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2023 Supreme(Pat) 1001

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
SUNIL DUTTA MISHRA, J.
Civil Revision No.33 of 2023
(21.9.2023)
Sanatan Sah ... Petitioner
vs.
Rakesh Kumar Gupta ... Respondents

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Ms. Sushmita Mishra.
For the Respondent: M/s Pramod Kumar Sinha, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Chetan Kumar, Chhitij Parashar.

Headnote:

Bihar Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1982 – Section 14 (8) – Revisional jurisdiction – Scope and ambit – Power under proviso to Section 14 (8) of Act of this Court is limited to extent of seeing as to whether order of eviction is according to law or not – For this limited purpose, Court can reappraise evidence as an Appellate Court and will not interfere with order on the ground that on appreciation of evidence a different view can be taken – This Court will interfere in case it is found that order is based on no evidence or Court below has ignored material evidence, which has material evidence, which has affected the findings or findings are perverse, unreasonable or having been arrived at without considering statutory requirements for grant of relief. (Para 16)

Bihar Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1982 – Sections 11(1)(c) and 14 (8) – Eviction of tenant on the ground of personal necessity of landlord – Basic object of Rent Control legislation is to save harassment of tenants from unscrupulous landlords and not to deprive landlords of their properties for all time to come – It is always choice of landlord to choose premises for his business or residence – Bond fide need should be genuine, honest, conceived in good faith and may not be a pretext to evict tenant or only for increasing the rent – Necessity need not be proved as a dire necessity – Under proviso of Section 11 (1) (C) of BBC Act it is also mandatory on part of court to consider issue of partial eviction – Eviction on ground of personal necessity cannot be allowed without recording a finding on partial eviction – It is proved that plaintiff and defendant are landlord and tenant and plaintiff is entitled to evict defendant from suit premises – However, Trial Court directed to decide issue of partial eviction – Court not inclined to interfere in respect of other findings as recorded by Trial Court. (Paras 17, 19, 20, 21, 26 to 31)

Sunil Dutta Mishra, J. – Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. This Civil Revision Application under Section 14 (8) of Bihar Building (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1982 (for short ‘BBC Act’) has been filed for setting aside the judgment/decree dated 17.10.2022 passed by learned Sub-Judge Ist, Munger in Eviction Suit No. 06 of 2008 whereby and whereunder the aforesaid suit filed by the opposite party/ respondent (plaintiff in the trial Court) on the ground of personal necessity has been decreed and the petitioner/defendant in the trial Court has been directed to vacate the suit property within sixty days of passing the decree.

Brief Facts

3. The Opposite Party/plaintiff filed the Eviction Suit No. 06 of 2008 stating that after the death of plaintiff’s father, his elder brother Chandramani Prasad Gupta became Karta, Manager and representative of Joint Hindu undivided family. The joint family own and possess a house bearing holding No. 5 and 5 ‘A’(old) corresponding to 5 and 6 (new) at Kaura Maidan Munger and present suit is filed for eviction of defendant from one of Khatal of said holding. The joint family of plaintiff divided on the basis of Yaddast partition between the brothers. After partition, the suit premises fell in Khas share of the plaintiff. The plaintiff has become owner of suit premises who is in constructive possession and defendant is tenant.

4. The further case of the plaintiff is that he intended to start food grain business for source of income and livelihood of his family and requires the suit premises for his own use and occupation and requested defendant to vacate the suit premises. Elder brother of the plaintiff has also requested to vacate suit premises but defendant refused to vacate the suit premises without any reason hence, the eviction suit on the ground of personal necessity has been filed.

5. The defendant filed written statement claiming that Chandramani Gupta is landlord of the defendant who has never informed about the fact that after partition plaintiff became landlord and there exists no relationship of landlord and tenant between the plaintiff and defendant. One Dinesh Chand Gupta has also asked rent through notice dated 15.07.2009 from the defendant/petitioner.

6. The further case of the defendant is that the boundary of suit premises as mentioned in Schedule-II of the plaint differs from tenancy premises in occupation of defendant. Plaintiff’s elder brother Chandramani Prasad Gupta had filed Eviction Suit No. 66 of 1985 and in Second Appeal No. 302 of 1991 in this Court, the rent was increased from Rs. 45 to Rs. 450 per month. It is further stated that defendant has no necessity of suit Khatal as he is a lawyer and never intended to do business.

7. The trial Court framed issues. Both the parties lead their evidences and the Court below on consideration of evidence and after hearing the parties decreed the suit and directed the defendant to vacate the suit premises within sixty days and hand over possession thereof to the plaintiff.

8. The trial Court framed nine issues including the formal issues for consideration. On the issues whether the relationship of landlord and tenant exists between the parties and whether the plaintiff needs the suit premises personal, reasonable, bona fide and in good faith. The learned trial Court held that there is relationship of landlord and tenant between the parties, the plaintiff has reasonable and bond fide need for his personal use.

Submissions on behalf of Parties

9. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that there is no landlord and tenant relationship between the parties. The finding of the learned Court below is not in accordance with the material on record. The learned Court below has neither framed issue on the point of partial eviction and also there is no finding on the same, accordingly, impugned judgment/decree is not sustainable.

10. Further, learned counsel for petitioner has submitted that petitioner/defendant has never paid any

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