IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Arun Bhansali, J.
Harji Lal Alika - Appellant
Versus
Smt. Sharda - Respondent
S.B. Civil Review Petition No. 25/2017
Decided on : 15-02-2021
Eviction - Transfer of Property Act - Section 106 - [SUIT FOR EVICTION, TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT 1882] - The court found that the landlord-tenant relationship was not established between the parties as the plaintiff did not provide any particulars pertaining to the tenancy. However, the court also noted that the defendant was entitled to a share of the suit premises, which was ancestral and undivided property of a joint family.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a suit for eviction and arrears of rent, claiming that the property was let out to the respondent at a certain rate and that the tenancy was terminated. The defendant resisted the suit, claiming ownership of the property and denying the tenancy.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the landlord-tenant relationship was not established due to lack of evidence regarding the tenancy particulars. However, the court also noted that the defendant was entitled to a share of the suit premises.
Issues: The issues included whether the courts were justified in decreeing the suit without establishing the landlord-tenant relationship and whether the defendant was afforded sufficient opportunity to defend her case.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the landlord-tenant relationship was not established due to lack of evidence regarding the tenancy particulars. However, the court also noted the defendant's entitlement to a share of the suit premises.
Final Decision: The review petition was allowed, and the judgment was recalled to the limited extent of the finding recorded pertaining to the title/ownership of the suit property. The case was restored for further hearing on this aspect.
JUDGMENT
1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. This review petition has been filed by the petitioner-plaintiff-respondent under Order XLVII Rule 1 CPC qua the judgment dated 06.09.2017 passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in S.B. Civil Second Appeal No.19/2013, whereby, the appeal filed by respondent - appellant-defendant - Smt. Sharda Devi was allowed and the judgment and decree passed by the trial court as affirmed by the first appellate court was set-aside and the suit for eviction was dismissed.
3. Suit for eviction and arrears of rent was filed by the petitioner/plaintiff before the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mount Abu, inter-alia claiming that the suit property was possessed by him, the same was let out to the respondent/defendant at Rs.200/- per month and that rent was in arrears. It was also claimed that tenancy was terminated by giving notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882 and, therefore, the plaintiff was entitled for possession.
4. The suit was resisted by the defendant by filing written statement claiming the property in question belonging to her father-in-law and that she was not the tenant of the plaintiff and praying for dismissal of the suit.
5. Based on the averments of the parties, the trial court framed 8 issues. On behalf of of the plaintiff, he himself appeared in the witness box. However, on behalf of the defendant, no evidence was led.
6. After hearing the parties, the trial court decreed the suit. Issue No.5, which pertained to the defense of the defendant regarding the suit property being owned by her, for lack of any evidence, was decided against her.
7. Feeling aggrieved, the first appeal was filed.
8. The first appellate court upheld the decree passed by the trial court. Qua issue No.5, the finding of the trial court was reiterated that as no evidence was led by the defendant, the issue was rightly decided against her.
9. In the second appeal, the appeal was admitted on following substantial questions of law:-
2. Whether the courts below were justified in decreeing the suit by assuming the landlord and tenant relationship merely on account of notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act issued by the plaintiff, to which no reply was given by the defendant?
3. Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, it can be said that the defendant was afforded sufficient opportunity to defend her case."
10. A Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, after hearing the parties, referring to the judgment in the case of D.M. Deshpandey v. Janardhan: AIR 1999 SC 1464 and Kishore Kumar v. Day a: 2016 (3) WLN 521 (Raj.), came to the conclusion that as the plaintiff has not indicated any particulars pertaining to the tenancy i.e. at which point of time the property was let out and at what rate etc., therefore, the landlord-tenant relationship was not established between the parties.
11. However, the Court while dealing with the said aspect also inter-alia made following observations:-
12. The present review petition has been filed by the petitioner/plaintiff inter-alia with the submissions that the observations made by the court pertaining to the ownership of the property by indicating only a part of the statement, besides being an error apparent on face of record, was not even required in a suit for eviction based on tenancy and, therefore, the order passed by the Court to the limited extent of making the said observa
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