As per case facts, an oral agreement for the sale of properties was formalized into a registered written agreement, with a substantial advance paid. The defendant argued that the plaintiffs ... failed to pay the balance consideration by a stipulated date, asserting time was of the essence, and claimed an additional advance endorsement was coerced. The plaintiffs countered that time was not of the essence due to the defendant's failure to evict tenants and his instigation of a related suit to impede the sale. The defendant appealed the trial court's judgment which ordered specific performance. The question arose whether the sale agreement was enforceable, if the endorsement was coerced, if time was of the essence, and if the plaintiffs were ready and willing. Finally, the court found the agreement and advance payment admitted, the coercion claim unproven, and that the defendant's actions (failure to evict, instigating a related suit) prevented time from being of the essence. The appeal was dismissed, and the defendant was directed to execute the sale deed.