JUDGMENT

A. VARADARAJAN, J. :— This appeal by special leave is directed against the one word order dated 1-2-1980 of- the learned single Judge of the Delhi High Court dismissing Civil Revn. Petn. No. 122 of 1980 in limine. The tenants who were respondents in the Rent Control Eviction Petition, filed the Civil Revision Petition against the Rent Controllers order dated 30-10-1979, declining to permit them to raise certain grounds of defence while granting leave to defend the eviction petition on certain other grounds. Special leave to appeal against the order of the learned single Judge of the High Court has been granted by this Court only on the question whether S. 14A of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 is applicable or not to the facts and circumstances of the case "in view of the later Circular of 1977". The "later Circular of 1977" mentioned in the special leave granted by this Court on 5-8-1980 is the office Memorandum dated 14-7-1977 of the Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Works and Housing, Directorate of Estates, hereinafter referred to as the "second notification". The same Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the same Ministry had issued the