2006 Supreme(Bom) 1769
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
(B. P. Dharmadhikari, J.)
GANESH TUKARAM LONKAR - Petitioner.
vs.
VINAYAK DEORAO BHORE and another - Respondents.
W. P. Nos. 1736 and 1933 of 1996
Decided on 6-11-2006
Advocates Appeared
In W. P. No. /736 of 1996:
For petitioner: A. K. Thakkar
For respondent No.2: V. P. Panpalia
In W. P. No. 1933 of 1996:
For petitioner: V. P. Panpalia
For respondent: A. K. Thakkar
Headnote:C.P. and Berar Letting of Houses and Rent Control Order, 1949 - Clause 13(3)(i)(ii) - Permission under - Grant of - Suit for eviction - Landlord establishing necessary ingredients for grant of permission under Clause 13(3)(i)(ii) of order - Mala-fides or bona fides not be relevant - Whether tenant deposited amount or not within time - A relevant question in civil suit filed by landlord for eviction of tenant - Parties have to prove existence of such permission only. - It is apparent that after holding tenant in arrears and after giving him time to deposit those arrears law takes its own course and Rent Controller becomes functus officio. Question whether amount deposited by tenant is or is not within time therefore is relevant in civil suit filed by landlord for eviction of tenant on the strength of such permission and parties have to prove existence or otherwise of such permission in that suit only.
C.P. and Berar Letting of Houses and Rent Control Order, 1949 - Clause 13(3)(vi) and (8) - Transfer of Property Act, 1882, Section 109 - Suit for eviction - Rights of transferee, lessor - Splitting of tenancy - Eviction of tenant - From portion purchased by landlord not prohibited - Because of transfer and operation of Section 109 of T.P. Act. - Provisions of Clause 13 sub- clauses (3)(vi) and (8) of Rent Control Order read with Section 109 of T.P. Act permit landlord to seek partial eviction and therefore permission from Rent Controller even in relation to that portion of entire tenanted premises which are purchased by him. Splitting of tenancy and eviction of tenant from portion purchased is not prohibited here.
2. Premises in possession of tenant consist of two rooms with kitchen, varandah, bathroom and latrine. The landlord has described the premises in two parts as 1A and 1B, and user of bathroom and latrine has been mentioned to be incidental. This is on account of fact that entire tenanted premises have been later on purchased by two different persons after partition in the family of original landlord Himmatlal. Landlord mentioned that two rooms with kitchen, varandah with incidental user of bathroom and latrine are in occupation of tenant as monthly tenant at rate of Rs. 150/- per month. It is mentioned that the premises were rented out without any electrical fittings and/or water connections. On 14-81990 Himmatlal is stated to have effected partition and portion above came to share of his daughter-in-law by name Kiran w/o Pramod and accordingly Himmatlal informed the same to tenant. On 24-1-1991 Smt. Kiran sold the premises to landlord Ganesh and this was communicated to tenant vide notice dated 14-2-1991. Tenant was informed that he has to pay rent from February, 1991 onwards to said new landlord. The tenant however did not abide by instructions and hence on 9-10-1991 landlord called upon tenant to clear all arrears up-to-date but tenant did not accept that notice and hence complaining of arrears from February, 1991 till October, 1991 totalling Rs. 1350/- only, landlord filed Rent Control case number 8/91-92 before Rent Controller at Akot, and sought permission to terminate tenancy under clause 13(3)(i) and (ii) of Rent Control Order. During pendency of these proceedings, making similar allegations he filed identical proceedings vide case number 2/92-93 in relation to period from November, 1991 till August, 1992 pointing out that arrears of Rs. 1500/only for said 10 months have not been cleared. He stated that thus on the date of filing of that application total arrears for 19 months i.e. period covered in both cases worked out to Rs. 2850/- only.
3. Both applications were opposed by tenant Vinayak who pointed out that entire premises including bathroom and latrine were let out to him and there was no question of splitting up the same. He accepted the Rent of Rs. 150/- per month but stated that it was inclusive of electric charges and water charges as also municipal taxes. Partition allegedly effected by Himmatlal was denied and it was stated that daughter-in-law Kiran could not have any share in partition and she could not have sold any portion to landlord. No