High Court Of Calcutta
N. C. Mukherji, B. C. Ray
MAHASUKRAI RAMRICHPAL - Appellant
Versus
KISHORI CHARAN LAW - Respondent
Second Appeal 22 Of 1972
Decided On : 01/18/1977
LANDLORD AND TENANT - EJECTMENT - MONTHLY TENANCY - NOTICE OF EJECTMENT - VALIDITY - WEST BENGAL PREMISES TENANCY ACT, 1956 - APPLICABILITY - SECTION 114-A OF THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882 - NOT APPLICABLE.
Fact of the Case:
The respondent filed a suit for ejectment and mesne profits against the appellant, a monthly tenant, on the ground that he had violated the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act by constructing permanent structures on the suit premises without the landlord's consent. The appellant challenged the legality and validity of the notice of ejectment and contended that the landlord was required to serve a notice under Section 114-A of the Transfer of Property Act before filing the suit.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that in case of monthly tenancies, the provisions of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act apply and the landlord is not required to serve a notice under Section 114-A of the Transfer of Property Act before filing a suit for ejectment on the ground of breach of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act.
Issues: 1. Whether a notice under Section 114-A of the Transfer of Property Act is required for ejectment of a monthly tenant for breach of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act? 2. Whether the notice of ejectment served by the landlord was valid and sufficient?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the provisions of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act apply to monthly tenancies and that a statutory tenant is required to pay or deposit rent and by acceptance of that rent the landlord does not waive his right of forfeiture. 2. The court held that the notice of ejectment was valid and sufficient as it gave the tenant the option to deliver possession either on the expiry of the month of November 1963 or at the end of a month of his tenancy which would expire next after one month from the receipt of the notice.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed.
( 1 ) THIS is an appeal against the judgment and decree passed by the learned Additional District Judge, 12th Court at Alipore in Title Appeal No. 1038 of 1970 dated 30th April 1971 affirming those of the learned Subordinate Judge, 6th Court at Alipore in Title Suit No. 67 of 1963 passed on 19th June 1970. The facts of the case may briefly be stated as follows :--The respondent filed a suit for ejectment and mesne profits against the defendant, who was a monthly tenant at a rent of Rs. 400/- payable according to the English calendar month. According to the terms of the tenancy, the defendant was not to make any addition or alteration to the premises without the consent of the plaintiff in writing. The plaintiff was informed that the defendant has constructed a pucca temple and two sheds with pucca walls etc. with C. I. roof on the suit premises. These structures are of permanent nature and have been illegally made without the knowledge and consent of the plaintiff. Thus the defendant has acted contrary to the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act and is liable for ejectment.
( 2 ) THE defence is that the structures in question were made in the year 1958 and in the first part of 1359 with the knowledge and consent of the plaintiff. The defendant also challenges the legality and validity of the notice of ejectment. Both the Courts below found that the notice of ejectment was legal and valid and the defendant violated the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act and is liable for ejectment Being aggrieved, the defendant has preferred the present appeal.
( 3 ) MR. Guruprasad Ghosh, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant takes several points, most of which were not taken in the Courts below. In the first place, Mr. Ghosh contends as no notice of forfeiture was given by the landlord to the defendant according to the provisions of the Transfer of Property Act the suit is not maintainable. Mr. Ghosh submits that in the present case the lease was for five years which was to expire on 1-5-1958. But after the expiry of the lease, the defendant continued in possession with the consent of the plaintiff on payment of rent and thereby became a monthly tenant by holding over. But in such a case if the plaintiff wants to evict the defendant on the ground that he has violated the provisions of Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act, the landlord is required to serve a notice upon the defendant according to the provisions of Section 114-A of the Act. This section provides that "where a lease of immovable property has determined by forfeiture for a breach of an express condition which provides that on breach thereof the lessor may reenter, no suit for ejectment shall lie unless and until the lessor has served on the lessee a notice in writing-- (a) specifying the particular breach complained of; and (b) if the breach is capable of remedy, requiring the lessee to remedy the breach. . . . . ".
( 4 ) MR. Abhijit Banerjee, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent contends that the landlord is not required to serve a notice under Section 114-A in case of monthly tenancy on holding over after the expiry of lease. In such a case the tenancy is governed under the provisions of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act. This is a self contained Act and the provisions of the Act fully apply in case of monthly tenancies and that being so, when there is specific provision for ejectment for breach of the Clauses (m), (o) and (p) of Section 108 of the Transfer of Property Act under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act it is not required for the landlord to serve a notice under Section 114-A of the Transfer of Property Act. Mr. Banerjee in this connection also draws our attention that all along in the Courts below the tenant took up the position that the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act appl
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