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

2018 Supreme(Ker) 450

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
P. SOMARAJAN, J.
George Chandi S/o George & Ors. - Appellants
Vs.
Beena & Ors. - Respondents
RSA No. 976 of 2010 (G)
Decided On : 09-07-2018

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellants : Sri. O.V. Maniprasad
For the Respondents: Smt. Geetha P. Menon, Sri. P.B. Krishnan, Sri. P.M. Neelakandan, Sri. P.B. Subramanyan

Headnote:

The Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act ;;The Transfer of Property Act 1882- S.105 ;; The Indian Easements Act 1882- S.52-Lease is defined in S.105 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882 while 'licence' is defined in S.52 of the Indian Easements Act 1882. Generally speaking the difference between a 'lease' and 'licence' is to be determined by finding out the real intention of the parties as decipherable from a complete reading of the document, if any, executed between the parties and the surrounding circumstances. Only a right to use the property in a particular way or under certain terms given to the occupant while the owner retains the control or possession over the premises results in a licence being created; for the owner retains legal possession while all that the licensee gets is a permission to use the premises for a particular purpose or in a particular manner and but for the permission so given the occupation would have been unlawful

Statement of facts:

The original suit was filed for recovery of possession of the plaint schedule shop room. The suit was decreed by the Trial Court granting a decree of recovery of possession of the plaint schedule building. It was reversed in appeal by the First Appellate Court and the suit was dismissed. Aggrieved by the said decree and judgment of the First Appellate Court, the plaintiffs came up with this appeal.

Finding of the court:

The suit was filed not for eviction of the licensee, but for recovery of possession of the property. It carries an admission that the plaintiffs are not in possession of the property and possession was parted with the defendants at the time of Exhibit A1 agreement which also shows probability of creation of a lease rather than a licence. Nothing else was brought to the notice of this Court to have an interference to the decree and judgment rendered by the First Appellate Court.

Result: Second Appeal dismissed

JUDGMENT :

The legal heirs of the original plaintiff, who died during the pendency of the suit came up with this Second Appeal challenging the reversal of the decree passed by the Munsiff's Court, Manjeri, dated 22.09.2006, in O.S.No.166/2003, by the Appellate Court (Subordinate Judge's Court, Manjeri) in A.S.No.51/2006 dated 19.02.2009.

2. The original suit was filed for recovery of possession of the plaint schedule shop room. The suit was decreed by the Trial Court granting a decree of recovery of possession of the plaint schedule building. It was reversed in appeal by the First Appellate Court and the suit was dismissed. Aggrieved by the said decree and judgment of the First Appellate Court, the plaintiffs came up with this appeal.

3. The dispute centered around Exhibit A1 document entered into by the parties, which, according to the plaintiffs, is only a licence deed, but, according to the defendants is a lease arrangement. Various clauses enumerated in Exhibit A1 were brought to the notice of this Court in support of the argument that it is a licence. Per contra, the defendants, based on the same clauses, claimed that it is a lease arrangement and the relationship is that of a lessor and lessee. Admittedly, the place wherein the plaint schedule building is situated is within the area wherein the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, is made applicable. Exhibit A1 contract was entered into by the parties with a nomenclature that it is a 'Rent Licence Deed'. The material question to be looked into is what actually intended by the parties while entering into such a document and whether they have intended to effect transfer of any interest in favour of the licensee and if there is transfer of interest it would fall under the category of lease. If there is no transfer of interest, it would be a mere license. It is also now settled that the nomenclature is not decisive. Parting with exclusive possession is also not decisive. It is the duty of the Court to find out the real relationship between the parties based on the clauses enumerated/incorporated in the document with the attending circumstances. Clause I of Exhibit A1 deed permits the defendants to hold the petition schedule shop room for conducting bakery. There is nothing in Exhibit A1 document to show that the possession of the shop room was retained by the owner and only a permission to occupy the shop room was given to the defendants. Clause I in Exhibit A1, on the other hand, shows that there is transfer of exclusive possession of the shop room to the defendants for the purpose of carrying out their business of bakery. Transfer of exclusive possession of the premises under the alleged arrangement alone is not decisive to find out creation of lease, but it would be a strong positive factor constituting creation of lease arrangement and when there is other factors supporting the existence of a lease arrangement, it can be safely acted upon. At this juncture, it has to be borne in mind that the difference lies on the question of creation of interest over the property and when it was established that grantee were given a right to hold the property or possession thereof as against the granter it would be a lease arrangement. A mere permission given to hold the property or to possess the property without having a right of possession as a matter of right would constitute only a licence. The material question to be looked into is the intention of the parties and whether exclusive possession was parted with at the time of creation of the relationship as a matter of right and if the answer is affirmative, it would be a lease. Clause V is so relevant as it gives a benefit to both the parties to have a notice of termination in three months advance. It is agreed that if any of the parties wants to terminate the arrangement/relationship, the party who wants to terminate the arrangement should give the other party an advance notice of three months. This would be a strong indica







































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