SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1961 Supreme(Guj) 7

Gujarat High Court
Judgename :S.T.DESAI, V.B.RAJU
HARSHADRAI RAGHANATHJI DESAI - Appellant
Versus
PARAGJI HIRABHAI - Respondent
S.C.A. 430 of 1960
Decided On : 01/24/1961

Advocates Appeared: B.R.SHAH, N.V.KARLEKAR

Headnote:

Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act 1948 - Section 4 - Article 227 - Only contention urged by petitioner is that there is an error of law apparent on face of record in order of Revenue Tribunal confirming decision of the Tenancy in Tenancy Case and order in appeal from decision Tenancy - Revenue Tribunal held that Tenancy was right in his decision that opponent was a tenant of petitioner in respect of land in village consisting of a bungalow mango trees coconut trees and a well - There was a registered agreement between parties and after considering terms of this agreement and drawing the presumption Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act Tenancy held that relationship between parties was one of landlord and tenant - This decision was confirmed in appeal by Assistant Collector and also in revision by Revenue Tribunal of Gujarat and only contention urged before us is that there is an error apparent on face of record in order of Revenue Tribunal confirming the construction of document as a lease - Held, It is therefore clear from document that there are several terms in agreement which support interpretation put document by Revenue Tribunal - There are also some terms which support the contention of counsel for petitioner but in such a case it would not be proper to say that a patent error has been committed by Revenue Tribunal in interpreting document - Revenue Tribunal considered various terms of agreement and held that several of terms support view that transition was one of lease and not licence particularly terms and 8 referred to a above - We cannot say that view taken by Revenue Tribunal was unreasonable or unsound patently erroneous - This term is inconclusive on question whether document is a lease or a licence - Agreement also gives right to cut mango and coconut trees on land and it is provided that if trees are cut half share of wood of trees will be given to landlord - Agreement gives a right to tenant to use well on land and also to supply water by means of an engine for use of others subject to restriction that no right of easement should be created - Right was therefore given to the tenant not only to use well but to give well water to others - This is a strong indication in favour of the interpretation put by Revenue Tribunal - petition dismiss.

S. T. DESAI, V. B. RAJU, J.

( 1 ) THIS is an application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.

( 2 ) THE only contention urged by the petitioner is that there is an error of law apparent on the face of the record in the order of the Revenue Tribunal confirming the decision of the Tenancy Mamlatdar in Tenancy Case No. 244/53-54 and the order in appeal dismissing the appeal from the decision of the Tenancy Mamlatdar. The Revenue Tribunal held that the Tenancy Mamlatdar was right in his decision that opponent No. 1 was a tenant of the petitioner in respect of the land S. No. 228 in village Kabilpore Taluka Navsari consisting of a bungalow 150 mango trees 100 coconut trees and a well. There was a registered agreement between the parties dated 21-6-1949 and after considering the terms of this agreement and drawing the presumption under sec. 4 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act 1948 the Tenancy Mamlatdar held that the relationship between the parties was one of landlord and tenant. This decision was confirmed in appeal by the Assistant Collector Navsari and also in revision by the Revenue Tribunal of Gujarat and the only contention urged before us is that there is an error apparent on the face of the record in the order of the Revenue Tribunal confirming the construction of the document as a lease.

( 3 ) IT is contended that the document recites at various places that it is a licence that the property in question was given to opponent No. 1 for management that the document does not create any interest in immovable property and that by construing the document which is a licence as a lease the authorities below committed an error of law apparent on the face of the record.

( 4 ) THE learned counsel for opponent No. 1 relied on Associated Hotels of India Ltd. v. R. N. Kapoor A. I. R. 1959 Supreme Court 1262 where the distinction between a lease and licence has been explained. He contends that on a true construction of the document it amounts to a lease and not a licence.

( 5 ) THE question therefore is whether on a true construction of the document it amounts to a lease. A lease is defined in section 105 of the Transfer of Property Act as follows :

( 6 ) A lease of immovable property is a transfer of a right to enjoy such property made for a certain time express or implied or in perpetuity in consideration of a price paid or promised or of money a share of crops service of any other thing of value to be rendered periodically or on special occasions to the transferor by the transferee who accepts the transfer on such terms.

( 7 ) THE essential requirements of the lease are therefore (1) there should be a transfer of a right to enjoy immovable property; (2) it should be for a certain time express or implied or in perpetuity; and (3) it should be in consideration of a price paid or promised or of money a share of crops service or any other thing of value to be rendered periodically or on special occasions to the transferor by the transferee. The right to enjoy immovable property would of course amount to an interest in the immovable property. It is not in dispute that the document is for a period of 10 years and that it provides for a consideration as contemplated in sec. 105 of the Transfer of Property Act. The real controversy turns upon the first requirement that there should be a transfer of a right to enjoy such property. The right to enjoy immovable property has to be distinguished from a right to do or continue to do in or upon the immoveable property of the grantor something which would in the absence of such right be unlawful and where such right does not amount to an easement or interest in the property. Licence is defined in sec. 52 of the Easements Act and sec. 52 reads as follows :where one person grants to another or to a definite number of other persons a right to do or continue to do in or upon the immovable property of the grantor something which would in the absence of such right be unlawful and such











Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top