2020 Supreme(Cal) 198
IN THE HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
Soumen Sen, Saugata Bhattacharyya, JJ.
Chandra Nath Chandra - Appellant
Versus
Buddhadeb Halder - Respondent
F.A.T. No. 418 of 2016
Decided On : 05-02-2020
Asit Baran Raut, Advocate, Tuhin Subhra Raut, Advocate, Tanmoy Mukherjee, Advocate, Amal Kumar Saha, Advocate
Headnote:
Joint Tenancy - Property Rights - West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act - 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata - 700012 - [West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata - 700012] - The court discussed the concept of joint tenancy and tenancy-in-common in the context of succession of tenancy rights after the death of the original tenant. It emphasized the distinction between joint tenancy and tenancy-in-common and highlighted the principle of survivorship in joint tenancy. The court also referred to various judgments and legal provisions to support its decision that the appellant and his brother continued to remain as joint tenants to the exclusion of all other heirs, and therefore, the appellant was entitled to recovery of vacant possession of the suit premises.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a dispute over the possession of a property at 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata. The plaintiff sought eviction of the defendant, who was the nephew of the plaintiff, on the grounds of revocation of license and non-removal of goods from the premises. The defendant contested the suit, claiming that the plaintiff had no right in respect of the property allotted to the deceased tenant, Biswanath, and that the tenancy rights devolved upon all the heirs of Biswanath upon his death.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the partition deed and subsequent rent receipts indicated that the other legal heirs of the original tenant had surrendered their tenancy rights in favor of the appellant and his brother. The court also noted that the defendant's mother had relinquished her right in the property, and the appellant and his brother continued to remain as joint tenants to the exclusion of all other heirs. Therefore, the court held in favor of the appellant, allowing the recovery of vacant possession of the suit premises.
Issues: The main issues revolved around the interpretation of the partition deed, the nature of tenancy rights, and the succession of tenancy after the death of the original tenant. The court also addressed the distinction between joint tenancy and tenancy-in-common, and the implications of surrender or relinquishment of tenancy rights by the legal heirs.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the interpretation of the partition deed, the conduct of the parties, and the legal principles governing joint tenancy and tenancy-in-common. The court emphasized the principle of survivorship in joint tenancy and the implications of implied surrender or relinquishment of tenancy rights by the legal heirs. It also considered the provisions of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act and relevant judgments to support its findings.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, set aside the decree of the Trial Court, and granted a decree for recovery of vacant possession of the suit premises in favor of the appellant. The court also provided a time limit for the defendant to vacate the premises and agreed not to claim mesne profits if the defendant complied with the order.
JUDGMENT
Soumen Sen, J. - The appeal is arising out of a decree passed by the learned Judge, City Civil Court at Calcutta in Title Suit No. 1314 of 2012 in a suit for eviction of the defendant/respondent on revocation of licence.
2. One Kanai Lal Chandra during his lifetime was the absolute owner of several properties including a tenancy in respect of a stationery, grocery shop in the front portion and one godown in the ground floor at 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, P.S.- Muchipara, Kolkata - 700 012 under the landlord, namely, Hoplal Mathur Vaishya Charitable Trust. The said Kanai Lal Chandra died intestate on 27th January, 1977. His widow Bibhabati Chandra also died intestate on 22nd November, 1986, leaving behind fourteen heirs, heiresses and legal representatives. Upon the death of Kanai Lal Chandra and Bibhabati Chandra, all the legal heirs, by operation of law, became the joint owners of all the properties and became tenants-in-common in respect of the suit property, being shop room no. 10 at 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata. On 24th September, 1990, a registered partition deed was executed between the said fourteen legal heirs. By virtue of the said deed of partition, the shop room was allotted to two sons of Kanai Lal Chandra, Sri Chandra Nath Chandra and Sri Biswanath Chandra, since deceased, in the manner following:-
"Sri Chandra Nath Chandra (Fourteenth party therein) was allotted the Eastern Side being Lot "A" of the main shop room in tenancy right in all that a stationery shop and grocery shop room at the front road side in the ground floor at premises No. 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata - 700012 under the landlord namely Hoplal Mathur Vaishya Charitable Trust;
Sri Biswanath Chandra (Thirteenth party therein) was allotted all that back portion godown (rooms being Lot "C") in tenancy right in all that one godown in the back portion in the ground floor at premises No. 123/1, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata - 700012 under the landlord namely Hoplal Mathur Vaishya Charitable Trust." (emphasis supplied)
3. On the basis of the said deed of partition, Chandra Nath and Biswanath claimed to be joint tenants in respect of the property in question. Biswanath died on 16th December, 2011 as a bachelor. The defendant is the nephew of the plaintiff. It is alleged that in the month of September, 2011, the defendant approached the plaintiff for permitting him to store his goods in the portion of the said tenancy of the plaintiff, temporarily and free of cost, assuring that he would remove the same within a very short time and that he would arrange an alternative space in the meantime. On the basis of such assurance and taking into consideration the relationship between the parties, the plaintiff permitted the defendant to store his goods temporarily in a portion of the aforesaid premises purely as licensee under the plaintiff, free of cost. Since the defendant did not remove the goods within a reasonable period of time, the plaintiff, upon notice, revoked the license and sued for recovery of possession of the suit premises. The defendant filed its written statement in the suit. Before the learned Trial Judge, the defendant had contended that the plaintiff cannot have any right in respect of the Lot 'C' property allotted to Biswanath in view of the partition and accordingly, he was not entitled to an eviction decree in respect of Lot 'C' of the premises. The learned Trial Judge, relying upon the registered partition deed, arrived at a finding that since the plaintiff could not establish his right in respect of Lot 'C' property, the suit must fail, and, accordingly, dismissed the suit.
4. The learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has argued that the learned Trial Judge has completely misconstrued the deed of partition and has interpreted the law incorrectly without understanding the nature and scope of joint tenancy. It is submitted that the parties knew since 1988 that it is a joint te