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1982 Supreme(Del) 80

High Court Of Delhi
ANIL SACHDEVA - Appellant
Versus
TWO BROTHERS PRIVATE LIMITED - Respondent
First Appeal Order 491 of 1980
Decided On : 03/22/1982

Advocates Appeared:
I.D.Garg, P.P.GROVER

A tenant who is in arrears of rent and has not performed his part of the contract by paying the rent reserved by the agreement is not entitled to suspension of rent under Section 108-A(c) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958.

Headnote:

DELHI RENT CONTROL ACT, 1958 - SECTION 15(1) - EVICTION OF TENANT - ARREARS OF RENT - DEPRIVATION OF PORTION OF PREMISES - SUSPENSION OF RENT - INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION.

Fact of the Case:

The appellant-tenant challenged the order of the Rent Control Tribunal, Delhi, which set aside an order of the Additional Rent Controller deferring an order under Section 15(1) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 (the Act) for eviction of the tenant due to arrears of rent. The appellant claimed that there was no deprivation of any portion of the premises and that he was entitled to suspension of rent since the landlord disconnected electric supply.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that there was a relationship of landlord and tenant between the parties and that there was no deprivation of any portion of the premises let out to the tenant. The court also found that the tenant was in arrears of rent to the tune of Rs. 16,000.00 up to June 1978.

Issues: 1. Whether the tenant was in arrears of rent? 2. Whether there was deprivation of any portion of the premises let out to the tenant? 3. Whether the tenant was entitled to suspension of rent?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the tenant was in arrears of rent based on the evidence of agreements and affidavits showing the amount of rent due and the tenant's failure to pay the full amount. 2. The court held that there was no deprivation of any portion of the premises let out to the tenant based on agreements and an affidavit describing the premises as consisting of basement and mezzanine. 3. The court held that the tenant was not entitled to suspension of rent since he had not performed his part of the contract by paying the rent reserved by the agreement.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal and passed a fresh order under Section 15(1) of the Act for eviction of the tenant with effect from the date of the order. The court directed the tenant to deposit the arrears of rent and subsequent rent as per the order.

Yogeshwar Dayal,j.

( 1 ) THIS appeal is directed against the order dated 27th November, 1980 passed by the Rent Control Tribunal, Delhi, passing an order under Section 15 (1) of the Delhi Rent Control Act 1958 (hereinafter REFERRED TO as the act ).

( 2 ) THE Tribunal by the impugned order set aside an order dated 19th July, 1980 whereby the Additional Rent Controller, had deferred passing an order under Section 15 (1) of the Act.

( 3 ) THE Tribunal found that there is a relationship of Iandlord and tenant between the parties. The Tribunal also found that in view of two agreements dated 3rd September, 1975 and 29th July, 1976 prima facie there is no deprivation of any portion of the premises let out by the landlord to the tenant. The Tribunal also found that prima facie the rate of rent is Rs. 2,000/ per month and a sum of Rs. 16,000. 00 are in arrears towards rent until June, 1978, and thereafter the petitioner-tenant is in arrears of rent @ Rs. 2000. 00 per month and, therefore, the Tribunal directed the same to be deposited within one month and subsequent rent shall be paid or deposited month by month by the 15th of each succeeding month.

( 4 ) MR. I. D. Garg, learned counsel for the appellant, submitted that it was not a lit case for passing order under Section 15 (1) of the Act when the arrears were being disputed and the Additional Rent Controller was correct in deferring the order under Section 15 (1) of the Act.

( 5 ) LEARNED counsel for the appellant also submitted that there is deprivation of portion of the premises let out to him. Learned counsel for the appellant also submitted that he is entitled to suspension of rent since from May 1978 the landlord disconnected electric supply and thus the order of the Tribunal should be set aside. In this connection the learned counsel for the appellant relied upon the decision of Ramaswami,j. in the matter of B. Ahmed Maracair vs. Muthuvalliappa Chettiar : A. I R. 1961 Madras 28. "i he learned counsel also disputed that there were no arrears of rent when the petition for eviction was filed.

( 6 ) THE Tribunal relied upon an admitted agreement dated 19th November, 1977 which shows that till November, 1977 there was an arrears of Rs. 20,000. 00 towards rent and that agreement of 19th November, 1977 shows a payment of Rs. 5. 000. 00 only. The agreement also shows that the alance of Rs 15,000. 00 hadtobepaidin three instalments after every fortnight. The Tribunal also found that though the rent of subsequent period after the agreement was paid except that for May, 1978 instead of Rs. 2,000. 00 per month the payment was made only @ Rs. 1,000. 00 per month and after considering the entire material on record it came to the conclusion that prima facie the tenant is in arrears of rent to the tune of Rs. 16,ooc. 00 uptil June, 1978. This finding has been given after considering the entire material on record and I do not find any infirmity in this finding which can be interfered with under Section 39 of the Act.

( 7 ) COMING to the question whether the tenant was deprived of any portion of the premises the learned Tribunal also relied upon two agreements dated 3rd September, 1975 and 29th July, 1976 which described the premises as consisting of basement and mezzanine coupled with an affidavit filed by the tenant before certain authorities dated 27th January, 1978 which also described the premises let out as basement and mezzanine. The Tribunal came to the conclusion that there is no case of deprivation of any portion of the premises let out to the tenant.

( 8 ) MR. Garg, learned counsel for the appellant, further submitted that he is entitled to total suspension of the rent since the landlord disconnected electric supply from May 1978. This point was not urged belore the Tribunal. However, before me learned counsel relied upon the decision, as stated earlier, of Ramaswami, J. Maracair vs. Muthuvalliappa Chettiar (supra ). It will be noticed that decision of Ramaswami, J. is based on the p




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