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2013 Supreme(Ker) 177

High Court of Kerala
T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & A.V. RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, JJ.
Puthampurayil Mariyam & Others
Versus
Sunenda @ Suganda & Others
RCRev. No. 475 of 2011
Decided On : 20-03-2013

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioners:B. Krishnan, R. Parthasarathy, Mrs. Seema, Advocates.
For the Respondents:R1-R5, P.B. Krishnan, Mrs. Geetha P. Menon, N. Ajith, P.B. Subramanyan, Advocates.

Headnote:

Tenancy and Land Laws - Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 - Sections 11(3) and 11(4)(ii) - Eviction of Tenants - If the tenant already has in his possession a building or subsequently acquires possession of or puts up a building, reasonably sufficient for his requirements in same city, town or village - Rvision petition is filed by the defeated landlord being aggrieved by the rejection of the application for eviction - Whether view taken by Appellate Authority that subsequent event has its own impact on ground pleaded under Section 11(3) is correct- fter the death of the landlord an amendment by incorporating a plea that the need continues as far as the legal representatives was found in favour of the landlord. Our attention was invited to paragraph 8 of the said decision. Therefore, the learned counsel submits that there can be cases wherein the court can hold that the need survives in spite of death of the person on whose behalf it was set up - husband of the first petitioner and a dependent of her, for the purpose of running a grocery trade. It was averred that the petitioners bonafide need the said building for providing the same to Ibrahim. It was also alleged that the 5th respondent is running a business in the petition schedule building and was convicted for the offence of adulterating honey and therefore the tenants are using the building to destroy and reduce the value and utility materially and permanently - Held, Death of dependant for whose benefit eviction is sought - Since there is no pleading that it was also for business purpose for all members of family, eviction cannot be ordered under Section 11(3) - Conviction of tenant for offence under P.F.A. Act - Cannot be said that tenant has indulged in user of the building in the manner as contemplated by Section 11(4)(ii) - Therefore illfame or other like matters which Sri.B.Krishnan wanted to us import into the provision were never in the contemplation of the legislature.

Judgment :-

T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J.

1. This revision petition is filed by the defeated landlord being aggrieved by the rejection of the application for eviction. We would refer the parties as they are arrayed in the Rent Control Petition. Four petitioners are co-owners of the building. The eviction was sought on three grounds -- viz. under Section 11(3) (bonafide need), Sections 11(4) (ii) (ie., use of the building by the tenant so as to reduce its value materially and permanently) and 11(4)(iii) (ie., tenants having a building sufficient for their occupation) -- of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act (for short 'the Act'). It was specifically averred that the building is needed for Sri. Ibrahim Puthenpurayil, the husband of the first petitioner and a dependent of her, for the purpose of running a grocery trade. It was averred that the petitioners bonafide need the said building for providing the same to Ibrahim. It was also alleged that the 5th respondent is running a business in the petition schedule building and was convicted for the offence of adulterating honey and therefore the tenants are using the building to destroy and reduce the value and utility materially and permanently.

2. Objections were filed by the respondents tenants and the parties led evidence. PW1 was examined on the side of the petitioners and Exhibits A1 and A2 were marked. Respondents have not adduced any oral or documentary evidence.

3. The Rent Control Court found in paragraph 13 of the order that the petitioners are entitled for an order of eviction under 11(3) of the Act. In paragraph 14 the ground pleaded, under Section 11(4) (ii) was found against the petitioners. No evidence was let in by the landlords to prove that tenants are having other rooms in their possession to attract Section 11(4)(iii) of the Act. Thus, ultimately eviction was ordered under Section 11(3) of the Act and the other grounds were disallowed, against which an appeal was filed by the tenants as R.C. Appeal 41 of 2010.

4. Now we are called up on to decide the question whether the view taken by the Appellate Authority that the subsequent event has its own impact on the ground pleaded under Section 11(3) is correct. The husband of the first petitioner died on 18.03.2011, which is the subsequent event that had occurred. In the appeal, I.A.46/2011 was filed by the petitioners seeking amendment of the rent control petition. The amendment sought was on the plea that her son who was abroad has decided to come to India to look after the first petitioner and her daughter and the prayer in the petition was that the petition schedule room is required for doing business by the petitioner's son. She has two daughters, one daughter is married and other daughter is yet to be married. The I.A. was dismissed on the ground that though there is an order of eviction in favour of the landlord under Section 11(3), as admittedly the dependent husband of the first petitioner is no more the bonafide need does not survive.

5. Regarding the remaining grounds also it was held that the landlords are not entitled for an order of eviction under Sections 11(4)(ii) as well as 11(4)(iii) of the Act.

6. We have heard Sri. B. Krishnan, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri. P.B.Krishnan, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

7. The learned counsel for the petitioners pointed out that this court in Sumathi v. Rabia 2012(1)KLT 595 had considered a case wherein, after the death of the landlord an amendment by incorporating a plea that the need continues as far as the legal representatives was found in favour of the landlord. Our attention was invited to paragraph 8 of the said decision. Therefore, the learned counsel submits that there can be cases wherein the court can hold that the need survives in spite of death of the person on whose behalf it was set up.

8. The learned counsel also relied upon the decision of the Apex Court reported in Sheshambal (Dead) Through LRS. v. Chelur








































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