JUDGMENT :

Dama Seshadri Naidu, J.

Petitioner Shrikant Dattatraya Deshpande claims to be a "tenant". Indeed, much turns upon that expression, for respondent Jayant Waman Bhat asserts that Shrikant is only a licencee. Originally, Shalini Waman Bhat, Jayant's mother, as the owner, filed Application No.17 of 2004 under Section 24 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, for evicting Shrikant. She filed that application before the Competent Authority, Pune Division. Through its order, dated 29th January 2005, the Competent Authority allowed that application.

2. Aggrieved, Shrikant filed Revision No.166 of 2005 before the Additional Commissioner, Pune. But the Additional Commissioner, too, dismissed the revision, through order dated 3rd March 2005. Then, Shrikant has filed this writ petition. Pending these proceedings, Shalini Waman Bhat died; so her son, Jayant, as the legal representative, has been prosecuting the case.

3. Though the facts seem to lie in a narrow compass, this case has a chequered history. It all began in 1986. So I need to set out the facts, as well as the course of liti