In Brief
In this property dispute, the Supreme Court dismissed a plaintiff's suit for specific performance of an agreement to sell. Although the plaintiff had paid two-thirds of the purchase price upfront, when the vendor repudiated the agreement in March 1992 by refusing to execute a power of attorney, the plaintiff took no action for nearly two years before issuing a notice in February 1994 and filing suit in April 1994. The Court held that this prolonged inaction demonstrated lack of readiness and willingness—a mandatory requirement under Section 16(c) of the Specific Relief Act. The bar of readiness and willingness operates as a threshold condition dismissing the suit entirely, regardless of whether subsequent purchasers acted in good faith.
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