IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
NUPUR BHATI, J.
Mahaveer Prasad S/o. Shri Kesari Mal Jhanwar - Petitioner
Versus
The Rent Tribunal, Bhilwara & Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 16877 of 2018
Decided On : 03-05-2023
Constitution of India,1950 - Article 226 & 227 - Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001 - Section 20 and 9(A) (J) & (L) - Paying rent nor is handing over vacant possession of godown - Committed default in payment of rent - Respondent no.2/landlord filed an application under Section 9(A) (J) & (L) of Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001 before learned Rent Tribunal, stating inter alia that his commercial property month with petitioner/tenant, of which, respondent no.2/landlord is in bonafide need whereas petitioner/tenant is not in need of godown as he has put lock on godown - Held, Court is of firm opinion that the petitioner is unable to prove that rented premises in dispute had been sole to third party by the respondent No.2 - Respondent No.2 is entitled to recover the amount of arrears due to him - Petitioner has not challenged judgment - examining the facts and circumstances of case vide order has rightly held that the respondent no.2 is entitled to recover rent amount due from petitioner for disputed premises - writ petition stands dismissed
JUDGMENT :
1. The present writ petition has been filed under Article 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India by the petitioner seeking for the following reliefs :-
(ii) The application under Section 20 of the Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001 filed the respondent no.2 may kindly be ordered to be dismissed.
2. The facts of the case in brief are that on 30.11.2007 respondent no.2/landlord filed an application under Section 9(A) (J) & (L) of the Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act of 2001’) before the learned Rent Tribunal, Bhilwara stating inter alia that his commercial property i.e. Godown No. 33 was on rent @ Rs.2420/-per month with the petitioner/tenant, of which, respondent no.2/landlord is in bonafide need whereas the petitioner/tenant is not in need of the godown as he has put lock on the godown. For the last 15 months, the petitioner is neither taking any use of the rented property nor is paying rent. The rent of 30 months is due against the petitioner/tenant and despite giving notice neither the petitioner is paying rent nor is handing over vacant possession of the godown. Thus, the petitioner, by not paying the rent since March 2002, has committed default in payment of rent. He, thus, prayed for vacating the godown from petitioner and for handing over the same to respondent no. 2.
3. The petitioner in his reply to the application stated that the rent of disputed premises was not Rs.2420/-per month but was Rs.2000/-per month. The respondent no. 2 is not having bonafide need of the disputed godown whereas the petitioner is having reasonable and bonafide necessity of the godown in-question. He has not put any lock on godown whereas he is using the godown continuously. No rent is due against him. The petitioner is ready and willing to pay rent but the respondent no. 2 is not ready to accept the same. The petitioner has not received any kind of notice from respondent no. 2 nor he is having any knowledge of any such notice. On vacating the disputed godown the petitioner would become unemployed and his family will have to face financial difficulties/hardship and they have no other source of livelihood. The petitioner is not having any other godown except the disputed godown. It was further stated in the reply that the petitioner has taken the disputed premises on lease on 01.05.1990 by executing an agreement, according to which, the respondent no.2 has to deposit Rs.1 lac before vacating the godown and has to pay to the petitioner and, therefore, the respondent no.2 without paying Rs. 1 lac to petitioner, has no right to get the godown vacated. The respondent no. 2 concealing the said fact has filed application and, has not come before learned Tribunal with clean hands. The petitioner has paid rent to respondent no. 2 upto December 2003. The petitioner was ready to pay the rent to the respondent no. 2 but respondent no. 2 has not accepted the rent and now the respondent no. 2 cannot say that the petitioner has defaulted in paying the rent and now he is not entitled to receive the rent. The respondent no. 2 has not made it clear in his application about the requirement of the disputed premises whereas the respondent no.2 is having several vacant godowns and could have utilized the same upon any requirement. He wants to get vacated the disputed godown, as earlier also he has sold several godowns and shops and with a view to sell, he wants to evict the petitioner whereas the petitioner is ready to purchase the said godown. The petitioner is using the godown for the business of scrap and ultimately the petitioner prayed for dismissal of the application.
4. After hearing counsel for the parties, the learned Rent Tribunal, Bhilwara framed the following issues :-
The burden of proof in establishing default in payment of rent lies with the landlord, and the landlord must discharge the initial burden of proof.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the court, while exercising its powers under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, cannot re-appreciate the evidence and can only interven....
The court affirmed that eviction under Section 9(i) of the Rajasthan Rent Control Act does not require prior notice for arrears of rent, focusing on bonafide necessity.
Tenants can be evicted for using premises inconsistently with tenancy purpose, supported by sufficient evidence from the landlord.
The court established that under the Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001, landlords must provide proper notice of rent arrears, and tenants can be evicted for non-payment if the legal requirements are m....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the significance of appearing before the tribunal and rebutting claims to contest eviction proceedings.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.