SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Article Pause Article
judgment-img

2010 Supreme(Bom) 1397

In the High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.S. SHINDE
Rajaram Keshav Dhobi & Another
Versus
Narayan Jairam Marathe
CIVIL REVISION APPLICATION NO.145 OF 2009 WITH CIVIL REVISION APPLICATION NO.190 OF 2009
Decided On : 30-09-2010

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. B.N. Patil, Advocate for applicant in C.R.A. No.145/09 and for respondents in C.R.A. No.190/09.
Mr. S.P. Shah, Advocate for Sole respondent in C.R.A. No.145/09 and for applicant in C.R.A. No.190/09.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the landlord is entitled to recover possession if the tenant has acquired vacant possession of a suitable residence, as per Section 13(1)(l) of the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1947.

Headnote:

Rents Control Act - Possession - Section 13 of the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1947 - [T.P. No.133] - [Section 13(1)(g), Section 13(1)(l)] - The court discussed the reasonable and bonafide requirement of the plaintiff and the defendant's acquisition of a suitable residence. The court found that the defendant had acquired a suitable residence and upheld the plaintiff's claim for possession.

Fact of the Case:

The suit was filed for possession by the landlord on the ground of personal occupation, business, and construction for their residence against the defendant. The defendant resisted the claim, arguing that the suit was barred by the principle of res-judicata and that the plaintiff's bonafide requirement was not proven.

Finding of the Court:

The Trial Court held against the plaintiffs on the point of bonafide requirement of the suit premises, and further held that the plaintiff is not entitled to possession. The Appellate Court, however, found that the defendant had acquired a suitable residence and upheld the plaintiff's claim for possession.

Issues: The issues included the bonafide requirement of the plaintiff, whether the suit was barred by the principle of res-judicata, and whether the defendant had acquired a suitable residence.

Ratio Decidendi: The court found that the defendant had acquired a suitable residence, and therefore, the plaintiff was entitled to possession. The court also held that the suit was not barred by the principle of res-judicata.

Final Decision: The suit was decreed, and the defendant was directed to deliver vacant possession of the suit premises to the plaintiff within two months.

Judgment :

Rule, Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally with the consent of parties.

2. Both the Civil Revision Applications are filed, challenging the Judgment and decree dated 11th August, 2009 passed by the Adhoc District Judge-1, Amalner, Dist. Jalgaon, in Regular Civil Appeal No.15 of 2004. This Court vide order dated 17th February, 2010 in Civil Revision Application No.190 of 2009 observed that the revision is to be finally heard, at the stage of admission. Further this Court was pleased to call record and proceedings and accordingly record and proceedings are received from the concerned Court.

The applicant in Civil Revision Application No.145 of 2009 i.e. Rajaram Keshav Dhobi is original plaintiff and the applicant Shri Narayan Jairam Marathe in Civil Revision Application No.190 of 2009 is original defendant in Regular Civil Suit No.159 of 1994. The said suit was filed for possession by the land-lord/Plaintiffs on the ground of personal occupation, business and construction for their residence against the defendants, by claiming a decree for eviction as provided under Section 13 of the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1947 (here-in-after called as "the Act").

3. Brief facts as disclosed in the plaint are as under :

The plaintiffs claimed to be landlord of the house property T.P. No.133 within area of boundaries mentioned in para No.1 of the plaint. The western site of premises as described in para No.1 let to the defendant's father by their uncle at monthly rent of Rs.5.25/-as per English Calender. The tiled hut on area 16 x 10 erected by the land-lord's ancestor at the suit premises. (here-in-after called it as "suit premises").

The father of defendant died on 14th October, 1993 in house owned by defendant in Gurukul Cooperative Housing Society at Amalner. The defendant is a member of said housing society. He has constructed three rooms house and residing along with his family there. It was contended in the plaint that the defendant unnecessary retained possession over the suit premises. The plaintiff further contended that, suit premises are required for residence and business and for further construction of entire area of T.P. No.133. They have prepared a map and sanctioned it by Municipal Council, Amalner. According to plaintiff, they have constructed area which was possessed by them. The remaining proposed construction area is in possession of the defendant, where they want to construct kitchen, latrine etc. But could not construct it. Since the plaintiffs required the suit premises for residence they issued notice dated 15th June, 1994 for termination of tenancy to the defendant. Since defendant failed to handover possession, the plaintiffs filed Suit bearing Regular Civil Suit No.159 of 1994.

4. The defendant resisted the claim by filing written statement (Exh. 14). The plaintiffs bonafide requirement of suit premises was disputed by the defendants. It was also stated in the written statement that the suit is bad for non-joinder of necessary/certain parties. It was also stated in the written statement, that plaintiffs did file Regular Civil Suit No.104 of 1974 against the father of the defendant and said suit came to be dismissed. Therefore, principle of res-judicata squarely applies to the case, and therefore, Regular Civil Suit No.159 of 1994 being barred by principle of res-judicata, should not be heard at all by the Trial Court. The written statement also includes other contentions of the defendant.

5. The Trial Court after closing of the evidence adduced by the parties, written notes of arguments (at Exh. 256 and Exh. 258) respectively, framed necessary issues for determination. The Trial Court has framed as many as seven issues for its determination and consideration. So far personal and bonafide requirement of the plaintiff is concerned, the issue No.2 was framed by the Trial Court and said issue has been answered in negative. The issue No.4 i.e. "Whether defendant prove











































Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
whatsapp-icon Back to top