HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Sudesh Bansal, J.
Brajendra Singh & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
Madho Singh & Ors. – Respondents
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 861/2007
Decided On : 25-04-2022
Eviction - Rent Act - [Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent & Eviction) Act, 1950] - Section 19A - The court decided in favor of the landlord based on the default in payment of rent and the bona fide need of the shop for the landlord's son. The court also extended the benefit of first default to the tenant under Section 13(6) of the Rent Act.
Fact of the Case:
The landlord filed a suit for eviction of the tenant from a shop due to non-payment of rent and the landlord's bona fide need for the shop for his jobless son. The trial court ruled in favor of the tenant, but the appellate court reversed the decision and decreed eviction against the tenant.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the tenant had defaulted in payment of rent and that the landlord had a bona fide need for the shop for his son. The court extended the benefit of first default to the tenant under Section 13(6) of the Rent Act.
Issues: The issues included default in rent payment, the landlord's bona fide need for the shop, and the comparative hardship in case of not vacating the shop.
Ratio Decidendi: The court decided in favor of the landlord based on the default in payment of rent and the bona fide need of the shop for the landlord's son. The court also extended the benefit of first default to the tenant under Section 13(6) of the Rent Act.
Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed, and the tenant was granted three months to vacate the shop and hand over peaceful possession to the landlord, subject to payment of due arrears of rent.
JUDGMENT
Sudesh Bansal, J. - The appellant-defendant-tenant (hereafter 'the tenant') have preferred this second appeal assailing the judgment and decree dated 20-9-2007 passed by the Additional District Judge No. 2, Bharatpur in first appeal No. 62/1997 allowing appeal reversed the judgment dated 13-2-1997 passed by the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) No. 1, Bharatpur in civil suit No. 76/1991 and decreed the suit for eviction of tenant from shop in question and fixed the mesne profits Rs. 140/- per month.
2. Facts as culled out from the record are that respondent-plaintiff-landlord (hereafter 'the landlord') filed a suit on 31-5-1988 for eviction of tenant stating therein that shop in question was in tenancy of the tenant defendant No. 1 Brijendra Singh @ Bijjo from the time of erstwhile landlord Ganpat Singh on a rent of Rs. 140/- per month, which was purchased by landlord through registered sale deed dated 10-12-1986 of which information was given to tenant 24-1-1987. It was pleaded that the tenant did not pay rent from 1-12-1986 as such he committed default in payment of rent. It was pleaded that the shop in question was bonafidely needed for his son Laxmi Narayan for Kirana-shop as he was jobless. It was stated that notice dated 3-12-1987 was given to tenant mentioning therein the issue of default and bona fide need of shop for plaintiff's son. The notice was received by the tenant on 4-12-1987. It was further pleaded that after receipt of notice the defendant No. 1 sublet the shop to defendant No. 2 and deposited the rent in court under Section 19A of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent & Eviction) Act, 1950. As the defendant No. 1 denied to admit the plaintiff as landlord therefore he is liable to be evicted from the shop. Rs. 2380/- for rent of 17 months was claimed to be recovered.
3. On service of notice, the defendant No. 1 filed written statement and denied the facts mentioned in plaint. It was stated that the property shown in the ownership of Vimla Devi, Sheela Devi and Vijay Singh, all properties belonged to plaintiff and these persons were family members of plaintiff and they are residing together. The shop in western side, house in northern side, three shops and hall on their roof were vacant and in possession of plaintiff. The hall was got vacated from Amarchand Jain after filing the suit. It was pleaded that alleged sale-deed was to be proved by plaintiff. Receipt of notice dated 24-1-1987 was denied. The allegation of default was denied and submitted that rent was sent to erstwhile landlord Ganpat Singh through Money Order, who did not receive the Money Order, but he did not tell about sell of shop in question. The plaintiff also did not raise demand for the rent after 24-1-1987. On receipt of notice dated 3-12-1987 the plaintiff sent the due rent through Money Order to plaintiff, but he refused therefore the defendant No. 1 deposit the rent in court under Section 19A of the Rent Act. The defendant No. 1 was always ready and willing to pay the rent but he did not receive malafidely just to prove the defendant No. 1 to be defaulter. It was pleaded that plaintiff's son Laxmi Narayan was not jobless, nor he was having any experience of kirana-shop. However, plaintiff has other vacant shop in his possession. After the notice dated 3-12-1987 the plaintiff demand to increase the rent as Rs. 300/-, to which the defendant No. 1 denied therefore the plaintiff has filed the suit alleging him to be defaulter. Alleged sub-tenant Bali Chand was servant of defendant No. 1 as the tenant was doing business in shop in question of tea-restaurant, ice and beetle sell for last fifteen years.
4. Defendant No. 2 filed separate written statement and denied the facts of plaint and stated that suit was wrongly filed just to harass defendants. As defendant No. 2 was wrongly impleaded in suit he claimed compensation of Rs. 1000/-.
5. On basis of pleadings of parties, eight issues were framed. Subsequently Issue No. 5 and 6 we
Amarjit Singh vs. Smt. Khatoon Quamarain (AIR 1987 SC 741)
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Jagannath vs. Arulappa (2005) 12 SCC 303)
Kondiba Dagadu Kadam vs. Savitribai Sopan Gurjar (1999) 3 SCC 722)
S.J. Ebenezer vs. Velayudhan (AIR 1998 SC 746)
Santosh Hazari vs. Purushottam Tiwari (2001) 3 SCC 179)
Smt. Annapurna Dei vs. Akbar Patel (AIR 1974 Ori 162)
State Bank of India vs. Emmsons International Limited (2011) 12 SCC 174)
The court upheld the landlord's right to evict the tenant based on the default in rent payment and the landlord's bona fide need for the shop, as provided under the Rent Act.
The court emphasized the importance of bona fide necessity in eviction cases and highlighted the lack of bona fides in pursuing frivolous litigation.
The central legal point established in the judgment is the requirement to prove bonafide and reasonable necessity for eviction under Section 13 of the Rajasthan Premise (Control of rent and Eviction)....
The court reinforced that concurrent findings of fact by lower courts are binding unless proven erroneous, particularly in eviction cases under the Rent Control Act.
The landlord is the best judge of his need and the court cannot advise the landlord to compromise his necessity for the benefit of the tenant.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the benefit of first default accorded to a tenant under the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950 should be upheld unles....
since the plaintiff was not starting a new business, which could be started in any other shop, as the requirement was for expanding the existing business by removing the wooden partition and as the b....
The requirement of substantial questions of law and the impact of new tenancy acts on ongoing proceedings must be carefully considered by the court.
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