IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
SUBBA REDDY SATTI, J.
Sereddy Chenchi Reddy, S/o Venkat Reddy - Petitioner
Versus
M/s. Hotel Sarovar, Rep. by its Partner Syed Aziz, S/o. Khasi and Others – Respondents
Civil Revision Petition No.635 Of 2022
Decided On : 14-06-2023
Code of Civil Pricedure, 1908 - Order XV-A - Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 227 - Power of judicial review - Seeking eviction of plaintiffs and delivery of vacant possession of the plaint schedule property to the defendants - Whether order passed in I.A. in O.S. on the file of learned III Additional Junior Civil Judge, Guntur, is legally sustainable - Whether Trial Court is justified in directing the plaintiffs to deposit damages of Rs.25,000/- per day – Held, Article 227 of the Constitution of India deals with power of superintendence by the High Court over all Subordinate Courts and Tribunals. The power of superintendence conferred upon the High Court under Article 227 is not confined to administrative superintendence only, but includes the power of judicial review. The duty of this Court is to see that the Courts shall not exceed its power that is conferred on it or exercise power based on extraneous material to pass any order and to keep the subordinate courts within its bounds of jurisdiction - Civil Revision Petition allowed.
ORDER :
1. Plaintiff No.1 in the suit filed above revision against order, dated 03.03.2022 in O.S.No.279 of 2021 on the file of learned III Additional Junior Civil Judge, Guntur.
2. The averments, in brief, in the plaint are that defendant No.1 firm is the owner of property bearing door No.13-8-187 admeasuring 832 square yards of site along with ground, first, second and third floors. Defendant No.1 firm leased out first, second and third floors along with steps on the ground floor as also reception counter along with lavatories and bathrooms and current connections to the plaintiffs, on 27.05.2015 for a period of six years from 01.04.2015 to 31.03.2021. Rent for three years i.e. from 01.04.2015 to 31.03.2021 is Rs.60,000/- and from 01.04.2023 onwards, Rs.78,000/- per month. The rent is payable on the fifth of every succeeding month. Plaintiffs took plaint schedule property on lease and have been running Sri Tirumala Hotel Sarovar Lodge. Plaintiffs paid Rs.10,00,000/- to defendant No.1 as refundable advance amount without interest at the time of taking property on lease. Defendants represented that, plaintiffs can continue as lessees even after expiry of lease with same terms and conditions mentioned in the lease deed. In the lease deed, a condition was also incorporated regarding damages. Plaintiffs invested huge amounts. Lease deed dated 27.05.2015 was registered as document No.5301 of 2015. Plaintiffs have been regularly paying rent through NEFT/RTGS and the present rent payable is Rs.78,000/- per month including TDS. Defendants violated their assurance to continue plaintiffs as tenants and intended to evict plaintiffs from the plaint schedule property. Plaintiffs issued registered legal notice on 19.11.2020 requesting defendants to enter fresh lease for a period of five years. Defendants issued reply notice with false allegations. Subsequently, there were negotiations in the presence of Suravarapu Venkata Reddy and Ambati Srinivas Reddy. There was a compromise to extend the lease orally. Plaintiffs issued notice requesting the defendants not to take any coercive steps against them. With these averments, the suit was filed for perpetual injunction.
3. Defendant No.3 filed written statement and counter claim. It was contended inter alia that plaintiffs approached the defendants with an intention to run Tirumala Hotel Sarovar Lodge in the plaint schedule property. Accordingly registered lease deed was executed on 27.05.2015. As per the terms of the lease deed, rent was fixed at Rs.60,000/- per month for first three years and thereafter at Rs.78,000/- per month. Power consumption charges are to be paid by the plaintiffs and property tax is to be paid by defendant No.1. Plaintiffs also paid Rs.10,00,000/- as refundable deposit. As per the terms and conditions of lease deed, if possession of the plaint schedule property is not delivered after expiry of the lease, plaintiffs will be treated as trespassers and defendants are entitled to claim Rs.25,000/- per day towards damages, from the plaintiffs.
4. Plaintiffs issued legal notice, dated 19.11.2020 requesting the defendants to extend the lease period for five years more. Defendants got issued registered reply notice, dated 24.11.2020. Plaintiffs again got issued legal notice dated 04.03.2021 contending about oral understanding. Defendants got issued reply notice, dated 08.03.2021. Plaintiffs, by suppressing reply notice, dated 08.03.2021, approached the Court with false allegations. As per recitals of registered lease deed, lease was determined on 31.03.2021 and plaintiffs shall deliver vacant possession. Counter claim was filed seeking eviction of plaintiffs and delivery of vacant possession of the plaint schedule property to the defendants.
5. Counter claim was valued at Rs.78,000/- per month and accordingly Court Fee was paid.
6. Pending the suit, defendants filed I.A.No.203 of 2021 under Order XV-A read with Section 151 of CPC to direct the plaintiffs to pay agreed amount of
The registered Addendum Lease Deed prevails over the unregistered MoU, and the trial Court's order on rent determination is upheld based on tenant admissions.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the court can direct the defendants to deposit arrears of rent based on the terms of the lease agreement, and a petition to reopen a case must....
Order XV(A) CPC requires an admission of the landlord-tenant relationship for its applicability; disputes over this relationship preclude its enforcement.
The ruling clarifies the obligations of tenants regarding payment for use and occupation of leased property amidst pending disputes.
The court upheld the Tribunal's order for payment of rent arrears under Order 15-A of CPC, emphasizing the necessity of summary enquiry for disputed amounts.
Strict compliance with the deposit requirements under Order XV Rule 5 CPC is mandatory for tenants in eviction suits, and inconsistent conduct may not entitle them to relief.
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