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2010 Supreme(Mad) 54

Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. SELVAM
Saral Saroja
Versus
Simson
SA. No. 827 of 1998
Decided On : 04-01-2010

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant :A. Arumugam, Advocate.
For the Respondent:T. S. R. Venkatramana, Advocate.

Headnote:

Transfer of Property Act - Eviction Suit - Section 51 - Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960 - [KEYWORD] - [Eviction Suit] - [Section 51 of the Transfer of Property Act, Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960] - The court analyzed the applicability of Section 51 of the Transfer of Property Act and Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960 in an eviction suit. The court emphasized that the denial of title by the tenant and the claim of permanent tenancy necessitate a finding from the Rent Controller before filing a civil suit for eviction. The court referred to relevant legal provisions and precedents to establish the legal framework for maintaining an eviction suit.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration, recovery of possession, and future mesne profits against the defendant, who denied the plaintiff's title and claimed permanent tenancy over the property. The trial court decreed the suit, which was confirmed by the first appellate court. The defendant appealed, raising substantial questions of law regarding the applicability of Section 51 of the Transfer of Property Act and the maintainability of the suit without obtaining a finding under Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the suit was not legally maintainable without obtaining a finding under Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960. The court held that the plaintiff should have followed the legal procedure of obtaining a finding from the Rent Controller before filing the suit for eviction. Consequently, the court set aside the judgments and decrees of the lower courts and dismissed the suit.

Issues: The issues involved the applicability of Section 51 of the Transfer of Property Act and the maintainability of the suit without obtaining a finding under Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the requirement for obtaining a finding from the Rent Controller before filing a civil suit for eviction when the tenant denies the landlord's title and claims permanent tenancy. The court emphasized the legal procedure outlined in Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960 and referred to relevant precedents to support its decision.

Final Decision: The second appeal was allowed, and the judgments and decrees of the lower courts were set aside. The suit filed by the plaintiff was dismissed.

Judgment :

This second appeal has been directed against the concurrent Judgments passed in Original Suit No.7 of 1990 by the District Munsif Court, Ambasamudram and in Appeal Suit No.7 of 1994 by the Sub Court, Ambasamudram.

2. The respondent herein as plaintiff has instituted Original Suit No.7 of 1990 on the file of the trial Court for the reliefs of declaration, recovery of possession and also for future mesne profits, wherein the present appellant has been shown as sole defendant.

.3. It is averred in the plaint that the suit property is originally belonged to the father of the plaintiff by name Kovil Pichai Nadar and he enjoyed the same uninterruptedly for more than a statutory period. The plaintiff has purchased the suit property under a registered sale deed dated 212. 1988. After purchase, the plaintiff has asked the defendant to vacate the suit property. But the defendant has agreed to enjoy the suit property on a monthly rental of Rs.75/- and also given assurance to vacate the suit property within six months. The defendant has paid monthly rent upto April 1989 and thereafter she failed to pay monthly rent. The plaintiff has issued a legal notice on 110. 1989 to the defendant and even after receipt of the same, she has failed to vacate the suit property. She has also given a legal notice contending false averments. It is false to say that the suit property has been allotted to the husband of the defendant in a family arrangement. It is also equally false to say that the husband of the defendant has improved the suit property by way of spending Rs.20,000/-. No family arrangement has been made as stated on the side of the defendant. Under the said circumstances, the present suit has been instituted for the reliefs sought for in the plaint.

4. It is averred in the written statement filed on the side of the defendant that it is false to contend that the plaintiff has purchased the suit property under a registered sale deed dated 212. 1988. The suit property has been given to the husband of the defendant in a family arrangement and subsequently he made improvements and lived along with his family members. The husband of the defendant has served in a mill and he passed away on 21.03.1988 and after his demise, the plaintiff has approached the defendant to give the job of her husband to him and the job of the defendant has been given to her brother by name Selvaraj. Since the demand made by the plaintiff has not been conceded by the defendant, the father of the plaintiff has created a false document dated 212. 1988. The defendant has been residing in the suit property as of its rightful owner. It is false to say that the defendant has agreed to pay monthly rental of Rs.75/-. The defendant has given a suitable reply notice to the plaintiff. It is also equally false to say that in a portion of the suit property, the house mentioned in the plaint is situate. There is no merit in the suit and the same deserves dismissal.

5. On the basis of the divergent pleadings raised on either side, the trial Court has framed necessary issues and after scrutinising both the oral and documentary evidence has decreed the suit only in respect of the reliefs of declaration and recovery of possession. Against the Jugment and decree passed by the trial Court, the defendant as appellant has preferred Appeal Suit No.7 of 1994 on the file of the first appellate Court.

6. The first appellate Court after hearing both sides and upon reappraising the evidence available on record has dismissed the appeal, whereby and whereunder confirmed the Judgment and decree passed by the trial Court. Against the concurrent Judgments passed by the Courts below, the present second appeal has been filed at the instance of the defendant as appellant.

.7. At the time of admitting the present second appeal, the following substantial question of law has been framed for consideration:

.“Whether in any event the appellant is entitled to the benefits of Section 51 of the Tra














































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