2014 Supreme(Jhk) 598
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
D.N. UPADHYAY, J.
Vijoy Kumar Minocha - Petitioner
Versus
Sunita Bagroy & Ors. - Opp. Parties
Civil Revision No. 14 of 2011
Decided On: May 9, 2014
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Manjul Prasad, Sr. Advocate.
For the Opp. Parties:Mr. Rahul Gupta, Advocate.
Headnote:(a) Transfer of Property Act, 1908 – Section 116 – Mere acceptance of rent – Does not attract section 116 unless landlord allows the tenant to continue in possession. (Para 12)
(b) Bihar Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1982 – Section 11(1) (e) – Determination of lease – No clause for renewal – Suit for eviction – Petitioner prolonging litigation for eight years – Courts below decreeing suit after due deliberation and discussing facts and legal principles in detail – No interference warranted – Revision petition dismissed. (Para 15, 16)
(2000) 7 SCC 232 – Distinguished
D.N. Upadhyay, J.-This Civil Revision has been directed against the judgment dated 20.01.2011 passed by learned Second Additional Munsif at Ranchi and decree signed on 04.02.2011 in connection with Eviction Title Suit No. 01/2007 whereby the petitioner/defendant has been directed to hand over the vacant possession of the suit premises to the plaintiff within a period of two months from the date of judgment.
2. The plaintiff has brought a suit against the petitioner for evicting him from the suit premises wholly and particularly described in the schedule annexed at the foot of the plaint and further after evicting the petitioner for putting the plaintiff/opposite party in Khas possession over the same. It is disclosed that one shop premises with fittings over Holding No. 515/C-1 in Ward No. III, Khata No.1786 situated at main road within (Ranchi-Chaibasa Road) near Pee Pee Compound, P.S. Hindpiri, District-Ranchi butted and bounded on the north and south by other shops and on the east open space and Main Road and on the west within 4’ wide passage was given to the petitioner on rent for five years from 1.1.1997 to 31.12.2001 with option to the lessee/petitioner to renew the same for another five years. The aforesaid lease was renewed vide registered deed of lease dated 12.2.2002 for a fixed period of five years commencing from 1.1.2002 and ending on 31.12.2006 on monthly rent of Rs. 3168/-. In the fresh lease there was no provision for further renewal. A sum of Rs. 28,000/-as security to ensure due performance of the terms and obligations by the petitioner/defendant was also deposited with the plaintiff/opposite party and the amount was returnable without interest on the occasion of handing over the vacant possession of the suit premises. After expiry of period of lease the opposite party, through his lawyer issued a notice against the petitioner on 18.12.2006 asking him to vacate the suit premises after 31.12.2006. Since the petitioner failed to hand over the vacant possession of the suit premises after expiry of the period of lease, Eviction Title Suit No. 01/2007 was filed on 4.1.2007 as the cause of action arose on and from 31.12.2006 when the suit premises was not vacated and on subsequent dates. For the purpose of court-fee and jurisdiction the suit was valued at Rs. 31016/-and ad valorem court-fee was also deposited.
3. The petitioner/defendant after publication of the notice in local newspaper appeared in the court-below and filed an application for grant of leave to contest the suit and subsequent to grant of leave to contest the suit, written statement was filed. The petitioner has made out a case that the suit in its present form is not maintainable and barred by the principle of waiver, estoppels and acquiescence. It was also pleaded that the suit is barred by principle of res judicata. Further plea of the petitioner was that no cause of action ever arose. He has been carrying on business in the suit premises continuously for more than decades as a tenant and after every five years lease deed used to be executed and registered on agreed enhanced rent whereas other terms and conditions of every lease always remain same. On the expiry of the period of lease which was for the period 1.1.97 to 31.1.2001 another lease for further period of five years was executed on enhanced monthly rent of Rs. 3168/-for which a sum of Rs. 2561/-was paid by the petitioner as a cost for execution and registration of renewed lease from 1.1.2002 to 31.12.2006 and that was registered on 12.2.2002. It is contended that the petitioner was not given opportunity to go through the content of lease deed dated 12.2.2002 and he was under impression that the renewal clause as usual must be there but after knowing the institution of suit he could learn that the opposite party has practiced fraud by deleting the renewal clause from the lease executed on 12.2.2002. The petitioner in his written statement has further contended that he had been pa