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1986 Supreme(P&H) 42

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
Rajeindra Nath Mittal, J.
Gauri Shankar (Deceased) Represented By Smt. Sheila Devi
Versus
Gopal Krishan Sood
Civil Revision No. 1472 of 1977,
Decided On : FEBRUARY 4, 1986

Headnote:

Sub-tenancy - Joint Hindu Family Business - The court affirmed the finding that the shop was sublet by the tenant to the sub-tenant based on evidence including income tax returns and absence of proof of rent payment. The court also dismissed the argument of the application being filed mala fide.

Fact of the Case:

The landlord sought ejectment of the tenant and sub-tenant on the ground of sub-tenancy. The tenant contested, claiming the business was a Joint Hindu Family business.

Finding of the Court:

The Appellate Authority found in favor of the landlord, affirming subletting and dismissing the mala fide claim. The revision petition was dismissed, granting three months for the tenants to vacate.

Issues: Sub-tenancy, Joint Hindu Family business, Mala fide application

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on evidence such as income tax returns and absence of proof of rent payment to affirm subletting. The mala fide claim was dismissed based on lack of significance in view of the earlier finding.

Final Decision: The revision petition was dismissed, granting three months for the tenants to vacate.

Judgment

Rajendra Nath Mittal, J.

1. This revision petition, has been filed by Gauri Shankar, tenant and Madal Lal, sub-tenant, against the order of the Appellate Authority dated 22nd September, 1977 ordering their ejectment on the ground of sub-tenancy.

2. Briefly, the facts are that Gopal Krishan, landlord gave the shop on lease for a period of one year to Gauri Shankar on an annual rent of Rs. 875/- on 10th September, 1963 vide rent note, Exhibit A-5. It is alleged that subsequently Gauri Shankar sublet the premises to Mohan Lal, sub-tenant who was carrying on the business of selling cloth in that shop, without the consent of the landlord. Consequently he prayed that the order of ejectment be passed against them.

3. The petition was contested by the respondents who, inter alia, pleaded that they constituted a Joint Hindu Family and the business carried on in the shop was a Joint Hindu Family business. It was further pleaded that Gauri Shankar took the shop on behalf of the Joint Hindu Family for its business. The business was being run in the name of Madan Lal Rajesh Kumar Madan Lal was the father and Rajesh Kumar was the son of Gauri Shankar.

4. The learned Rent Controller held that the subletting was not proved and that the application was filed mala fide. Consequently he dismissed the application for ejectment. The landlord went up in appeal. The Appellate Authority reversed the finding of the Rent Controller and held that the shop was sublet by Gauri Shankar to Madan Lal. It, however, did not record any finding that the application was filed mala fide. The tenant and sub-tenant have come up in revision to this Court.

5. During the pendency of the revision petition both of them died and the petitioners have become parties as their legal representatives.

6. The main question that arises for determination is as to whether the premises were sublet by Gauri Shankar to Madan Lal or the business carried on in the shop was a Joint Hindu Family business. The Appellate Authority, taking into consideration the evidence, came to the conclusion that the business was not a Joint Hindu Family business and that the shop was sublet by Gauri Shankar to Madan Lal. Normally the findings of fact arrived at by the authorities below are not interfered with in revision. In this case I have gone through the evidence and considered the argument of the learned Counsel for the petitioners but find that there are also no sufficient grounds to interfere with the findings recorded by the Appellate Authority. The main ground for rejecting the plea of the petitioners is that income-tax return was filed by Madan Lal in which the business was not shown as a joint Hindu Family business but as his individual business. Admittedly Gauri Shankar was carrying on dairy business in another shop. Madan Lal has made a statement that the had been paying the rent to the landlord. However, the account books relating to the present business showing that the rent was being paid by Madan Lal to the landlord have not been produced. The receipts of payment of the rent by Madan Lal have also not been produced. After taking into consideration all the aforesaid circumstances. I am of the opinion that the view expressed by the Appellate Authority is correct. Consequently I affirm the same.

7. Faced with this situation Mr. Garg sought to argue that the Rent Controller returned a finding that the application for ejectment was filed mala fide but no finding has been given by the Appellate Authority in that regard. He submits that an adjoining shop was given on lease by the mother of the landlord at a rent of Rs. 225/- per mensem and the petitioners are paying rent at the rate of Rs. 875/- per annum. He further submits that Madan Lal deposed that the landlord wanted the rent to be enhanced. I do not find any force in this submission as well. In fact the plea becomes insignificant in view of the earlier finding. The statement of Madan Lal cannot be accepted in this regard.

8. For t

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