IN THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
DEVASHIS BARUAH, J.
Rupa Hazarika W/o Shanti Hazarika – Appellant
Versus
Mahendra Kaur W/o Lt. Banta Singh, And Anr - Respondents
CRP 70 of 2021
Decided on : 09-08-2022
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Section 115 - Assam Urban Areas Rent Control Act, 1972 - Section 5(4) - Revisional jurisdiction - Petitioner have invoked revisional jurisdiction under Section 115 of Code. It is no longer res-integra that revisional jurisdiction is limited in scope inasmuch as said jurisdiction cannot be exercised to correct error of facts - However gross or even errors of law unless said errors have relation to jurisdiction of Court to try dispute itself - Whether Plaintiffs have bona fide requirement of suit premises - It is clear that for purpose of bona fide requirement of a landlord what is required is that there must be something more than a mere desire but need not certainly be a compelling or absolute or dire necessity (Para 17).
Findings of the Court :
Respondents herein shall be entitled to rent for period of the eviction proceedings either through adjustment from rent already deposited in Court or making an application before Executing Court to decide on their entitlement of the rent during the pendency of eviction proceedings and executing court would permit petitioner herein to controvert allegation of nonpayment of rent during the pendency of the eviction proceedings and thereupon decide in accordance with law.
Result: Petition dismissed
JUDGMENT :
Heard Mr. L.K. Borah, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner and Mr. G. Kakoti, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondents.
2. This is an application under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter referred to as the Code) challenging the judgment and decree dated 8/10/2021 passed in Title Appeal No. 53/2019 whereby the judgment and decree passed by the learned Munsiff No. 2 on 04/09/2015 in Title Suit No. 254/2014 was upheld thereby dismissing the appeal.
3. Before entering into the facts of the case, it would be relevant to note that the Petitioner herein have invoked the revisional jurisdiction under Section 115 of the Code. It is no longer res-integra that the revisional jurisdiction is limited in scope inasmuch as the said jurisdiction cannot be exercised to correct error of facts. However gross or even errors of law unless the said errors have relation to the jurisdiction of the Court to try the dispute itself. A plain reading of Sub-Clauses (a) and (b) of Section 115 of the Code is in reference to the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court not vested in the Court by law or has failed to exercise jurisdiction so vested in Court. Clause (c) is in relation to exercise of jurisdiction illegally and with material irregularity. Therefore, under Section 115 of the Code a jurisdictional question may arise not only where the Court acts solely without jurisdiction but also in a case where jurisdictional errors are committed while exercising jurisdiction. There may be various facets of jurisdictional error for example the findings arrived at is perverse, based on no evidence or misreading of evidence or such findings have been arrived at by ignoring or overlooking material irregularities or such findings so grossly erroneous that if allowed to stand would occasion miscarriage of justice. In other words, interference with an incorrect finding of fact recorded by the Court below for the purpose of exercising revisional jurisdiction must be understood in the context, where such findings are perverse or has been arrived at without consideration of material evidence or such finding is based on no evidence or misreading of evidence or is grossly erroneous that if allowed to stand it would occasion gross miscarriage of justice, is open to correction because it is not treated as a finding according to law. In the judgment of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court rendered in the case of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Vs. Baharsingh reported in (2014) 9 SCC 70, the Supreme Court observed that the Court while exercising jurisdiction under Section 115 of the Code is required to satisfy itself as regards the regularity, correctness, legality or propriety of the impugned decision or the order and cannot exercise its power as an Appellate Court to re-appreciate or reassess the evidence to a different finding of fact. It is also made clear that this Court while exercising the revisional jurisdiction is not and cannot be equated with the power of re-consideration of all question of facts as the Court of First Appeal.
4. In the backdrop of the above proposition, the facts material for adjudication of the dispute involved in the instant case are taken up for consideration. For the purpose of convenience, the parties herein are referred to in the same status as they stood before the Trial Court.
5. The Respondents herein as Plaintiffs had instituted a suit being Title Suit No. 254/2014 against the Petitioner who was the Defendant in the said suit.
The case of the Plaintiffs in the said suit was that the Plaintiffs were the owner of the suit premises and the Defendant was a tenant who was occupying an Assam Type House measuring approximately 900 square feet at a monthly rent of Rs. 800/-only per month and had been enjoying all the facilities which a tenant has generally over the suit premises. It was stated that the Defendant instituted a suit being Title Suit No.375/2013 against t
Raghunath G. Panhale (Dead) BY LRs Vs. Chaganlal Sundarji and Co. reported in (1999) 8 SCC 1
It is also made clear that this Court while exercising the revisional jurisdiction is not and cannot be equated with the power of re-consideration of all question of facts as the Court of First Appea....
Under Section 115 of Code a jurisdictional question may arise not only where Court acts solely without jurisdiction but also in a case where jurisdictional errors are committed while exercising juris....
Proviso (e) to Section 5(1) of Act of 1972 stipulates that when tenant has not paid rent lawfully due from him in respect of house within a fortnight of its falling due would come within various grou....
Section 5 (1) (e) of the Act of 1972 stipulates that a decree for eviction can be passed where the tenant had not paid the rent lawfully due from him in respect to the houses within a fortnight of it....
It is clarified that during this period of six months the defendant shall continue to make payment of amount of Rs. 60/- per month in the form of compensation to plaintiff.
The court affirmed that a landlord's bonafide requirement for premises is valid, and the tenant's irregular rent payments constitute default.
Purpose of bona fide requirement of a landlord what is required is that it must be something more than a mere desire but need not certainly be a compelling or absolute or dire necessity
A bonafide requirement is something in between a mere desire or wish on the one hand and a compelling or dire or absolute necessity on the other.
Sub-Clauses (a) and (b) of Section 115 of Code is in reference to exercise of jurisdiction by Court not vested in Court by law or has failed to exercise jurisdiction so vested in Court.
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