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1980 Supreme(Raj) 125

Rajasthan High Court
M.C. Jain, J.
Jagdish Chander Soni - Appellant
Versus
Jabarmal Lodha - Respondents
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 143 of 1980
Decided On : September 25, 1980

Advocates Appeared:
Rewachand, for Appellant; L.R. Mehta, R. Mehta and S.L. Mardia, for Caveator.

Headnote:Rent Control—Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act (Rajasthan), S. 13 (1) (i)—Words used by the legislature to be construed keeping in view The policy behind same — Word acquired not restricted to premises built and urned — It includes rented premises.

       How and in what manner a particular word in a particular provision of any law, is to be construed would necessarily depend on the purpose and object of the enactment and the policy behind the same Words cannot be construed divorced from the object, policy and scheme of the Act and further if the words can be given their literal meaning and it is in consonance with the object of the Act, then, such connotation is to be given to the word.

       There does not appear to be any reason, whatsoever, to put restricted or narrow meaning to the word "acquired" occurring under section 13 (1) (i) of the Act, and if this word is construed in the light of the golden rule then the word " acquired"would cover within its ambit taking of premises on rent by the tenant, which may be suit-able for his residence.

       In the light of what I have considered above I am unable to accept the contention that the present case is not covered within the expression "acquired vacant possession". It is not in dispute in the present case that the defendant-tenant took another set of premises on rent and it has been stated that the second set of premises were taken on rent in the year 1977 and the same continued to be occupied till February, 1980.

       Having gone through the evidence and the findings I find force in the contention that the findings recorded on the question of suitability of residence are the findings of fact and it cannot be challenged in the second appeal. It cannot be said that the findings is based on no evidence. Had that been the case, this court would have certainly interfered with that finding. (Para 20 & 21)

M.C. JAIN, J.—This is an appeal by the defendant-tenant against the judgment and decree dated July 24, 1980, passed by the Additional District Judge No. 2, Jodhpur, affirming the judgment and decree of the Munsif City, Jodhpur, whereby the plaintiffs suit for ejectment was decreed.

2. The plaintiff-respondent instituted a suit for eviction against the defendant appellant on the ground of sub-letting, nuisance, and also on the ground that he has acquired vacant possession of a suitable residence by taking on rent another house in which he has started living. The learned Munsif decided the issues of sub-letting and acquisition of vacant possession of a suitable residence in favour of the plaintiff. However, the issue of nuisance was decided against the plaintiff. Consequently, the learned Munsif decreed the plaintiffs suit. The defendant went in appeal, which was ultimately heard by the Additional District Judge No. 2, Jodhpur, who affirmed the finding on issue No. 1 relating to acquisition of vacant possession of a suitable residence by the tenant. However, the finding on issue relating to sub-letting was reversed. In view of the finding on issue No. 1, the decree of eviction was upheld. It may also be stated here that during the pendency of appeal, the defendant submitted an application for amendment of the written statement. The defendant sought amendment that he had vacated the second set of premises taken on rent by him and has again started living in the disputed premises. There was one more amendment sought in the written statement, but it is not necessary to mention the same as it has not been pressed before me.

3. The learned Additional District Judge rejected the application for amendment by his order dated May 28, 1980. Dis-satisfied with the Judgment and decree of the learned Additional District Judge, the defendant has preferred this appeal.

4. I have heard Shri Rewachand, learned counsel for the defendant-appellant and Shri L. R. Mehta, learned counsel for the plaintiff-respondent.

5. Shri Rewachand, learned counsel for the appellant, has raised the following three contentions before me:-

(1) that the courts below have misconstrued the provision contained in sec. 13(1) (i) of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") and have wrongly held that the plaintiffs case is covered in the ground specified in clause (i) of subsection (1) of section 13 of the Act that the tenant has acquired vacant possession of a suitable residence. The expression "acquired vacant possession" of a suitable residence cannot be made applicable to the premises taken on rent by the tenant. In this expression would only fall premises over which the tenant acquires ownership or title and not the premises taken on rent ;

(2) that the plaintiff has failed to discharge the burden of proving that the tenant has acquired a suitable residence and the finding regarding suitability arrived at by the courts below is erroneous; and

(3) that the learned Additional District Judge erred in rejecting the defendants application for amendment of the written statement. Subsequent event regarding vacation of the new tenanted premises by the defendant and coming back into possession of the disputed premises, should be taken notice of and for which the defendants application for amendment ought to have been allowed.

6. I shall be dealing with each of the above contentions one by one.

7. As regards the first contention Shri Rewa Chand urged that the word "acquired" occurring in clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act, should be construed in the sense of acquisition of ownership or title and not acquisition by taking premises on rent. He submitted that the word acquired" should take its meaning from its previous word "built". Under clause(i) a ground for eviction would arise in favour of the land-lord in case the tenant builds a suitable residence or acquires vacant possession of a suitable residence.



























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