Supreme Court Of India
Decided On : (September 1, 1998)
MOHANSINGH
Versus
AMAR SINGH
Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 - Section 21 - Limited tenancy - Permission to let out premises - Fraud and misrepresentation - Validity of permission - Objections after expiry of tenancy - Maintainability - Burden of proof - Tampering with judicial records - Criminal proceedings.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant, a tenant, obtained permission from the Additional Rent Controller (ARC) under Section 21 of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 (the Act) for a limited tenancy of two years. A joint application was filed again for a limited tenancy of two years, which was granted by the ARC for a period of three years. After the expiry of that period, the tenant did not vacate the premises, and the landlord filed an application for execution. The tenant filed objections, alleging fraud and misrepresentation in obtaining the permission under Section 21. The ARC allowed the objections and set aside the permission, holding that it was obtained by concealing the fact that the tenant was in possession of the premises. The landlord appealed to the Rent Control Tribunal, which allowed the appeal and directed the landlord to approach the trial court for issuance of a warrant of possession. The tenant filed a revision petition in the High Court, which was dismissed. The tenant then filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court.
Finding of the Court:
The Supreme Court held that the tenant was not entitled to raise objections to the validity of the permission granted under Section 21 after the expiry of the tenancy. The Court relied on the rulings in J. R. Vohra v. Indian Export House Pvt. Ltd. and Pankaj Bhargava v. Mohinder Nath, which held that a tenant who assails the permission under Section 21 on the ground of fraud or collusion must approach the Rent Controller during the currency of the limited tenancy and for an adjudication of his pleas as soon as he discovers facts and circumstances which, according to him, vitiate the permission. The Court also found that the tenant had tampered with the records of the ARC and the Rent Tribunal, and that the visa alleged to have been issued by the German Embassy to the tenant was not genuine. The Court directed the Registrar of the Court to file a complaint before the appropriate court and set the criminal law in motion against the tenant.
Issues: 1. Whether the tenant was entitled to raise objections to the validity of the permission granted under Section 21 after the expiry of the tenancy? 2. Whether the tenant had tampered with the records of the ARC and the Rent Tribunal? 3. Whether the visa alleged to have been issued by the German Embassy to the tenant was genuine?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. A tenant who assails the permission under Section 21 on the ground of fraud or collusion must approach the Rent Controller during the currency of the limited tenancy and for an adjudication of his pleas as soon as he discovers facts and circumstances which, according to him, vitiate the permission. 2. Tampering with the records of judicial proceedings and filing of false affidavits in a Court of law has the tendency of causing obstruction in the due course of justice. It undermines and obstructs free flow of unsoiled stream of justice and aims at striking a blow at the rule of law. 3. The burden of proof is on the person alleging fraud or collusion to prove the same.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed with costs. The tenant was directed to deliver possession of the premises in question to the respondents on or before a specified date. The Court also directed the Registrar of the Court to file a complaint before the appropriate court and set the criminal law in motion against the tenant.
Judgment
SRINIVASAN, J.
( 1 ) THE appellant became a tenant under Amar Singh the grand-father of the present respondents with respect to premises situate in E-222, East of Kailash on 29-6-1979. For the sake of convenience, the parties will be referred to as tenant and landlord herein. A joint application was filed before the Additional Rent Controller (for short A. R. C.), Delhi under Section 21 of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 hereinafter referred to as the Act for permission to let the premises for a limited period of two years. The same was granted on 3-7-1979. On 29-6-1981 another joint application under Section 21 was filed for permission to create a limited tenancy for two years. On 30-6-1981 statements of landlord and tenant were recorded by the A. R. C. Permission was granted for a period of three years. On the expiry of that period the tenant did not vacate the premises and the landlord filed an application for execution. Notice was issued to the tenant returnable on 25-1-85. As he was not served, fresh notice was ordered for 19-4-85. On that day, the tenant did not appear though served on 24-3-85. The Court directed issue of warrant but in the afternoon, the tenant appeared before Court and filed his objections. An application was also moved for cancellation of warrant of possession. By order dated 29-4-85 the A. R. C. recorded that there was no Justification for issuance of ex parte stay to stop the execution of warrant of possession and ordered notice of the application to the council for the landlord. The warrant could not be executed and when the matter came up before Court on 31-5-85 the landlord was given time to file reply to the objections filed by the tenant till 2-8-85. On the latter date, the landlord filed his reply, and the appellant was given time to file re-joinder till 6-9-1985. No re-joinder was filed on 6-9-1985 and the case was fixed for hearing arguments on the objections and posted to 11-10-1985. On that date, the tenant filed replication and served a copy thereof on the landlords counsel. Arguments were heard and the matter was posted for orders to 18-10-1985. The A. R. C. passed an order on 18-10-1985 that the objections filed by the tenant could not be dismissed without recording the evidence and granted permission to the tenant to lead evidence in support of the objection. The landlord was permitted to repudiate the evidence led by the tenant. The dispossession of the tenant was stayed till the decision on the objections.
( 2 ) IN the objections filed by the tenant it was contended that the grant of permission under Section 21 of the Act on 30-6-1981 was wholly vitiated by fraud and misrepresentation and it was contrary to the provisions of Section 21 of the Act. It was alleged that the landlord had misled and misrepresented the relevant facts at the time of grant of permission that his family will shift from Amritsar where he was residing but his family was never living at Amritsar and the premises in question were not required by the landlord for his residence after the expiry of three years as alleged by him. It was also stated that the landlord owned a property bearing number E-3, East of Kailash, where he and his family were living throughout. It was further stated that the tenant was in occupation of premises since 29-6-1979 and had continued and remained in possession of the premises in question and he had never vacated the same since that date. It was alleged that the landlord wanted to enhance the rent to Rs. 3000. 00 per mensem which the tenant had refused to agree and therefore the petition for execution was filed. It was also stated that the order under Section 21 was liable to be set aside and quashed and no warrant of possession in respect of the premises in question could be issued against the tenant. No plea was raised then by him that he was not present in the Court of A. R. C. on 30-6-81.
( 3 ) IN the reply filed by the landlord, it was contended that the tenant being a sig
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