Gujarat High Court
Judgename :V.V.BEDARKAR
MOHINI BHIRYOMAL HINGORANI - Appellant
Versus
BHANUBHAI MANILAL PATEL - Respondent
C.R.A. 713 of 1979
Decided On : 04/04/1984
Bombay Rents Control Act – Sections 29 (2), 13 (1) (k) and 366 – Delhi and Ajmer Rent Control Act – Section 35 – Issue on Stay in house – Casual appointment as Lecturer – Case of petitioner was that she had temporarily gone to Bombay for studies and has taken a casual appointment as Lecturer – But she had all desire to come back to Baroda and stay in the suit house and that in her absence, her parents were staying in the suit house at Baroda and therefore the decree should not be passed – Both the courts below did not believe the case of the petitioner that her parents were staying in the house and maintaining it which is for the benefit of the petitioner so that after coming back to Baroda, she could stay there – Courts below did not believe that she was to return and stay at Baroda – Held, In the instant case all facts are properly considered and on finding of fact both the courts have come to the conclusion that the house was not used during particular period even though there were letters showing casual spasmodic visits – Court has referred to this portion and supplied emphasis just in order to show that how the notion about caretaker or licensee would not be available to the tenant under the provisions of the Act – If the mother is proved to have stayed there for a particular period and not spasmodic stay then she could be said to the a person referable to the petitioner – But courts believed that it is not proved that the mother actually resided in the house nor it is proved that the petitioner also resided in house and therefore this finding of fact is binding to this court – In view of the discussion made above court is of the opinion that the decision of both the courts below is quite justified and no case is made out to interfere with the said decision and therefore the Revision – Application dismissed.
( 1 ) THIS is a revision application under sec. 29 (2) of the Bombay Rent Act against the concurrent decree of both the courts below directing the petitioner to vacate the premises on the ground of sec. 13 (1) (k) of the Act. This dispute pertains to a suit house at Baroda on Kothi Road belonging to the respondent and given on rent in the name of the petitioner ever since the time when she was a minor. It is the case that her father was serving at Broach and there-fire she was initially studying in Gujarati. But because she wanted to study Sindhi at Baroda, she came to her maternal relative and there-after this house was taken on rent in her name so that she can study there. It is the case that since 1968, the petitioner has gone over to Bombay. She is serving there as a Lecturer in College of Pharmacy and therefore this house is not used. Initially, it was the case that because she has got an alternative accommodation at Bombay, the possession of this premises should be handed over to the respondent under the provisions of sec. 13 (1) (1) of the Act. And then the another contention, in the a terminative which was urged was under sec. 13 (1) (k) of the Act was believed by the trial court and decree was passed on both counts. But the appellate court considered that two houses at Bombay were not in the name of the petitioner, but they were in the names of her father and mother or brother and therefore decree on that count was set aside. But the learned appellate judge in appeal, confirmed the decree on the count of sec. 13 (1) (k) of the Act,. The landlord did not proceed father against his being non-suited under sec. 13 (1) (1) and hence that finding has been found.
( 2 ) ). The case of the petitioner was that she had temporarily gone to Bombay for studies and has taken a casual appointment as Lecturer. But she had all desire to come back to Baroda and stay in the suit house and that in her absence, her parents were staying in the suit house at Baroda and therefore the decree should not be passed. Both the courts below did not believe the case of the petitioner that her parents were staying in the house and maintaining it which is for the benefit of the petitioner so that after coming back to Baroda, she could stay there. The courts below did not believe that she was to return and stay at Baroda. It should be noted that the house is on the main road of city of Baroda on Kothi Road on a rent of only Rs. 16-60 p. s.
( 3 ) 3. So far as the facts are concerned, it is not in dispute now that right from 1968, the petitioners ordinary residence is at Bombay. It is also not now in dispute that at Bombay, one flat No. A29 of Triloknagar Co-operative Housing Society, Bandra, was standing in the name of her mother Sitaben Trikamdas. It is also an admitted position that at Bandra, the petitioner was staying in the very flat with her brother Lakshman till 1973. It should be noted that the suit is filed on 21-6-1971 and the suit notice is dated 7-1-1977. So the position that was prevalent at that time has to be considered. Of course, by Exh. 71, dated 10-10-1974, the said flat of Triloknagar was transferred to the name of Mr. Ronnie Almeda on 14-12-1974. In that flat of Triloknagar, there are five rooms on the second floor. It is also in evidence that the defendant-petitioner has been residing in block no-13 of Cainor Co-operative Housing Society, Bandra and this flat belongs to the father of the petitioner. The brother of the petitioner lakshman has got a flat in that society. This is addition to the flat belonging to the father and the petitioner stays with her brother Lakshman as a family member. Therefore, the position stands that at the relevant time, there was a flat in the name of mother Sitaben in Triloknagar society and a flat in the name of the father in Cainor Co-operative Housing Society. The petitioner claims that the suit house was used for the residence of these two persons, who were also having their flats i
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