JUDGMENT

The landlord-respondents filed an application seeking eviction of the appellant-tenant from the suit premises on the ground alleged to be available under Clause (i) of sub-Section (2) of Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, (Act No. 18 of 1960) (hereinafter referred as the Act for short). The relevant provisions read as under:

"10. Eviction of tenants:-

(2) A landlord who seeks to evict his tenant shall apply to the Controller for a direction in that behalf. If the Controller, after giving the tenant a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the application, is satisfied--

(i) that the tenant has not paid or tendeed the rent due by him in respect of the building, within fifteen days after the expiry of the time fixed in the agreement of tenancy with his landlord or in the absence of any such agreement, by the last day of the month next following that for which the rent is payable, or

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the Controller shall make an order directing the tenant to put the landlord in possession of the building and if the Controller is not so satisfied, he shall make an order r