1991 Supreme(Raj) 819
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
B.R.Arora, J.
Choit Ram - Appellant
Versus
Ramdeen - Respondent
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 38 of 1991.
Decided On : 28-08-1991
An appeal is not a continuation of a suit for the purpose of the second proviso of Section 13(4) of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950, and the defendant was not required to deposit rent under Section 13(4) of the Act during the pendency of the appeal.
Headnote:
RAJASTHAN PREMISES (CONTROL OF RENT AND EVICTION) ACT, 1950 - SECTION 13(3), 13(4), 13(5), 13(6) - SECOND DEFAULT - DETERMINATION OF PROVISIONAL RENT - NECESSITY - APPEAL AS CONTINUATION OF SUIT - DEPOSIT OF RENT - VALIDITY - SECTION 19-A - REQUIREMENTS - INTERPRETATION.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff Ramdeen filed a suit for eviction and recovery of arrears of rent against defendant Choit Ram, alleging second default in rent payment for more than six months. The defendant contested, claiming that the suit was not maintainable as an appeal in an earlier suit was pending, that the appeal was a continuation of the suit and rent was deposited in the earlier suit, and that determination of provisional rent under Section 13(3) was necessary even in the case of second default.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the suit was maintainable as the appeal in the earlier suit did not challenge the finding of default, that an appeal is not a continuation of a suit for the purpose of the second proviso of Section 13(4) of the Act, and that the defendant was not required to deposit rent under Section 13(4) during the pendency of the appeal. The court further held that the deposit made by the defendant in the earlier suit could not be treated as a deposit under Section 19-A of the Act as the requirements of Section 19-A(3) were not complied with, and that the defendant had committed a second default in making payment of rent.
Issues: 1. Whether the suit for eviction on the ground of second default was maintainable when an appeal in an earlier suit was pending? 2. Whether an appeal is a continuation of a suit for the purpose of the second proviso of Section 13(4) of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950? 3. Whether the defendant was required to deposit rent under Section 13(4) of the Act during the pendency of the appeal? 4. Whether the deposit made by the defendant in the earlier suit could be treated as a deposit under Section 19-A of the Act? 5. Whether the defendant had committed a second default in making payment of rent?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The suit was maintainable as the appeal in the earlier suit did not challenge the finding of default. 2. An appeal is not a continuation of a suit for the purpose of the second proviso of Section 13(4) of the Act. 3. The defendant was not required to deposit rent under Section 13(4) of the Act during the pendency of the appeal. 4. The deposit made by the defendant in the earlier suit could not be treated as a deposit under Section 19-A of the Act as the requirements of Section 19-A(3) were not complied with. 5. The defendant had committed a second default in making payment of rent.
Final Decision: The appeal filed by the defendant was dismissed with costs. However, the defendant was allowed one year's time to hand-over the vacant possession of the suit premises to the plaintiff-respondent, provided he furnished an undertaking in the trial Court within two weeks that he would hand-over the vacant possession on or before a specified date, would not induct any other person in the suit premises, and would pay the arrears of rent, if any, and continue to pay the future rent regularly.
JUDGMENT
1. - This second appeal is directed against the decree and judgment dated December 18, 1990, passed by the Additional District Judge No. 2, Jodhpur, by which the appeal filed by the defendant appellant Choit Ram was dismissed.
2. Plaintiff Ramdeen filed a suit in the Court of the Additional Munsif and Judicial Magistrate No.1, Jodhpur, for eviction and recovery of arrears of rent with respect to First Floor of a house situated in Jodhpur City near Anand Cinema, on the ground of second default for more than six months in making payment of rent of the house in dispute. It was averred in the plaint that the first floor of the house comprising two rooms, one Saal and one kitchen was given to the defendant on the rent of Rs. 55/- per month and the tenancy started from 12th of each month and ending on 11th of next month. The defendant tenant had not made payment of the rent of the house since from January 12, 1984 to March 11, 1985. It was further averred that earlier the suit with respect to the present premises was filed against the defendant for eviction on the ground of default in payment of rent, reasonable and bona fide necessity and non user of the suit premises for more than six months. In the earlier suit, the defendant availed the benefit of Section 13 (6) of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act and, therefore, the suit of the plaintiff, on the ground of default, was dismissed as the defendant deposited the rent under Section 13 (4) of the Act as determined by the Court. The Suit of the plaintiff, on the ground of nonuser of the suit premises for more than six months, as well as on the ground of reasonable and bona fide necessity, was also dismissed by the trial court. Dissatisfied with the dismissal of the suit, the plaintiff filed an appeal but neither any appeal nor any cross-objection was filed by the defendant- tenant against the finding of default. In the earlier suit, the defendant deposited the rent only upto January 12, 1984 and did not deposit any rent after that date since 12th January, 1984 to March 11, 1985 and he, therefore, committed a second default in making payment of rent and, therefore, the plaintiff is entitled to get the decree of eviction against the defendant. The defendant contested the suit and denied the allegations regarding the committal of second default. The case of the defendant was that as the trial Court did not determine the provisional rent as required under Section 13 (3) of the Act and, therefore, it was not necessary for the defendant to deposit the amount of rent, but still the defendant deposited the amount of rent in the Court of the Additional Civil Judge No. 1, Jodhpur, by which the earlier suit was decided on February 9,1984 and the appeal in that case is still pending before the Appellate Court and has not been finally disposed of. His case was, therefore, that as the appeal is a continuation of the suit and the amount of rent was deposited in the earlier suit and, therefore, no second default has been committed by the defendant. Plaintiff Ramdeen, in support of his case, examined himself as W 1 while the defendant Choit Ram examined himself as PW 1 and placed on record the rent receipts Ex.A-1 to Ex.A-8, showing the payment of rent in the Court of the Additional Civil Judge No. 1, Jodhpur. The learned trial Court after trial, by its decree and judgment dated October 25, 1986, decreed the suit filed by the plaintiff and passed the decree for eviction against the defendant. Dissatisfied with the decree and judgment dated October 25,1986, passed by the Munsif and Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Jodhpur, the defendant filed an appeal before the District Judge, Jodhpur, which appeal was ultimately decided by the learned Additional District Judge, No.2 Jodhpur, who, by the decree and judgment dated December 18, 1990, dismissed the appeal filed by the defendant Choit Ram. It is against this decree and judgment dated December 18, 1990, passed by the Addi
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