HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
K. C. DAS GUPTA, GUHA RAY
DURGESH NANDINI DEVI - Appellant
Versus
AOLAD SHAIKH - Respondent
A. F. A. D. 801 Of 1948
Decided On : DECEMBER 07, 1954
land dispute - Tenancy - Transfer of Property Act, Section 106, Bengal Non-agricultural Tenancy Act, Section 9(1)(b)
Fact of the Case:
Dispute over a small plot of land forming part of a tank known as 'dalan Pukur'. Plaintiff claimed title through purchase, while defendant claimed tenancy and possession through purchase from a previous tenant.
Finding of the Court:
Court found that a tenancy existed, deemed to be from month to month under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act, and rejected plaintiff's prayer for eviction. Further submission under Bengal Non-agricultural Tenancy Act, Section 9(1)(b) was not considered due to the prior conclusion.
Issues: Dispute over title and possession of the land, determination of tenancy duration, and applicability of relevant sections of the Transfer of Property Act and Bengal Non-agricultural Tenancy Act.
Ratio Decidendi: The court applied Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act to deem the tenancy as from month to month, and concluded that the plaintiff's prayer for eviction should be rejected. The further submission under Section 9(1)(b) of the Bengal Non-agricultural Tenancy Act was not considered due to the prior conclusion.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed with costs in favor of the defendant.
( 1 ) THE subject-matter of this litigation is a small plot of land forming part of the bank of a tank known as 'dalan Pukur'. Originally, it formed part of a patni, the owner of the patni being one Annada Prosad Saha Choudhury. The patni was sold on 16-5-1936 under Regulation VIII and purchased by Bithaldas Kuthari. The plaintiff's case is that Bithaldas settled the property with Ahibhusan Ghosh on 20-3-1940 and thereafter the plaintiff purchased this particular land on 15-2-1944 by a registered kobala. It is alleged that he was dispossessed by the defendant on 9-2-1945.
( 2 ) THE defence is one" of a right of tenancy which it is said has not been determined. The defendant contends that one Hatu Shaikh took permanent settlement of some lands including the land in dispute in April 1934, and that Hatu Shaikh who exercised possession thereafter and regularly paid rent sold half of the land covered by the jama to the present defendant on 26-3-1942. It is said that some time after that on partition between Hatu Shaikh and the defendant the present plot fell in the defendant's share and the defendant has since then been in possession thereof. The defendant also denied that the plaintiff had acquired any title by purchase.
( 3 ) THE trial Court "held that the plaintiff had the title to the land as mentioned and disbelieved the defendant's story of any tenancy right in favour of Hatu Shaikh. It further held that even if there was any such tenancy, Hatu was merely a tenant-at-will and the tenancy determined as soon as Hatu assigned his interest. It accordingly held that the plaintiff was entitled to a decree for declaration of title and for khas possession and ordered accordingly. In appeal-the learned Subordinate Judge agreed with the trial Court that the plaintiff's title had been proved. Disagreeing with the trial Court as regards the genuineness of certain rent receipts which the defendant had put in evidence in support of his case of tenancy, the learned Subordinate Judge held that they were genuine and from those a tenancy could reasonably be inferred. As regards the period of the tenancy he held that in law it should be considered to be a tenancy from month to month so that without determination by proper notice to quit the prayer for eviction could not succeed. Accordingly, he allowed the appeal while maintaining the decree in so far as it declared the plaintiff's title to the suit land and rejected the plaintiff's prayer for khas possession and ordered that the 'plaintiff should get possession in the Suit land through defendant as a monthly tenant under the plaintiff in respect of the same. The present appeal is by the plaintiff.
( 4 ) THE main contention on behalf of the plaintiff is that the learned Court below has erred in law in holding that there was a tenancy and secondly that even if there was a tenancy, it should have held that it was merely a tenancy which the parties intended was determinable at the will of either party and that it had been so determined.
( 5 ) MENTION may be made of an amalnama which was sought to, be put in evidence but was rightly rejected by both the Courts as it was not registered.
( 6 ) ON behalf of the respondent, Mr. Chatterji has however asked us to hold that this must be considered to be a lease of immovable property other than a lease from year to year or for a term exceeding one year or reserving a yearly rent and has been made by oral agreement. At first sight, it is difficult to accept the argument, as obviously in fact there was no oral agreement for a lease which was not for a term exceeding one year or which did not reserve a yearly rent. Reliance has however been placed on the Supreme Court decision in -- 'ram Kumar Das v. Jagdish Chandra Deb' where their Lordships held that in the absence of a valid lease a tenancy could be presumed to exist even though the parties might have intended to create a lease for ten years. At page 26 of the report of the case,
AI
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.