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2025 Supreme(Raj) 1485

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR 
NARENDRA SINGH DHADDHA, J.
BSNL and Others - Appellants
Versus
Trust Murti Mandir Shri Kaila - Respondent
S.B. Civil First Appeal No. 557 of 2008
Decided On : 07-04-2025


Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : B.N. Sandhu
For the Respondents: Rajneesh Gupta, Chanchal, Rahul Sharma, Utkarsh Goyal

The court affirmed that the defendants' failure to pay rent and unauthorized alterations justified the eviction, and the Rajasthan Rent Control Act did not bar the trial Court's jurisdiction.

Headnote:

(A) Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001 - Jurisdiction and applicability - The trial Court decreed the suit for eviction and recovery of lease amount against the defendants who failed to pay rent and altered the premises. The defendants contended that the suit was barred by limitation and the trial Court lacked jurisdiction due to the Act's applicability. (Paras 1, 2, 6, 10)

(B) Lease Agreement - Conditions and obligations - The defendants argued that rent payment was contingent upon the registration of the lease deed, which was not proven. The plaintiffs provided notice for termination of tenancy. (Paras 8, 12)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiffs, as trustees of a temple, leased property to the defendants for telecommunication purposes at a monthly rent of Rs. 12,500. The defendants failed to pay rent since January 2003 and altered the premises without consent. (Paras 2, 6)

Findings of Court:
The trial Court found no merit in the defendants' claims regarding jurisdiction and the lease conditions, affirming the plaintiffs' right to recover possession and rent. (Paras 12)

Issues: The main issues included the applicability of the Rajasthan Rent Control Act and the validity of the defendants' claims regarding the lease conditions. (Paras 10, 12)

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the defendants' argument regarding the lease deed registration was unsubstantiated, and the trial Court had jurisdiction to hear the case, thus affirming the decree for eviction and rent recovery. (Paras 12)

Result: Appeal dismissed.

JUDGMENT :

NARENDRA SINGH DHADDHA, J.

1. This Civil First Appeal has been filed by the appellants-defendants (for short ‘the defendants’) against the judgment and decree dated 10.07.2008 passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track) No. 1, Karauli (for short ‘the trial Court’) in Civil Suit No. 11/2007 (44/2006) titled as Trust Murti Mandir Shri Kaila Devi Ji and Anr. Vs. Bharat Sanchar Nigam and Ors., whereby the said court decreed the suit filed by the respondents-plaintiffs (for short ‘the plaintiffs’) for eviction, recovery of the lease amount and damages in their favour.

2. Brief facts of the case are that the plaintiffs filed a suit for eviction, recovery of the lease amount and damages mentioning therein that one old temple popularly known as Mandir Mata Shree Kailadevi Ji is situated in village Kaila Devi Sub Division and District Karauli and a registered public trust has been duly constituted for managing the affairs of the temple. The plaintiff No.1 is the sole trustee and plaintiff No. 2 is the manager of the trust. It was also mentioned that one building known as ‘Kothi Dyampal Ji’ (Shikaar Mahal) and adjacent huge land near Circuit House Karauli was in the khatedari and possession of the trust. Since, the defendants were in need of a building for extension of Telecommunication facilities, so defendants had taken the vacant land at monthly rent of Rs. 12,500/- per month on lease and possession was handed over to the defendants on 01.01.2003. Since then, they are in possession of the disputed premises. They had materially altered the disputed premises and did not pay a single penny towards the monthly lease amount from 01.01.2003 till filing of the suit. Legal notice with regard to termination of the lease deed was served to the defendants on 06.09.2006 and inspite of this, they had not handed over the vacant possession of the disputed premises of the plaintiffs. In suit, plaintiffs prayed for decree of the suit and for arrears of rent amounting to Rs.5,55,000/- with interest @18% interest and also claimed use and occupation charges of Rs. 20,000/- with interest @ 18% from01.09.2006 till premises are vacated.

3. Defendants filed a written statement and categorically mentioned by them that they had taken the suit property on lease but there was a condition precedent that the rent would be paid after getting the lease deed registered which was not registered. They had not altered the disputed premises. The present suit is barred by limitation and trial Court had no jurisdiction to try the suit because Rajasthan Rent Control Act came into force in Karauli in April 2003, whereas the suit was filed before the trial Court in the year 2006. So, the suit filed by the plaintiffs be dismissed. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the trial Court framed following issues-:

1- vk;k okn i= ds in la[;k 02 esa of.kZr ifjlj ¼tk;nkn½ dk oknh VªLV rUgk Lokeh gS\

2- vk;k mDr ifjlj oknh VªLV }kjk izfroknhx.k dks 12]500@& :i;s izfrekg ij yht ij fn;k Fkk\

3- vk;k mDr ifjlj esa izfroknhx.k us oknh VªLV dh fcuk vuqefr rksM+QksM+ dj lkjHkwr ifjorZu fd;k\

4- vk;k izfroknhx.k us yht MhM dh 'krksZa ds vuqlkj yht jkf'k dk Hkqxrku ugha fd;k gS\

5- vk;k oknh VªLV mDr ifjlj ds mi;ksx miHkksx ;kfu bLrsekyh dk gtkZuk 20]000@&:i;s izfrekg izfroknhx.k ls izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gS\

6- vk;k oknh dk okn fe;kn ckgj gksus ls [kkfjt fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS\

7- vk;k oknh }kjk U;k; 'kqYd de vnk fd;s tkus ls okn [kkfjt fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS\

8- vuqrks"k\

4. After amendment, trial court framed following additional issue:

vk;k oknh dk okn U;k;ky; gktk ds ^^Jo.kkf/kdkj@{ks=kf/kdkj dk ugha gksus ls [kkfjt fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS\**

5. To prove his case, plaintiffs got examined PW-1 as Girdhari Singh and got exhibited some documents. To prove their case, defendants got examined Naresh Kumar Verma as DW-1.

6. After hearing both the parties, trial Court decreed the suit filed by the plaintiffs and directed the defendants to hand over the vacant possession of the dis

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