High Court Of Delhi
ADARSH CHUG - Appellant
Versus
JAVA DIXIT PARALATA - Respondent
Decided On : 04/09/1996
{'KEYWORD': 'Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C.', 'SUBJECT': 'Payment of Arrears of Rent During Pendency of Suit', 'ACT SECTION LIST': ['Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C.', 'Section 151 C. P. C.', 'Order 12 Rule 1 C. P. C.', 'Order 12 Rule 6 C. P. C.']}
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff/landlord filed a suit against the tenant/defendant for eviction, recovery of arrears of rent, and mesne profits. Along with the plaint, the plaintiff/landlord filed an application under Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C. read with Section 151 C. P. C. for direction to the defendant/tenant to pay arrears of rent from June 1993 till the disposal of the suit. The trial court allowed the petition and directed the defendant/tenant to pay the plaintiff/landlord arrears at the rate of Rs. 7,150.00 p.m. from June 1993 till November 1994 within 45 days.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the trial court had jurisdiction to pass the impugned order directing the defendant/tenant to pay arrears of rent during the pendency of the suit. The court relied on the provisions of Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C., Order 12 Rule 1 C. P. C., Order 12 Rule 6 C. P. C., and Section 151 C. P. C. to conclude that the court had the power to order the payment of money or its deposit pending the decision of the suit.
Issues: 1. Whether the trial court had jurisdiction to pass the impugned order directing the defendant/tenant to pay arrears of rent during the pendency of the suit. 2. Whether the trial court erred in directing the plaintiff/landlord to adjust a sum of Rs. 1,10,000.00 alleged to have been paid by the defendant/tenant in computing the arrears of rent.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the trial court had jurisdiction to pass the impugned order directing the defendant/tenant to pay arrears of rent during the pendency of the suit. The court relied on the provisions of Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C., Order 12 Rule 1 C. P. C., Order 12 Rule 6 C. P. C., and Section 151 C. P. C. to conclude that the court had the power to order the payment of money or its deposit pending the decision of the suit. 2. The court held that the trial court did not err in directing the plaintiff/landlord to adjust a sum of Rs. 1,10,000.00 alleged to have been paid by the defendant/tenant in computing the arrears of rent. The court relied on the principle that an admission in a written statement cannot be dissected, and if it is made subject to a condition, it must either be accepted subject to the condition or not accepted at all.
Final Decision: The court dismissed both appeals filed by the plaintiff/landlord and the defendant/tenant.
( 1 ) BOTH the appeals arise out of an order dated 14. 12. 1994 passed by the Additional District Judge. Delhi in Civil Suit No. III 5/93 on the petition filed by the plaintiff/landlord under Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C. read with Section 151 C. P. C.
( 2 ) THE plaintiff/landlord filed a suit being suit No. III 5/93 against the tenant/defendant for eviction and recovery of arrears of rent and the mesne profits. Alongwith the plaint, the plaintiff/landlord filed an application under Order 39 Rule 10 C. P. C. read with Section 151 C. P. C. for direction to the defendant/tenant to pay to the plaintiff/landlord arrears of rent with effect from 1. 6. 93 till disposal of the suit. The learned Trial Judge by his order dated 14. 12. 1994 allowed the petition and directed the defendant/tenant to pay the plaintiff/landlord arrears at the rate of Rs. 7,150. 00 p. m from June. 1993 till November, 1994 within a period of 45 days. He also directed the plaintiff/landlord to adjust a sum of Rs. 1,10,000. 00 in computing the arrears of rent. The defendant/tenant was further directed to continue depositing rent month by month by the 7th of each succeeding month. Aggrieved by the said order, the plaintiff/landlord and the defendant/tenant have filed these appeals which can be disposed of by this common order.
( 3 ) IN this appeal the tenant/appellant has challenged the jurisdiction of the learned Trial Judge in passing the impugned order. The short question which this appeal raises is whether the learned Trial Court can. in a case of this kind in exercise of its discretion order to pay arrears of rent to the plaintiff/landlord pending decision of a suit. At the outset. I must make it clear that in the instant case. rate of rent of Rs. 7,150/ - p. m. and the relationship of landlord and tenant arc not in dispute. Thus. there is not only an admission with regard to the agreed rate of rent but even with regard to the period for which it is due. Learned counsel for the respondent has placed reliance on the decision in Bring. SS Puri (AVSM) (Retd.) Vs. R. Chandra Shekhar 1994 (1) Delhi Lawyer 1, in support of his contention that the learned trial court has Jurisdiction to pass the impugned order. In the case of Brig. S. S. Puri (supra) the plaintiff/landlord filed a suit against his tenant for possession of recovery of rent. During pendency of the suit. the plaintiff filed an application under Section 151 Civil Procedure Code for direction to the tenant to deposit arrears of rent. The tenant contested the petition and took the plea about its maintainability. The petition was dismissed by the trial court. On revision to this court, one of the questions posed was whether an order of the kind sought by the plaintiff can be passed. In that case. it was found that there was not only an admission with regard to the rate of rent but even with regard to the period for which it was due. While reversing the order of the trial court, my learned brother Jaspal Singh, J. observed that;
"the combined effect of Order 12 Rule 1 and Order 39 Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure is that a court can, in a case of this kind. in fair exercise of its judicial discretion order for deposit of money pending decision of a suit. Surely, the provisions of Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure can be invited in aid to cover all such cases as are analogous to these principles. This being the position, invocation of section 151 in the present case would neither be in conflict with w hat has been expressly provided in the Code nor against the intention of the legislature. "he further observed that "i feel that it is in a situation like this that court must invoke its inherent jurisdiction and shower relief and redress upon the helpless victim of an unjust order" In Rajah Parthasaradhi Appa Row Vs. Rajah Rengiah Appa Row I. L. R. 27 Madras 168. Madras High Court had occasion to consider the scope of Section 502 C. P. C. (old) which is in pari materia with Order 3
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