This order shall govern these five revisions in C.R.P.Nos.257 to 261 of 2006.

2. The tenants are the revision petitioners herein who challenge the judgments of the Rent Control Appellate Authority namely the Principal District Judge, Pondicherry, in RCA Nos.7 to 11 of 2005 whereby the orders of the Rent Controller of the said place dismissing the petitions in RCOP Nos.80 to 84 of 2001 on the ground of willful default, were reversed by allowing the appeals.

3. The Court heard the learned Counsel on either side.

4. The first respondent herein filed all the above RCOPs five in number, alleging that the respondents in the RCOP namely the petitioners herein, were occupying the premises which belonged to his father Ramakrishna Reddiar; that he died in 1992; that the first respondent became the owner of the property; that the petitioners became the tenants under him; that they were making payments of rental; that it was enhanced to Rs.605/-per month for the year 1999; that the tenants were irregular in paying the rent; that they paid rent upto December 1999; that there was a panchayat convened for the revision of the rent; that the tenants refused to accept the revision; th