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2018 Supreme(Cal) 727

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
Biswanath Somadder, Arindam Mukherjee, JJ.
Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited - Appellant
Vs.
Aniruddha Jalan - Respondent
Appeal From Decree No. 5 of 2017, Civil Suit No. 257 of 2013
Decided On : 29-11-2018

Advocates Appeared:
Abhrajit Mitra, Adv., Rupak Ghosh, Adv., Rajesh Upadhyay, Adv., Ratul Das, Adv., Arka Banerjee, Adv., Sabyasachi Chowdhury, Adv., S.E. Huda, Adv., Trisha Mukherjee, Adv.

The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation of the nature of the agreement and the relationship between the parties, which determined the applicability of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 and influenced the court's decision to uphold the decree of eviction.

Headnote:

Leave and License - Recovery of Possession - Chapter XIIIA of the Original Side Rules - [Indian Easement Act, 1952, Transfer of Property Act, 1882, West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997, Registration Act, 1908] - The court discussed the nature of the agreement, the possession of the property, the validity of the termination notice, and the relationship between the parties. It held that the document dated 26th November, 2012 should be considered a tenancy and not a leave and license agreement. The court also found that the relationship between the parties was that of landlord and tenant governed by the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. The court upheld the decree of eviction based on these findings.

Fact of the Case:

The respondent sought recovery of possession of a property from the appellant, claiming that the appellant, as a licensee, should have vacated the property after receiving a termination notice. The appellant contested the claim, alleging that the agreement between the parties was a product of collusion and fraud.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the agreement should be considered a tenancy, and the relationship between the parties was that of landlord and tenant governed by the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. The court upheld the decree of eviction based on these findings.

Issues: Nature of the agreement, possession of the property, validity of the termination notice, and the relationship between the parties.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the document dated 26th November, 2012 should be considered a tenancy and not a leave and license agreement. It also found that the relationship between the parties was that of landlord and tenant governed by the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.

Final Decision: The court upheld the decree of eviction and disposed of the appeal accordingly.

JUDGMENT :

Arindam Mukherjee, J.

1. The appeal arises out of a judgment and decree dated 15th July, 2016 passed in an application under chapter XIIIA of the Original Side Rules of this Court (hereinafter referred to as the said rules). The suit was filed by the respondent above named seeking, inter alia, a decree for recovery of vacant, peaceful possession of an office space being flat No. 13 at the first floor and premises No. 8 Ho-Chi-Minh Sarani, (formerly known as Harrington Street) Kolkata-700071 measuring about 4068 square feet with one servant's quarter and a covered garage at the ground floor respectively measuring about 76 square feet and 130 square feet (hereinafter referred to as the 'suit property') by evicting the appellant/defendant therefrom.

2. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the undisputed fact of the case are as follows:-

(i) The suit property was initially owned by one Jaishree Bajoria. The said Jaishree Bajoria had let out the suit property to the appellant/defendant by a tenancy agreement dated 22nd January, 2009, for a monthly rent of Rs. 18,000/-.

(ii) By a registered deed of conveyance dated 15th May, 2012 the respondent/plaintiff purchased the suit property for valuable consideration from the said Jaishree Bajoria.

(iii) By a letter dated 16th May, 2012 the said Jaishree Bajoria informed the appellant/defendant about the transfer of the suit property in favour of the respondent/plaintiff and requested the appellant/defendant to attorn the tenancy of the said appellant/defendant in favour of the respondent/plaintiff and further to pay all future rents to the plaintiff/respondent.

(iv)The appellant/defendant did not attorn its tenancy and also did not tender the rent either to Jaishree Bajoria or to the respondent/plaintiff.

(v) By a letter dated 28th August, 2012, the respondent/plaintiff informed the appellant/defendant about the purchase of the suit property and also asserted his claim as the landlord. Despite such notice, the appellant/defendant neither accepted the respondent/plaintiff as its landlord nor tendered or pay any rent to the respondent/plaintiff.

(vi) Subsequently, the respondent/plaintiff and the appellant/defendant entered into an agreement on 26th November, 2012 with the nomenclature "Agreement for Leave and Licence" by and under which the respondent/plaintiff allowed the appellant/defendant to occupy the suit property with effect from 1st June, 2012 for a period of eleven months with a condition to extend the same for a further period of eleven months on mutual consent. The consolidated licence fee was agreed upon at Rs. 18,660/-. The said consolidated licence fee comprised of Rs. 12,600/- as licence fee, Rs. 1260/- as monthly maintenance, Rs. 2400 as municipal corporation tax and Rs. 2400 as commercial surcharge. The consolidated licence fee was to be paid according to English Calendar month with effect from 1st June, 2012 with stipulation that any increase in municipal corporation tax and commercial surcharge (occupier's share) beyond the agreed amount shall be borne by the appellant/defendant.

(vii) In terms of the said agreement the appellant/defendant paid the arrears of license fees for the suit property @18,600/- and continued to pay the monthly license fees.

(viii) The eleven months period as per the document dated 26th November, 2012 was to end on 30th April, 2013.

(ix) By a letter dated 23rd March, 2013 the respondent/plaintiff informed the appellant/defendant that he was not interested in renewing the licence and thereby requested the appellant/defendant not to use the suit property on expiry of 30th April, 2013 and to station its belongings at the suit property on and from 1st May, 2013. The respondent/plaintiff also made it clear that in the event the appellant/defendant was found to use the suit property or station its belongings thereat on and from 1st May, 2013 it will be treated as a trespasser and appropriate proceedings will be initiated against the appellant/def






























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