SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1997 Supreme(Mad) 1064

High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN
Ahmed & Co., rep. by its partner, Ashfeque Ahmed & Others
Versus
M. Anwar Basha
C.R.P. No. 3098 of 1993
Decided On :Decided On : 27-09-1997

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioners:M/s. Akbar Ali Dhala, M. Kamal anathan, S. Muktar Ahmed, Advocate.
For the Respondent:C. Jagannathan, Advocate.

The landlord must prove that his requirement of the building in question is a bona fide one.

Headnote:

LANDLORD AND TENANT - EVICTION - BONA FIDE REQUIREMENT - LANDLORD MUST PROVE GENUINE NEED FOR PREMISES - MERE FACT THAT LANDLORD IS CARRYING ON BUSINESS IN RENTED PREMISES AND HAS NO OTHER NON-RESIDENTIAL PREMISES OF HIS OWN IS NOT SUFFICIENT - LANDLORD MUST SHOW THAT HIS CLAIM IS BONA FIDE AND THAT HE DESERVES TO BE PUT IN POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES.

Fact of the Case:

The landlord filed a petition under Section 10(3) (a) (iii) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, and the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1973, to evict the tenant from the premises on the ground that he wanted the premises for his own occupation to carry on his business. The tenant contested the petition, denying that the landlord was carrying on business at the address stated in the petition and claiming that the landlord had other non-residential premises of his own in the city. The Rent Controller and Appellate Authority found that the landlord wanted the premises for his own occupation and that his claim was bona fide.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the landlord had not proved that his requirement of the building in question was a bona fide one. The court noted that the landlord had shifted his business from the premises in question to another location shortly after filing the petition, and that he had not explained why he needed to move back to the premises in question. The court also noted that the landlord had not produced his Wealth Tax assessment, which would have shown the number of properties owned by him, despite the tenant's specific objection that the landlord had other buildings of his own in the town.

Issues: Whether the landlord had proved that his requirement of the building in question was a bona fide one.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the landlord must prove that his requirement of the building in question is a bona fide one. The court noted that the mere fact that the landlord is carrying on business in rented premises and has no other non-residential premises of his own is not sufficient. The landlord must show that his claim is bona fide and that he deserves to be put in possession of the premises.

Final Decision: The court set aside the order of the authorities below and allowed the revision.

Judgment :-

1. The tenant who suffered eviction before the authorities below filed the above revision.

2. The landlord respondent filed a petition under Section 10(3) (a) (iii) of the Act 18 of 1960 and Act

23 of 1973 to evict the respondent from the premises bearing Door No. 45 (Ground floor), Kattur Sadayappan Street, Periamet, Madras 600 003. According to the landlord, he was carrying on his business under the name and style of M/s. Anwar & Co. at No. 23, E.K. Guru Street, Periamet, Madras-600 003 which is a rented premises. Since the landlord of that building wanted him to vacate, the petitioner wanted the building in question for his own occupation for carrying on the said business.

3. The petitioner/tenant filed a counter contesting the petition. In the counter, it is denied that the petitioner is carrying on business under the name and style of Anwar and Co. at No. 23, E.K. Guru Street, Periamet, Madras-3. It is also the specific case of the tenant that the landlord is having non-residential premises of his own in the city. Referring to earlier proceedings in R.C. O.P. No. 100/80 and 505/85, the tenant has stated that the object of the landlord is only for eviction and not for any bona fide reason as stated by the landlord. The Rent Controller and Appellate Authority found that the landlord wants the premises for his own occupation and his claim is a bona fide one. Aggrieved against the same, the tenant has filed the above revision.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has submitted that though the petitioner was carrying on business on the date of filing of the petition at No. 23, E.K. Guru Street, Periamet, Madras-3 and his landlord wants him to vacate the said premises, admittedly from March 1989 onwards, the petitioner has shifted his business to No. 118, Vepery High Road, Madras-7. In the absence of any evidence as to why he wants to shift the present business from No. 118, Vepery High Road, Madras-7, to the premises in question the landlord is not entitled an order of eviction. The learned counsel further submitted that having admitted that the petitioner is a Wealth Tax assessee and he is in possession of Wealth Tax Assessment which shows the number of properties owned by the petitioner in the city. Admittedly, the said document was not filed before the court and so adverse inference could be arrived at against the landlord. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners further submitted that Ex.R-1 shows that the petitioner owned some property in the town and so the petition filed by the petitioner is not maintainable. It is his further case that the landlord has constructed the third floor and to prove that, the tenant filed an application for appointment of Commissioner which was erroneously dismissed by the Appellate Authority.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent/landlord has submitted that before the authorities below, the respondent established that he is running a business in a rented premises and he has no other non-residential premises of his own in the town and so, the landlord is entitled to get the tenant vacated for his possession of the premises to do his own business as requested in the petition. The learned counsel has further submitted that since both the authorities have concurrently fond that the premises is required for bona fide requirement of the respondents business, this Court may not interfere with the factual finding sitting at revision.

6. We have to proceed on the basis of the established facts before the authorities. As found by the authorities below, the petitioner had been carrying on business under the name and style of M/s. Anwar and Co. at No. 23, E.K. Guru Street, Periamet, Madras-3 on the date of the petition. In the evidence, it is admitted by the landlord that in March 1989, he had shifted the premises to the premises bearing Door No. 118, Vepery High Road, Madras-7. The landlord filed the petition for his own occupation on the ground that he





Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top