High Court Of Calcutta
R. BHATTACHARYYA
JITENDRA NATH DAS - Appellant
Versus
BIJOY LAL DAS - Respondent
Second Appeal 281 Of 1968
Decided On : 03/22/1976
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT - SECTION 106 - SERVICE OF EJECTMENT NOTICE - SERVICE BY REGISTERED POST NOT MANDATORY - SERVICE BY POST UNDER CERTIFICATE OF POSTING VALID - PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE UNDER SECTION 114 OF THE EVIDENCE ACT.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff brought a suit against the defendant, a tenant in respect of the suit premises under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act and obtained a decree for eviction of the defendant on the ground of arrears of rent. The defendant appealed, arguing that the ejectment notice was not properly served as it was not sent by registered post.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act does not require that an ejectment notice be sent by registered post. It may also be sent by post under certificate of posting. The court also held that there is a presumption of service under Section 114 of the Evidence Act when a notice is sent by post under certificate of posting.
Issues: 1. Whether an ejectment notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act must be sent by registered post? 2. Whether service of an ejectment notice by post under certificate of posting is valid?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act does not specify that an ejectment notice must be sent by registered post. It merely states that the notice may be "sent by post". 2. Section 27 of the General Clauses Act, which deals with the service of documents by post, does not require that an ejectment notice be sent by registered post. It only provides that if a document is sent by registered post, there is a presumption of service. 3. There is a presumption of service under Section 114 of the Evidence Act when a notice is sent by post under certificate of posting.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, holding that the ejectment notice was properly served on the defendant.
( 1 ) THIS is a second appeal by Jitendra Nath Das, the defendant of the original suit in which the plaintiff-respondent Bijoy Lal Das obtained a decree for eviction against the former in respect of the suit premises. An appeal was taken against that decision before the District Judge, but it was dismissed.
( 2 ) THE plaintiff brought the suit against the defendant, a tenant in respect of the suit premises under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act and obtained a decree for eviction of the defendant on the ground of arrears of rent. The learned Munsif of the trial court found that the defendant was in arrears of rent and that he was not entitled to get any protection. It was also found that ejectment notice was duly served upon the defendant through post by certificate of posting. In the appeal below, the learned Subordinate Judge concurred with the finding of the learned Munsif. Only one point was urged at the time of hearing of the appeal below regarding the service of notice of ejectment under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act. In particular, it was contended that the address of the defendant written on the envelope containing the ejectment notice was not correct. The learned Subordinate, Judge considering the evidence on record and the facts and circumstances held that the notice was duly posted under certificate of posting with correct address of the defendant and that it was duly served upon the defendant. The contention of the appellant was not accepted and the appeal was dismissed.
( 3 ) IN the present appeal Mr. Abinash Chandra Bhattacharya appears on behalf of the appellant and Mr. Anjit Kumar Ganguly for the respondent. The first contention raised by Mr. Bhattacharya is that the court below did not consider as to whether the appellant was entitled to get protection against eviction, the present case being the first one on ground of default. In this connexion he wants to rely upon Sub-section (4) of Section 17 of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act. First of all it must be said that in the appeal below at the time of hearing the finding on the question of default was not challenged. However, I find from the discussion of the trial Court that the matter was thoroughly discussed and considered and it was found that the defendant was in arrears of rent and the record shows that the defendant, after appearance in the suit, did not comply with the provision of Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 17 of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act. Some arrears of rent were not deposited. If the defaulting tenant wants to take advantage of the protection under Sub-section (4) of Section 17, he must have to comply with the provisions of Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 17 of the Act. In the present case for non-compliance with Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 17 of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, the defendant cannot get any protection against eviction.
( 4 ) IT has been next argued by Mr. Bhattacharya on behalf of the appellant that the envelope containing the ejectment notice did not bear correct and specific address of the defendant. His contention is that according to the evidence of the defendant, the plaintiff had two houses and therefore, the address on the envelope indicating the house of the plaintiff was vague. It was not stated which of the two houses was meant. This matter has been thoroughly considered by the courts below. Both the plaintiff and the defendant live in the same house and the address of the defendant mentions the name of the street where the house stands. The defendant does not say what is the location of the other house of the plaintiff of which he makes the mention. However, the finding of fact regarding the address of the defendant is concluded by the decision of the appellate Court below and on evidence I have no doubt to hold that the ejectment notice was sent to the correct address of the defendant. In this connexion it has been urged by Mr. Bhattacharya
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