2016 Supreme(Raj) 242
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
GOVIND MATHUR & KAILASH CHANDRA SHARMA, JJ.
Kamal Kumar & Others – Appellants
Versus
State of Rajasthan & Others – Respondents
Civil Special Appeal (Writ) No. 985 of 2015
Decided On : 04-08-2016
For the Appellant : Mr. Manish Shishodia.
For the Respondents:Mr. P.R. Singh, Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr. Dinesh Ojha, Mr. Sanjay Nahar and Mr. A.K. Jain.
Headnote:
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 - Section 106/111 - Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950 - Sub-section (3) of Section 2 - Suit for recovery of possession - Temporary possession - Appellant-petitioners landlord had temporary possession of a part of rented premises being required for some marriage in family - Possession of premises aforesaid, , was not handed over to the tenant, therefore, a suit for recovery of possession was preferred which came to be decreed in favour of the plaintiff tenant - Appeal preferred by the landlord also came to be dismissed under the judgment and decree possession of the premises in question was handed over plaintiff tenant as a consequence to the execution of decree after dismissal of the second appeal vide judgment and decree Suffice to mention that during pendency of litigation rented premises was purchased by Jain preferred a suit for eviction of the tenant from the rented premises on the ground of bona-fide necessity, default in payment of rent and availability of alternative accommodation to tenant. The suit came to be decreed by the trial court under the judgment tenant being aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 2.5.1998 preferred an appeal before the court of learned District - Petitioners invoking provisions of Section 106/111 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 - It was also disclosed in the notice that the State of Rajasthan by invoking powers under exempted the Trust from applicability of the provisions of the aforesaid Act - Petitioners responded the notice with several objections, but ultimately preferred a petition for writ giving challenge to the notification of the State – Held, Litigation is pending for its eviction - Helplessness was also disclosed in getting the litigation decided at an early stage, but it nowhere discloses any public interest demanding exemption from application of law - Communication forwarded to the State Government by Commissioner, also nowhere mentions about any public interest or necessity demanding exemption as per sub-section (3) of Section 2 of Act of 1950 - Deputy Legal Remembrance of the Government of Rajasthan very specifically mentioned that sole purpose of demanding exemption is only to get rid from litigation pending before the civil courts he also mentioned - Trust desires eviction of the tenant from rented premises to have higher rent. The State Government after getting some documents from the Trust without recording anything to satisfy itself about existence of necessity or public interest issued the notification impugned - It is well settled that in general, every person is required to adhere law and exemption from that can be given in exceptional circumstances. Such exceptional circumstances should be visible atleast from administrative nothings - Notification impugned was issued by the State Government without satisfying itself that exemption to the respondent - Trust from application of the provisions of the Act of 1950 was necessary and expedient in public interest, hence the same is illegal - Appeal is allowed
GOVIND MATHUR, J.
1. To examine correctness of the judgment dated 24.9.2015, passed by learned Single Bench, this appeal is before us.
2. The facts relevant are that in the year 1969, one Shri Bahadur Singh Kothari rented out a premises to Shri Sukhlal, father of the appellant-petitioners. The landlord had temporary possession of a part of the rented premises being required for some marriage in family. The possession of the premises aforesaid, however, was not handed over to the tenant, therefore, a suit for recovery of possession was preferred which came to be decreed in favour of the plaintiff tenant on 22.8.1994. An appeal preferred by the landlord also came to be dismissed under the judgment and decree dated 8.2.1996. The possession of the premises in question was handed over to the plaintiff tenant as a consequence to the execution of decree after dismissal of the second appeal vide judgment and decree dated 22.3.1996. Suffice to mention that during pendency of litigation the rented premises was purchased by Jain Shwetambar Oswal Samaj (hereinafter referred to as 'the Samaj'). The Samaj preferred a suit for eviction of the tenant from the rented premises on the ground of bona-fide necessity, default in payment of rent and availability of alternative accommodation to tenant. The suit came to be decreed by the trial court under the judgment dated 2.5.1998. The tenant being aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 2.5.1998 preferred an appeal before the court of learned District Judge, Banswara.
3. During pendency of the appeal, Shri Godi Parshwanath Shwetambar Jain Mandir Bawan Deri Trust, Banswara (hereinafter referred to as 'the Trust') claiming itself to be owner of property, terminated the tenancy of the tenant petitioners invoking provisions of Section 106/111 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. It was also disclosed in the notice dated 5.3.1999 that the State of Rajasthan by invoking powers under sub-section (3) of Section 2 of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act of 1950') exempted the Trust from applicability of the provisions of the aforesaid Act. The tenant petitioners responded the notice with several objections, but ultimately preferred a petition for writ giving challenge to the notification of the State of Rajasthan dated 12.11.1998. The case of the petitioners before learned Single Bench was that the State Government while invoking powers under sub-section (3) of Section 2 of the Act of 1950 did not apply its mind and as such the same is bad.
4. No reply to the writ petition was filed by the State Government, however, the notification was defended by the State and respondent Shri Godi Parshwanath Shwetambar Jain Mandir Bawan Deri Trust with assertion that as per sub-section (3) of Section 2 of the Act of 1950, it is permissible to grant exemption in respect of any premises owned by educational, religious or charitable institution, if whole of the income derived is utilised for the purpose of the institution and in the instant matter the respondent No. 3 is a religious Trust utilising complete income for religious purposes, hence, the notification dated 12.11.1998 does not suffer from any infirmity or illegality.
5. Learned Single Bench, after considering the arguments advanced, dismissed the writ petition by arriving at the conclusion that the Trust availing exemption is a religious Trust, utilising whole of the income derived from the premises for the purpose of institution itself, hence was entitled to get the exemption and no need was there to disclose any further facts except referred in the notification dated 12.11.1998 itself.
6. Aggrieved by the conclusion arrived, the instant appeal is preferred with contention that to invoke powers under sub-section (3) of Section 2 of the Act of 1950, the State Government must satisfy itself that exemption from the provisions of the Act of 1950 is necessary or expedient in public interest, but