The interpretation of the suitability of premises for a specified landlord's occupation and the requirement of a certificate from the competent authority to support retirement claims.

G.C.Mital, J.

1. There is a residential house in Ludhiana which is jointly owned by four brothers, two out of whom were in service and thus become specified landlords for the purpose of Sec.13-A of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (as amended ). (Hereinafter referred to as the Act ). The plan is before me. On the back there are servant quarters and the garage and in front is the main bungalow. Right portion of the main bungalow, is in possession of Lajwant Singh (respondent No.4), one of the four brothers who has retired from Navy Service. Left portion is in possession of two tenants, rear left is with the tenants in this revision petition and the other portion consisting of three rooms in front, is in possession of Jaswant Singh tenant. The premises in dispute consist of two rooms, one store, on kitchen and common varandah and courtyard. For the vacation of the aforesaid portion of the house, Dr. Beant Singh, who retired as Principal Scientific Officer, Ministry of Defence, filed an application against Capt Surjit Singh and his wife, within one year before his retirement, under Sec.13-A of the Act, he retired on 31-12-1986. The Rent Controller has ordered ejectment of the tenants, and this is tenants revision.

2. The main point made out before me is that the so-called servant quarters, which are on the back side, are not servant quarters and that portion was vacated by the tenants and the specified landlord should occupy that portion and the revision petition be allowed and the order of ejectment be vacated. As already noticed, a look at the plan shows that they are servant quarters and not a portion of the main house. Since they are servant quarters, it cannot be said that the specified landlord, who has retired as Principal Scientific Officer from the Ministry of Defence, should be made to live in that portion when he can have the main portion of the bungalow vacated for his occupation on his retirement. The portion, which is with the tenants before me, is suitalbe for the specified landlord to occupy, whether this portion would be enough or not, would be gone into in the other ejectment case.

3. Another point made out was that the certificate from the proper competent authority was not produced along with the ejectment application. Since Dr. Beanf Singh has retired more than two years and nine months ago, that matter loses its significance because it is not disputed that he has retired on 31-12-1986. The certificate is required only to see whether the avernment made in the petition that the petitioner is going to retire within a year of the filing of the petition or not, is supported by any material.

4. For the reasons recorded above, there is no merit in the revision and the same is hereby dismissed. However, the petitioners are granted one monthss time to vacate the premises.