Mr. K visited M/s Makrana Marbles for the purchase of marble and tiles for his newly built house. He asked the owner of the above shop Mr. J to visit his house prior to supply so that he can clearly ascertain the correct mix and measurements of marble and tiles. Mr. J agreed and visited the house on the next day. He inspected the rooms in the first floor and the car parking space. Mr. K insisted him to visit the second floor as well because the construction pattern was different, Mr. J ignored the above suggestion.
Mr. J. supplied 146 blocks of marble as per the size for the rooms and 16 boxes of tiles with a word of caution that the tiles can bear only a reasonable weight. Marble and Tiles were successfully laid except on second floor due to different sizes of the marble. The tiles fitted in the parking space also got damaged due to the weight of the vehicle came for unloading cement bags. Mr. K asked Mr. J for the replacement of marble and tiles to which Mr. J refused, taking the plea that the marble were as per the measurement and it was unsafe to fit tiles at the parking area as it cannot take heavy load. Discuss in the light of provisions of Sale of Goods Act 1930:
(i) Can Mr. J refuse to replace the marble with reference to the doctrine of Caveat Emptor? Enlist the duties of both Mr. K. and Mr. J.
(ii) Whether the replacement of damaged tiles be imposed on M/s Makrana Marbles? Explain.

Question

Mr. K visited M/s Makrana Marbles for the purchase of marble and tiles for his newly built house. He asked the owner of the above shop Mr. J to visit his house prior to supply so that he can clearly ascertain the correct mix and measurements of marble and tiles. Mr. J agreed and visited the house on the next day. He inspected the rooms in the first floor and the car parking space. Mr. K insisted him to visit the second floor as well because the construction pattern was different, Mr. J ignored the above suggestion. 
Mr. J. supplied 146 blocks of marble as per the size for the rooms and 16 boxes of tiles with a word of caution that the tiles can bear only a reasonable weight. Marble and Tiles were successfully laid except on second floor due to different sizes of the marble. The tiles fitted in the parking space also got damaged due to the weight of the vehicle came for unloading cement bags. Mr. K asked Mr. J for the replacement of marble and tiles to which Mr. J refused, taking the plea that the marble were as per the measurement and it was unsafe to fit tiles at the parking area as it cannot take heavy load. Discuss in the light of provisions of Sale of Goods Act 1930: 
(i) Can Mr. J refuse to replace the marble with reference to the doctrine of Caveat Emptor? Enlist the duties of both Mr. K. and Mr. J.
(ii) Whether the replacement of damaged tiles be imposed on M/s Makrana Marbles? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Yes, Mr. J can refuse to replace the marble as he has supplied the marble as per the requirement of the buyer i.e. Mr. K. 
Duty of Mr. K (the buyer) is that he has to examine the marbles and tiles carefully and should follow the caution given by Mr. J i.e. the seller that tiles can bear only a reasonable weight before laying them in the parking space of his house. 
Duty of Mr. J (the seller) is that the goods supplied (i.e. tiles and marbles) shall be reasonably fit for the purpose for which the buyer wants them. 
According to the doctrine of Caveat Emptor, it is the duty of the buyer to satisfy himself before buying the goods that the goods will serve the purpose for which they are being bought. 
In this case Mr. K has accepted the marbles without examination. Hence, there is no implied condition as regards to defects in marbles. Mr. J can refuse to replace the marble as he has supplied the marble as per the requirement of the buyer i.e., Mr. K. 
Alternate Answer 
(a) (i) According to doctrine of caveat emptor the buyer cannot hold the seller responsible for defect in goods supplied as it is the duty of the buyer to make a proper selection or choice of the goods. Section 16(1) also provides that there is no implied condition as to quality of fitness of the goods sold for any particular purpose. However, as an exception to this doctrine, the section further provides that if the buyer had made known to the seller the purpose of his purchase; relied on the seller’s skill and judgement; and Seller's business is to supply goods of that description then it shall be the duty of the seller to supply such goods as are reasonably fit for that purpose. 
In the instant case, Mr. K has made known to Mr. J the purpose of his purchase and relied on his skill and judgement. It was the duty of Mr. J to supply the marbles fit for that purpose including for second floor. Since the marbles supplied were not fit for second floor Mr. J is liable to replace the marbles to the extent not fit for that purpose. 
Duty of Mr. K (the buyer) As per the above doctrine it was the duty of the buyer Mr. K to make known to Mr. J the purpose of his purchase of marbles. He has fully performed his part arranging the visit of Mr. J to the site. 
Duty of Mr. J (the seller) is that the goods supplied (i.e. tiles and marbles) shall be reasonably fit for the purpose for which the buyer wants them. If Mr. K relied on the skill and judgement of Mr. J he failed to perform his duty by neglecting the request of Mr. K to visit second floor resulting in supplies of unfit marbles for the purpose of Mr. K. 
Considering the above provisions Mr. J will be liable to replace the marbles not fit for the second floor as Mr. J is bound to the implied condition to supply the marbles as per the requirement of Mr, J when he has made him known about that and relied on his skill and judgement.

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