em t*at t*ey are ent,tle- to t*e lan- an- s*oul- 'e g,ven t*e lan-0 oneappropr,ate way o. g,v,ng ,t to t*em0 ,n v,ew o. t*e prov,s,ons o. t*e Lan- 6o-e0 ,s to ma?e t*e-e+larat,on as?e- .or an- t*e +onse4uent,al or-er on t*e reg,ster,ng aut*or,ty )*at reason,ng lea-s meto t*e +on+lus,on t*at t*,s ,s an a+t,on to re+over lan- w,t*,n t*e mean,ng o. se+t,on 9 o. t*e L,m,tat,onCr-,nan+e :No o. 19%;D

!e went on to say t*at *e .oun- support .or t*at v,ew ,n t*e .ollow,ng passage ,n t*e Bu-gment o.>u+?ley LJ ,n t*e 6ourt o. Appeal ,n Williams v )homas1 6* < 71% 7%(

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DIt *as 'een argue-0 an-0 I t*,n?0 su++ess.ully t*at w*,le on t*e one *an- t*e e3press,on to re+over anylan- ,n se+t,on 2 o. t*e A+t o. 1&%% -oes not mean rega,n somet*,ng w*,+* t*e pla,nt,.. prev,ously *a-an- *as lost0 'ut means o'ta,n any lan- 'y Bu-gment o. t*e +ourt0 yet ,t ,s not l,m,te- to t*e mean,ngo'ta,n possess,on o. any lan- 'y Bu-gment o. t*e +ourt Gor ,t *as 'een *el- t*at a mortgagees a+t,on.or .ore+losure ,s an a+t,on .or t*e re+overy o. lan- w,t*,n t*e A+t A .ore+losure a+t,on ,s not an a+t,on too'ta,n possess,on0 'ut ,s an a+t,on w*ose pr,n+,pal purpose ,s to +onvert t*at w*,+* ,n a 6ourt o. 4u,tywas 'ut personal estate o. t*e mortgagee ,nto real estate o. t*e mortgagee It ,s an a+t,on to ena'le *,mto *ol- t*e legal estate alrea-y veste- ,n *,m -,s+*arge- .rom t*e r,g*t o. t*e mortgagor to re-eem *,mD

!e t*en sa,- t*at w*at ,n e..e+t t*e pla,nt,..s were see?,ng to -o was to Do'ta,n lan- 'yBu-gment o. t*e +ourtD0 an- +ont,nue-

D!av,ng rea+*e- t*e +on+lus,on t*at t*,s ,s an a+t,on to re+over lan- ,t seems to me ,mposs,'le to avo,-t*e .urt*er +on+lus,on t*at t*e +ase .alls w,t*,n se+t,on 9:1; o. t*e L,m,tat,on Cr-,nan+e Se+t,on 5:1; o.t*e Cr-,nan+e prov,-es t*at ,n t*e +ase o. a+t,ons .oun-e- on a +ontra+t t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat ,on s*all 'es,3 years 'ut t*at prov,s,on ,s e3pressly state- to 'e save as *ere,na.ter prov,-e- >y se+t,on 90*owever0 ,t ,s e3pressly prov,-e- t*at0 su'Be+t to +erta,n e3+ept,ons w*,+* are not relevant *ere0 t*eper,o- ,n relat,on to a+t,ons to re+over any lan- s*all 'e 12 years an- ,t ,s +lear t*at t*,s appl,es to alla+t,ons to re+over lan- ,rrespe+t,ve o. w*et*er t*ey are .oun-e- on +ontra+t or ot*erw,seD

In $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 t*e respon-ents as pla,nt,..s +la,me- .or t*e return o. a +erta,np,e+e o. lan- .rom t*e appellant on t*e groun- t*at t*e lan- 'elonge- to t*e estate o. )an Pung6*ong -e+ease- an- t*at t*ey were t*e a-m,n,strators de bonis non )*e appellant +ounter"+la,me- t*at t*e lan- *a- 'een sol- to *,m 'y L,m P*eng0 t*e prev,ous a-m,n,stratr,3 o. t*e sa,-estate0 un-er an agreement -ate- %(t* ut t*e trans.er e3e+ute- ,n t*at +ase

*a- 'e+ome ,n+apa'le o. reg,strat,on 'y reason o. Na,nas -eat*0 so t*at t*e pos,t,on o. t*erespe+t,ve pur+*asers was almost t*e same In &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &5 t*e pla,nt,..sas?e- .or a -e+larat,on o. t,tle to t*e lan- an- an or-er on t*e reg,ster,ng aut*or,ty to reg,stert*em as propr,etors In t*e present a+t,on t*e pla,nt,..s prayer was .or an or-er t*at t*e -e.en-ant-o e3e+ute a val,- an- reg,stra'le trans.er o. t*e lan- In ot*er wor-s0 *e was as?,ng .or spe+,.,+per.orman+e o. t*e agreement as ,n $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 >ut w*at ,n e..e+t *e wassee?,ng to -o was to o'ta,n t*e lan- 'y a Bu-gment o. t*e +ourt It .ollows0 t*ere.ore0 t*at w*et*ert*e a+t,on ,s .or spe+,.,+ per.orman+e o. an agreement .or t*e sale o. lan- or .or a -e+larat,on o.t,tle to lan-0 ,t ,s essent,ally an a+t,on to re+over lan-0 so t*at t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on woul- 'e 12years ,n e,t*er +ase

!av,ng -,spose- o. t*e 4uest,on as to t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on ,n relat,on to an a+t,on .or t*ere+overy

1921 1 !L 34 at 36

o. lan-0 I must now +ome to t*e 4uest,on as to w*en su+* per,o- o. l,m,tat,on 'eg,ns to runIn -eterm,n,ng t*,s 4uest,on t*e learne- Bu-ge ,n t*e +ourt 'elow t*oug*t t*at *e *a- to +*oose'etween t*e +on.l,+t,ng -e+,s,ons ,n &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &5 an- $g !ohs case#1959$1 MLJ 50 'ot* o. w*,+* were ',n-,ng on *,m )*e -e+,s,on o. t*e Ge-eral 6ourt ,n $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 was t*at t,me -,- not 'eg,n to run unt,l t*ere was an ,n.r,ngement o. t*eappellants r,g*t un-er t*e sale agreement )*e appellant ,n t*at +ase *a- sent to L,m P*eng0 t*et*en a-m,n,stratr,30 a letter -ate- 1t* Apr,l0 19 re4u,r,ng *er to +omply w,t* t*e terms o. t*eagreement w,t*,n 1 -ays )*e +ourt t*ere.ore *el- t*at t,me 'egan to run .rom %(t* Apr,l0 190so t*at t*e appellants +ounter+la,m0 w*,+* was .,le- on l5t* Septem'er0 190 was not 'arre- 'y

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l,m,tat,on In +om,ng to t*at -e+,s,on t*e +ourt rel,e- ent,rely on t*e Bu-gment o. t*e Pr,vy 6oun+,l,n olo v +o*lan and orsLR 7 IA %2 ,n w*,+* ,t was sa,- at page %%1

D)*ere +an 'e no r,g*t to sue unt,l t*ere ,s an a++rual o. t*e r,g*t asserte- ,n t*e su,t an- ,ts,n.r,ngement0 or at least a +lear an- une4u,vo+al t*reat to ,n.r,nge t*at r,g*t0 'y t*e -e.en-ant aga,nst

w*om t*e su,t ,s ,nst,tute-D

olos caseLR 7 IA %2 was a -e+,s,on on art,+le 12( o. t*e In-,an L,m,tat,on A+t w*,+* ,s ,npari materiaw,t* art,+le 97 o. t*e GMS L,m,tat,on na+tment It was +,te- ,n &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &50 alt*oug* no ment,on o. ,t was ma-e ,n t*e Bu-gment o. )*omson 6J )*e learne-tr,al Bu-ge *as state- ,n *,s groun-s o. Bu-gment t*at0 as &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &5 ,s notment,one- ,n t*e Bu-gment ,n $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 50 ,t was not +lear to *,m w*et*er t*elatter +ase was meant to overrule t*e .ormer !e *as .urt*er state- ,n *,s Bu-gment t*at t*e In-,anL,m,tat,on A+t spea?s o. Dr,g*t to sueD0 w*ereas t*e L,m,tat,on Cr-,nan+e0 19% spea?s o. D+auseo. a+t,onD or Dr,g*t o. a+t,onD0 alt*oug* *e -,- not go on to say w*et*er t*ere was any -,st,n+t,on'etween Da++rual o. a r,g*t to sue an- Da++rual o. a +ause or r,g*t o. a+t,onD In t*e event *e-e+,-e- t*at *e was 'oun- 'y &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &5 an- t*at $g !ohs case#1959$1 MLJ 5 was -e+,-e-per incuriam

F,t* respe+t to t*e learne- tr,al Bu-ge0 t*ere ,s no +on.l,+t 'etween t*e -e+,s,on ,n &onnusam%scase#199$ MLJ &5 an- t*e -e+,s,on ,n $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 )*e sole 4uest,on to 'e-e+,-e- ,n &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &5 was w*et*er t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on was s,3 yearsor twelve years )*e 4uest,on w*,+* *a- to 'e an- was -e+,-e- ,n $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ5 was w*et*er t,me 'egan to run .rom t*e -ate o. t*e agreement or .rom t*e -ate o. any,n.r,ngement or t*reat o. ,n.r,ngement o. t*e appellants r,g*t un-er t*e agreement F*atpresuma'ly le- t*e Bu-ge to t*,n? t*at t*ere was a +on.l,+t 'etween t*e two +ases ,s t*e .ollow,ngpassage ,n t*e Bu-gment ,n &onnusam%s case#199$ MLJ &5

DIt .ollows .rom w*at *as 'een sa,- t*at t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on appl,+a'le ,n t*e present +ase was 12years 'y reason o. se+t,on 9 an- not 5 years 'y reason o. se+t,on 5 an- ,t ,s +ommon groun- t*at 'yreason o. t*e post"war leg,slat,on on t*e su'Be+t t*at per,o- o. l,m,tat,on runs .rom t*e e3p,rat,on o. t*emorator,um per,o- on %(t* Septem'er0 199 In t*e +,r+umstan+es t*e present a+t,on was +ommen+e-well w,t*,n t,meD

I must +on.ess t*at I mysel. as t*e tr,al Bu-ge ,n $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 .ell ,nto t*esame trap Cn re.le+t,on0 *owever0 ,t woul- seem +lear to me t*at w*at )*omson 6J was say,ng,n t*e a'ove passage was 'y way o. a general o'servat,on t*at .or t*e purpose o. +omput,ng anyper,o- o. l,m,tat,on t*e morator,um per,o- was to 'e e3+lu-e- !e +learly -,- not say ,n so manywor-s t*at l,m,tat,on ,n t*at +ase 'egan to run .rom t*e e3p,rat,on o. t*e morator,um per,o- on%(t* Septem'er0 199

A D+ause o. a+t,onD ,s t*e ent,re set o. .a+ts t*at g,ves r,se to an en.or+ea'le +la,m8 t*e p*rase+ompr,ses every .a+t w*,+*0 ,. traverse-0 t*e pla,nt,.. must prove ,n or-er to o'ta,n Bu-gment :perLor- s*er MR ,n (ead v ron:1&&&; 22 =>< 12& 1%1; In (eeves v utcher:1&91; 2 =>9( 11 L,n-ley LJ sa,-

D)*,s e3press,on0 +ause o. a+t,on0 *as 'een repeate-ly t*e su'Be+t o. -e+,s,on0 an- ,t *as 'een *el-0

part,+ularly ,n emp v .arlandLR => (9 110 -e+,-e- ,n 1&%0 t*at t*e +ause o. a+t,on ar,ses at t*et,me w*en t*e -e't +oul- .,rst *ave 'een re+overe- 'y a+t,on )*e r,g*t to 'r,ng an a+t,on may ar,se onvar,ous events8 'ut ,t *as always 'een *el- t*at t*e statute runs .rom t*e earl,est t,me at w*,+* an a+t,on+oul- 'e 'roug*tD

In oard of )rade v #a%/er, 0rvine ' #o#1927$ A6 51( 517 V,s+ount

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.oun-e- on +ontra+t0 t*ere.ore0 t,me runs .rom 'rea+* :perG,el- J ,n .ibbs v .uild& =>< 295%(2; In t*e +ase o. a+t,ons .oun-e- on any ot*er r,g*t0 t,me runs .rom t*e -ate on w*,+* t*at r,g*t,s ,n.r,nge- or t*ere ,s a t*reat o. ,ts ,n.r,ngement :see olos caseLR 7 IA 7; It woul- seem+lear0 t*ere.ore0 t*at t*e e3press,ons Dt*e r,g*t to sue a++ruesD0 Dt*e +ause o. a+t,on a++ruesD an-

Dt*e r,g*t o. a+t,on a++ruesD mean one an- t*e same t*,ng w*en one spea?s o. t*e t,me .romw*,+* t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on as pres+r,'e- 'y law s*oul- run

Gor t*e reasons I *ave state-0 t*e per,o- o. l,m,tat,on ,n t*e present +ase +an 'e sa,- to *ave'egun to run only .rom t*e .,rst +lear an- une4u,vo+al t*reat to t*e pla,nt,..s r,g*t to a trans.er o.t*e lan- )*e learne- tr,al Bu-ge *as state- ,n *,s groun-s o. Bu-gment t*at ,. $g !ohs case#1959$ 1 MLJ 5 was ',n-,ng on *,m0 t*en *e woul- *ol- on t*e plea-,ngs t*at t*e .,rst +lear an-une4u,vo+al t*reat to t*e pla,nt,..s r,g*t to possess,on was t*e re.usal to t*e .,rst re4uest a.ter t*ee3p,rat,on o. t*e morator,um as allege- ,n t*e statement o. +la,m F,t* respe+t0 t*ere ,s not t*esl,g*test ,n-,+at,on .rom t*e pla,nt,..s statement o. +la,m t*at t*e -e.en-ant at any t,me +learlyan- une4u,vo+ally re.use- to s,gn a trans.er Not even ,n t*e -e.en-ants statement o. -e.en+e0w*,+* o. +ourse t*e +ourt ,s not ent,tle- to loo? at0 ,s t*ere any ment,on o. any re.usal As t*ere ,sno spe+,.,+ averment ,n t*e statement o. +la,m as to w*en t*e .,rst o. t*e pla,nt,..s re4uests wasma-e0 ,t woul- 'e a pure +onBe+ture to say t*at su+* re4uests must *ave 'een ma-e s*ortly a.ter

t*e l,.t,ng o. t*e morator,um )*ere +an t*ere.ore 'e no 'as,s .or t*e learne- Bu-ges .,n-,ng t*atsu+* re4uest were re.use- 'y ne+essary ,mpl,+at,on

)*e .a+t t*at t*e pla,nt,.. +*ose not to lo-ge a caveataga,nst t*e lan- unt,l 1955 woul- seem to,n-,+ate t*at unt,l t*en t*ere was no t*reat to *,s r,g*t

1921 1 !L 34 at 35un-er t*e agreement In t*,s +onne+t,on ,t ,s s,gn,.,+ant t*at t*e .,rst +lear re.usal 'y t*e-e.en-ant was +onta,ne- ,n *er letter o. 1t* C+to'er0 1955 to w*,+* I *ave ma-e re.eren+eearl,er ,n my Bu-gment )*at letter0 *owever0 was not ,n ev,-en+e at t*e tr,al0 alt*oug* ,t *as 'een,n+lu-e- ,n t*e appeal re+or- Assum,ng t*at we are not ent,tle- to loo? at ,t0 we *ave to .all 'a+?on t*e pla,nt,..s letter o. &t* Novem'er0 1955 w*,+* *e sent to t*e -e.en-ant +are o. anot*erperson As t*ere ,s no ev,-en+e t*at t*at letter rea+*e- t*e -e.en-ant0 t*e pos,t,on woul-t*ere.ore appear to 'e t*at t*ere never was any re.usal 'y t*e -e.en-ant to +arry out *ero'l,gat,ons un-er t*e +ontra+t In t*e +,r+umstan+es0 ,t may 'e argue- t*at t*,s a+t,on was

premature0 'ut t*at was not t*e stan- ta?en 'y t*e -e.en-ant In any event0 serv,+e o. t*e wr,t ont*e -e.en-ant +onst,tute- not,+e o. t*e appellants ,ntent,on to stan- on *,s legal r,g*t un-er t*eagreement :see )ool !etal #o v )ungsten lectric #o#19$ 2 All R 57;0 an- t*ere was not*reat to ,n.r,nge t*at r,g*t unt,l t*e -e.en+e was .,le- F*atever v,ew I ta?e o. t*e +ase0 ,t woul-seem +lear t*at t,me -,- not 'eg,n to run aga,nst t*e pla,nt,.. unt,l s*ortly 'e.ore t*e a+t,on was.,le- It was t*ere.ore not 'arre- 'y l,m,tat,on

I woul- allow t*e appeal w,t* +osts *ere an- ,n t*e +ourt 'elow0 set as,-e t*e or-er ma-e 'y t*e+ourt 'elow an- ma?e an or-er t*at t*e -e.en-ant -o e3e+ute a val,- an- reg,stra'le trans.er ,nterms o. t*e pla,nt,..s +la,m w,t*,n 1 -ays .rom to-ay0 an- t*at ,n t*e event o. *er re.usal or.a,lure to e3e+ute su+* trans.er w,t*,n t*at per,o- t*e Reg,strar o. t*e !,g* 6ourt at Ipo* -oe3e+ute a trans.er on *er 'e*al.

O./ C0J0I agree w,t* t*e Bu-gment Bust -el,vere- 'y H,ll GJ0 to w*,+* t*ere ,s not*,ng I +an

use.ully a-- )*e or-er o. t*,s +ourt w,ll 'e ,n terms as propose- 'y *,mA' F0J0+on+urre-

Appeal alloed7

Sol,+,tors !ahendran ' #o8 (aendra ' )ei* e

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