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1961 Supreme(Cal) 42

HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
P. B. Mukharji, H. K. Bose
ATUL CHANDRA LAHIRY - Appellant
Versus
SONATAN DAW - Respondent
A. F. A. D.  954  Of  1957
Decided On : MARCH 13, 1961

Advocates Appeared:
APURBADHAN MUKHERJI, B.C.Dutt, BRATIN BANERJEE, Tarak Nath Roy

The construction of permanent structures by a tenant without the landlord's consent constitutes a breach of Section 108 Clauses (m), (o), (p) of the Transfer of Property Act and is a ground for ejectment.

Headnote:

TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT - SECTION 108 CLAUSES (M), (O), (P) - EJECTMENT - PERMANENT STRUCTURES - INTERPRETATION - FACTUAL ANALYSIS.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiff-landlord sued defendant-tenant for ejectment from monthly tenancy premises, alleging rent arrears and contravention of Section 108 Clauses (m), (o), (p) of the Transfer of Property Act due to unauthorized constructions.

Finding of the Court:

1. Defendant was not a rent defaulter. 2. Defendant contravened Section 108 Clauses (m), (o), (p) by erecting permanent structures without consent, including converting a verandah into a room, building a wall on the roof, and installing a cistern. 3. The structures were substantial, intended to be permanent, and not merely temporary alterations.

Issues: 1. Whether the defendant was a rent defaulter. 2. Whether the defendant contravened Section 108 Clauses (m), (o), (p) of the Transfer of Property Act.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the structures erected by the defendant were permanent structures within the meaning of Clause (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act. 2. The court rejected the argument that the structures were temporary and removable, stating that the intention and nature of the construction determine its permanence, not its removability. 3. The court distinguished this case from previous decisions, emphasizing that the extent and degree of construction determine whether it is a permanent structure.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, set aside the lower appellate court's judgment and decree, and restored the trial court's decree for ejectment with costs.

BOSS, J.

( 1 ) THIS second appeal arises out of a suit for ejectment brought by the plaintiff-appellant against the defendant-respondent in the court of the First Munsif at Asansol in the district of Burdwan.

( 2 ) THE plaintiff-appellant is the owner and the defendant-respondent was a monthly tenant under the plaintiff according to the English calendar at a rent of Rs. 36/-per month. The grounds on which ejectment was sought were (1) that the defendant-respondent failed to pay or to deposit in accordance with law rents for more than six months in course of 18 months and such arrears of rents fell due from April 1953 and (2) that the defendant contravened the provisions of Section 108 Clauses (m), (n) and (p) (clause (n) was subsequently amended as Clause (o)) of the Transfer of Property Act inasmuch as the defendant without the consent of the plaintiff had erected permanent structures on the property, namely, he had converted a verandah into a room by raising permanent brick wall on the ground floor; he had erected a permanent brick wall on the open terrace of the first floor and he also damaged the building by causing an over-flow of the water raised by pump installed by him without the consent of the plaintiff and as such the defendant was not entitled to protection under the West Bengal Premises Rent Control Act. It appears that the plaintiff through his pleader served a notice to quit upon the defendant determining the tenancy but as the defendant did not vacate the premises in spite of the notice, the suit for ejectment was filed on or about the 8th of January 1954. In the written statement the defendant denied that he was a defaulter or that he had contravened the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act. It was further alleged in this written statement that the defendant with the consent and knowledge of the plaintiff raised the height of the parapet of the roof and put a brick cover on the verandah of the ground floor in order to secure better protection against thieves and mischievous persons; and that the constructions were of a temporary character which might be removed at any time, The allegation of damage to the building by making water to over-flow over the roof was also denied. The validity of the notice of ejectment was also challenged. The issues that were framed before the Munsif were: 1. Is the defendant a defaulter ? Are the deposits made before Rent Controller valid deposits? 2. Have the defendants contravened the provisions of Section 108 Clauses (m), (o), (p) of the Transfer of Property Act?

( 3 ) IS the notice to quit valid and sufficient?

( 4 ) IS the defendant liable to be ejected? The learned Munsif found that the defendant was not a defaulter, that the notice to quit was valid and sufficient, but that the defendant had contravened the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of property Act and on that footing he passed a decree for ejectment against the defendant with costs and gave him one month's time to vacate. The defendant preferred an appeal to the Court of the District Judge at Asansol. The Additional District Judge, Asansol reversed the finding of the trial Court on the issue as to contravention of the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act but upheld the finding that the defendant was not a defaulter and he dismissed the suit with costs. The plaintiff has thereupon preferred, this second appeal. 3. The only question debated before us is whether the defendant-respondent has contravened the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act. It is argued that the structures erected by the defendant are not permanent structures within the meaning of Clause (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act. Now it is not in dispute that the defendant has made a wall composed partly of bricks and partly of a wooden frame with iron bars i














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