2006 Supreme(Bom) 471
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
(A.P. Lavande, J.)
SHRIKRISHNA SHETYE deceased by LRs. - Petitioners
V.
JUSTIN ACACIO DSOUZA and others - Respondents
Advocates appeared
For petitioner: J. P. Mulgaonkar
For respondent: A. D. Bhobe
Headnote:Goa, Daman and Diu Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1969 - Section 23(1)(a)(i) - Bona fide requirement of landlord - Landlord wanted to get married and settle in Goa - He was already engaged but he could not get married for one and half years since he had no accommodation to reside in Goa - Landlord is successful in proving his need for accommodation - Administrative Tribunal and Rent Controller were absolutely justified in ordering eviction of the original opponent - Petition dismissed.
2. The original applicant - Justino Acacio DSouza had filed an application for eviction of his tenant/opponent Shrikrishna Shetye in respect of the premises bearing House No. E - 6 - 105, situated at Ansabhat Mapusa, Bardez, Goa which was leased to him on a monthly rent of Rs. 100/ - . The eviction was sought on two grounds, namely, subletting of the premises and the applicants requirement of the premises for his personal occupation. The application was contested by the opponent and in the course of inquiry, the applicant examined two witnesses, including himself and the opponent examined three witnesses, including himself. The Addl. Rent Controller, after appreciating the evidence led by the parties, held against the applicant - landlord in respect of sub - letting, but in respect of requirement for the personal occupation, gave findings in favour of the applicant and ordered eviction of the opponent. In the appeal preferred by the opponent, the judgment passed by the Rent Controller was confirmed. By the present petition, the petitioner challenges both the Judgments and Orders passed against him.
3. Mr. Mulgaonkar, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner/opponent submitted that both the Rent Controller as well as the Administrative Tribunal have committed jurisdictional error by not appreciating the fact that the original respondent had not established the ingredients of section 23(1)(a)(i) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1968 ("the Act", for short). He submitted that in order to succeed under section 23(1)(a)(i) of the Act, the landlord has to establish that he wants to settle down in the premises in respect of which the eviction is sought. The learned Counsel further submitted that there must be some element of permanency of residence when eviction is sought under section 23(1)(a)(i) of the Act. According to the learned Counsel, both the Administrative Tribunal as well as Rent Controller have given a finding that the premises were required for occupation of the original applicant as and when he comes down to Goa and that too occasionally. He, therefore, submitted that the impugned Judgments and Orders are liable to be set aside inasmuch as there is an error of law apparent on the face of the record which justifies interference of this Court in exercise of writ jurisdiction by this Court. In support of his submissions, he relied upon the following judgments:
(1) Mst. Jagir Kaur and anr. V. Jaswant Singh, AIR 1963 SC 1521 (2) Smt. Jeewanti Pandey V. Kishan Chandra Pandey, 1981(4) SCC 517 (3) Rahabhar Productions Pvt. Ltd. V. Rajendra K. Tandon, (1998)4 SCC 49 (4) Pratap Rai Tanwani and anr. V. Uttam Chand and anr., (2004)8 SCC 490.
4. Per contra, Mr. Bhobe, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent No.1 submitted that the concurrent findings recorded by the Rent Controller as well as by the Administrative Tribunal are based on evidence on record and, therefore, having regard to the principles of interference in exercise of Writ Jurisdiction against the orders passed by the Tribunal, no interference is called for in this writ petition. He further submitted that it was the case of the original applicant that he wanted to get married an