HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
Salil Kumar Datta
TINKARI DAS - Appellant
Versus
JAMUNA BALA DASI - Respondent
S. A. 1004 Of 1968
Decided On : APRIL 12, 1973
LANDLORD AND TENANT - LEASE - FORFEITURE - NOTICE - TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882, SECTION 111 (G) - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS - AMENDMENT OF PLAINT - COURT'S POWER TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION - WEST BENGAL ESTATES ACQUISITION ACT - INTERMEDIARY - DEFINITION - DAKHALKAR - NON-AGRICULTURAL TENANT - VESTING OF INTEREST IN STATE.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff sued for eviction of defendant from a tank, alleging that the defendant had not paid rent for several years and that the lease contained a forfeiture clause. The defendant contended that she was not liable to eviction as she had paid rent regularly and that the forfeiture clause was not binding on her as she was an illiterate lady and did not understand the contents of the lease. The defendant also contended that the plaintiff's interest in the tank had vested in the State of West Bengal and that the plaintiff had no locus standi to sue.
Finding of the Court:
The trial court found that the plaintiff was not entitled to a decree on the basis of the forfeiture clause in absence of a notice. The trial Court further found that the plaintiff's interest in the suit property did not vest in the State of West Bengal and the plaintiff had the locus standi to institute the suit and to obtain the decree as prayed for. The appellate Court affirmed the judgment of the trial Court with some amendment in regard to the findings about Ext. 1 which is the lease deed. The appellate Court also held that the plaintiff was not an intermediary and his interest did not vest in the State. It was further held that the suit for eviction could not succeed on the ground of forfeiture in absence of notice contemplated under Section 111 (g) of the Transfer of Property Act. The Court, however, found that the defendant simply took the settlement of fishery right and such right could be leased out under the provisions of Transfer of Property Act. Accordingly the tenancy was governed by the said Act and the defendant was liable to be evicted on the ground that the defendant's tenancy had expired by lapse of time.
Issues: 1. Whether the court can take cognisance of a subsequent event which has the effect of bringing in a new cause of action for the suit. 2. Whether the plaintiff's interest in the suit property vested in the State of West Bengal. 3. Whether the defendant was liable to be evicted on the ground of forfeiture in absence of notice contemplated under Section 111 (g) of the Transfer of Property Act.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court is entitled to take into consideration subsequent events for the purpose of shortening litigation and doing complete justice to the parties. 2. The plaintiff's interest in the suit property did not vest in the State of West Bengal as the plaintiff was a non-agricultural tenant and not an intermediary. 3. The defendant was liable to be evicted on the ground that the defendant's tenancy had expired by lapse of time.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed and the cross-objection was allowed as indicated above.
( 1 ) THIS is an appeal by the defendant against a judgment of affirmance. The plaintiff instituted the suit on 26th May, 1965 on the following allegations. The plaintiff had been owner of the tank recorded in C. S. Plot No. 1177 Khatian No. 2268 P. S. Chinsura within the Hooghly Chinsurah Municipality which is the suit property. The defendant executed a deed of lease on 3-11-1961, to which the plaintiff was also a party, taking a settlement of the fishery right of the tank for a period of five years from Baishakh 1368 B. S. to Chaitra 1372 B. S. agreeing to pay rental at the rate of Rs. 525/- per year and municipal taxes. The lease contained a condition that in the event of failure by the lessee to pay annual rental within the year, the lessor will have a right of re-entry on forfeiture of lease without any notice. The defendant did not pay any rent from 1369 B. S. to 1371 B. S. except a sum of Rs. 100/- and under the terms of lease he had no title or interest in the tank and was, therefore, liable to be evicted without notice. The plaintiff accordingly instituted the suit on May 26, 1965 praying for a decree for recovery of possession of the suit property by the plaintiff on eviction of the defendant therefrom.
( 2 ) THE suit was contested by the defendant who filed a written statement contending inter alia that the suit was bad for want of notice under Section 111 (g) of the Transfer of Property Act. It was further contended that the State of West Bengal was a necessary party in the suit and in absence of the State the suit was not maintainable. It was stated that the defendant did not know the contents and purport of the lease as she was an illiterate lady and executed the same without knowing the meaning thereof and if there was any clause of forfeiture for nonpayment of rent the same was without her knowledge. There were further allegations that the rent has been paid regularly upto 1371 B. S. and rent for the year 1372 B. S. was in deposit with the lessor. It was further stated that the plaintiff had no locus standi to evict the defendant from the suit premises as the disputed fishery vested in the State of West Bengal since Baishak 1, 1362 B. S. For these reasons the defendant submitted that the suit should be dismissed.
( 3 ) IT appears that on an application by the defendant one Jamuna Bala was added as a pro forma defendant as the purchaser of the plaintiff's interest in the suit property. On her prayer, she was transferred to the category of the plaintiff as plaintiff No. 2. On May 20, 1966 she applied for amendment of the plaint incorporating that the defendant's lease had in the meantime expired by efflux of time and eviction of the defendant was also sought on that basis. The said amendment was allowed.
( 4 ) ON a trial on evidence the learned Munsif found that the plaintiff was not entitled to a decree on the basis of the forfeiture clause in absence of a notice. The trial Court further found that the plaintiff's interest in the suit property did not vest in the State of West Bengal and the plaintiff had the locus standi to institute the suit and to obtain the decree as prayed for. It was further found that the defendant was entitled to no relief on the ground of determination of lease by efflux of time. The suit was accordingly decreed.
( 5 ) AN appeal was preferred against this decision by the defendant and the appellate Court affirmed the judgment of the trial Court with some amendment in regard to the findings about Ext. 1 which is the lease deed. The appellate Court also held that the plaintiff was not an intermediary and his interest did not vest in the State. It was further held that the suit for eviction could not succeed on the ground of forfeiture in absence of notice contemplated under Section 111 (g) of the Transfer of Property Act. The Court, however, found that the defendant simply took the settlement of fishery right and such right could be leased out under the provisio
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