IMPORTANT POINT
The court highlighted the importance of timely filing of application for leave to contest, valid reasons for extension, and the need for a substantial case for consideration of the application.

JUDGMENT

Girish Kathpalia, J. - By way of this revision petition, brought under proviso to Section 25B(8) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, the petitioner/tenant has assailed order dated 06.04.2022 of the learned Rent Controller whereby, on account of failure of the petitioner/tenant to file an application for leave to contest, eviction petition under Section 14(1)(e) of the Act in respect of one shop (hereinafter referred to as "the subject premises") in front portion of the larger premises No. F-103A, Bali Nagar, New Delhi was allowed and the petitioner/tenant was granted six months under Section 14(7) of the Act to vacate. On service of notice, the respondent/landlord entered appearance through counsel. I heard learned counsel for both sides.

2. Briefly stated, circumstances relevant for present purposes are as follows.

2.1 The present respondent, claiming herself to be owner of the said larger premises filed an eviction petition under Section 14(1)(e) of the Act against the petitioner/tenant with respect to the subject premises, pleading that her now deceased husband Sardar Ajit Singh Sethi had acquired ownership of the said larger premises by way of registered sale deed dated 06.11.1982, followed by a conveyance deed registered on 05.10.1995 and after death of Sardar Ajit Singh, the said larger premises were inherited by his legal heirs, who executed registered relinquishment deed dated 22.08.2016 in favour of the respondent/landlord, thereby making her a sole and absolute owner of the said larger premises; that she purchased the premises No. F103B, adjoining the said larger premises by way of a sale deed; that when the said larger premises was purchased by her husband, Shri Chote Lal, the now deceased husband of the present petitioner was already occupying the subject premises as a tenant and was running from there a shop under the name and style M/s Evergreen Auto Store; that after death of Shri Chote Lal, his wife - the present petitioner is occupying the subject premises as a tenant; that ground floor of the said larger premises consists of two shops facing the main road and out of those, one is the subject premises while the other is in occupation of another tenant Shri Harjinder Kumar Handa, who is running his business under the name and style Handa Refrigeration; that during his lifetime Sardar Ajit Singh inducted Smt. Kulbir Kaur as tenant in another portion on the ground floor and the first floor of the said larger premises by way of agreement dated 25.06.1984; that subsequent to death of Sardar Ajit Singh, all the said three tenants of the larger premises attorned the present respondent as landlord and started paying her rent; that the tenant Smt. Kulbir Kaur, having not been entitled to protection under the Delhi Rent Control Act, the present respondent filed a civil suit for recovery of possession, which was decreed in her favour and ultimately the portion in her tenancy was vacated by Smt. Kulbir Kaur and her family; that against the other tenant Harjinder Singh Handa she was instituting separate eviction proceedings; that currently the present respondent and her family are in occupation of the portion of the said larger premises vacated by Smt. Kulbir Kaur and they want to start their own business, but cannot do so because there is no entry to that portion from main road; that under these circumstances, the respondent and her family, especially her son dependent upon her are in bona fide need of the subject premises and they have no reasonably suitable alternate accommodation available; that from the adjoining premises No. F103B, consisting of ground floor, first floor and second floor, during his lifetime Sardar Ajit Singh started his business under the name and style M/s Singh Automobiles at ground floor and started using the upper floors for storage of stock; that family of the present respondent consists of her two married sons and one married daughter, the younger son having a daughter aged 15 years and son a