IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
Subba Reddy Satti, J.
Vasireddy Hanumatha Rao, S/o Subbarayudu - Appellant
Versus
Sri Yogananda Ashramam and others – Respondents
Second Appeal No.285 of 2022
Decided On : 06-01-2023
Andhra Pradesh Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1960 - Enhancement of damages - Recovery of possession - Whether suit is not maintainable - Whether the plaintiff is entitled for eviction of the defendant from the suit schedule property - Held, In the absence of any other cogent evidence that what was leased out is shed but not vacant land, in the considered opinion of this Court, findings recorded by the Courts below that only vacant site was leased out and the Civil Court got jurisdiction to entertain the suit, cannot be disturbed - Court while exercising jurisdiction under Section 100 of the CPC must confine to the substantial question of law involved in the appeal - Court cannot re-appreciate the evidence and interfere with the concurrent findings of the Court below where the Courts below have exercised the discretion judicially - Further the existence of substantial question of law is the sine qua non for the exercise of jurisdiction- Appeal is dismissed
JUDGMENT :
Defendant in the suit filed the above second appeal aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 21.02.2022 in A.S.No.56 of 2019 on the file of XIII Additional District and Sessions Judge, Narasaraopeta, confirming the judgment and decree dated 10.04.2019 in O.S.No.46 of 2013 on the file of Junior Civil Judge, Vinukonda.
2. For the sake of convenience, the parties to this judgment are referred to as per their array in the plaint.
3. Plaintiff filed suit O.S.No.46 of 2013 seeking possession of plaint schedule property by ejecting the defendant; direct the defendant to remove the super structures lying in the plaint schedule or in case if the defendant failed to remove the same, to permit the plaintiff to remove the structures; recovery of damages at Rs.33,465/- for use and occupation from 24.06.2010 to 06.02.2013 and for enhancement of damages etc.
4. Plaintiff, an Ashramam represented by the President of its Trust Board, filed the above suit. In the plaint it was contended that Ashramam is the owner of plaint schedule site. The 1st defendant initially took the schedule site on lease in March, 1997 from the then Mathadipathi of plaintiff Sri Chevuri Satyanarayana for a period of five years and constructed a semi-permanent iron sheet roofed shed in the schedule site and began to run motor spares parts business and he agreed to pay rent at Rs.900/- per month. Mathadipathi Sri Chevuri Satyanarayana, who leased out the property to 1st defendant died on 09.06.1999. After death of Mathadipathi, successor management of plaintiff and 1st defendant came to mutual understanding to determine the subsisting lease and to enter into new contract of tenancy. Accordingly, fresh lease deed dated 24.05.2000 was entered into in between President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer of plaintiff and 1st defendant on 24.05.2000 for a period of 10 years. 1st defendant agreed to pay rent at Rs.900/- for first five years and Rs.1,035/- for remaining five years. Though it was mentioned in lease deed that super structures standing in the schedule site belonged to landlord, 1st defendant disputed and claimed that said shed belongs to him. The Trust Board of plaintiff executed a separate deed of acknowledgment in favour of 1st defendant accepting his claim in respect of super structure on the plaint schedule property. 1st defendant without consent and knowledge of plaintiff, contrary to the conditions of lease deed dated 24.05.2000 sublet D.No.31-1242 to 2nd defendant; D.No.31- 1243 to 3rd defendant and D.No.31-1244 to 4th and he is getting monthly rents of Rs.5,000/- from defendants 2 to 4 and an amount of Rs.3,000/- from 5th defendant, who is utilizing newly made shop on the backside of shed as godown. Since then, 1st defendant is collecting monthly rent of Rs.5,000/- per month from 2nd defendant. Plaintiff Ashramam is having shopping complex of 17 shops on it frontage i.e. Northern side including plaint schedule. The management intended to establish multi specialty hospital utilizing vacant site of Ashramam including the shopping complex site abutting the main road. After expiry of lease period, 1st defendant promised to vacate and handover plaint schedule site to plaintiff, however, he failed to keep up to his word. Legal notice dated 14.08.2010 was issued calling upon the defendant and other tenants to vacate the schedule site. 1st Defendant having received the notice, got issued reply dated 31.08.2010 with false allegations. 1st Defendant is also irregular in payment of rents. Tenancy came to an end by 23.05.2010 by afflux of time. Plaintiff is not accepting any rents from 1st defendant after determination of lease and the defendant also not tendered any rent. Defendants are liable to pay damages for use and occupation from 24.05.2010 and hence, the suit was filed for the reliefs stated supra.
5. 1st Defendant filed written statement and the same was adopted by defendants 2, 3 and 5. 1st Defendant admitted that he took plaint schedule site on l
Subhash Chander and Ors. Vs. Bharat Petroluem Corporation Ltd. and Ors.
A civil court has jurisdiction to entertain a suit for possession of a vacant site that was leased out, even if the tenant has constructed a shed on the site, and the Andhra Pradesh Buildings (Lease,....
A civil court has jurisdiction to entertain a suit for recovery of possession of vacant land leased out to a tenant, even if the tenant has constructed a shed on the land, provided that the plaintiff....
The court affirmed that ownership claims must be supported by documentary evidence, and the principle of preponderance of probability governs determinations of title and tenancy.
The central legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation and application of the provisions of the Transfer of Property Act in determining the rights of parties in a property dispute.
The amended Section 32(c) of the Rent Control Act restricts civil court jurisdiction over eviction suits for tenants paying rent below specified thresholds.
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