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2023 Supreme(P&H) 2546

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
ALKA SARIN, J.
Jagjit Singh (deceased) through LR – Petitioner
Versus
Amrik Singh & Anr. – Respondents
CR-373 of 2015 (O&M)
Decided On : 24-01-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. Vipin Mahajan, Advocate; For the Petitioner
Mr. B.S. Baath, Advocate for the Respondent No.1.

Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Article 227 - East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 - Section 13-B - Eviction petition filed by landlord claiming to be a Non-Resident Indian for personal use - Rent Controller allowed eviction based on genuine need - Tenant claimed alternative premises available but burden of proof lies on tenant to prove landlord's claims untruthful. (Paras 4, 10, 11)

(B) The court upheld the rights of NRI landlords under Section 13-B to seek immediate possession for personal use and placed the onus on tenants to provide substantive evidence against such claims. (Paras 8, 10)

Facts of the case:
The landlord-Respondent sought eviction from a shop for personal occupation, citing his status as an NRI and familial dependence. The tenant contended that the landlord had other properties and had previously sold shops.

Findings of Court:
The Rent Controller's order allowing eviction was affirmed, with no evidence found to dispute the landlord's claims regarding personal need.

Issues: The key questions were whether the landlord's need was genuinely established, and whether the tenant could prove an alternate viable premise.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the assertion of a valid need by the landlord, particularly under NRI provisions, must be respected unless strongly contradicted by evidence. The tenant's arguments were insufficient to establish the landlord's necessity as non-genuine.

Result: Revision petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. eviction petition under section 13-b. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. tenant's procedural rights on eviction. (Para 4)
3. arguments regarding landlord's property. (Para 5 , 6)
4. supreme court's ruling on section 13-b. (Para 8 , 9)
5. tenant's burden of proof on landlord's requirement. (Para 10)
6. final order dismissing revision petition. (Para 11 , 12)

JUDGMENT

Alka Sarin, J.

The present revision petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India has been preferred against the order dated 07.10.2014 passed by the Rent Controller, Gurdaspur on a petition filed under Section 13 -B of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (hereinafter referred to as 'Punjab Rent Act') ordering the eviction of the tenant-Petitioners from the demised premises.

2. The brief facts relevant to the present lis are that the landlord-Respondent filed an ejectment petition under Section 13 -B of the Punjab Rent Act for eviction of the tenant-Petitioners from the demised premises which is a shop. It was averred in the ejectment petition that the landlord-Respondent was originally a resident of Village Fateh Nangal, Tehsil and District Gurdaspur and he migrated to Canada in the year 2002 along with his family and thereafter he was employed in the City of Edmonton in Canada. The ejectment petition was filed on the ground that the landlord-Respondent was a NRI settled in Canada along with his family and that he became the owner of the demised premises in the year 1987. Previously his father was the owner of the demised premises and on his demise in the year 1987, he became the owner. It was further averred that the landlord-Respondent returned to India with the intention to settle down and that the demised premises were required for his use and occupation and for use and occupation of his son, who was dependent upon him. It was further averred that the father of the landlord-Respondent, Hazara Singh, constructed a building in the year 1945 which was later converted into 11 shops. 6 out of the 11 shops fell to the share of the landlord-Respondent and the remaining fell to the share of his brother, Gurdial Singh. It was further averred that the shops are part of one building and were stated to have been let out to separate tenants. Out of 6 shops, one shop was stated to be in possession of the landlord-Respondent and the remaining 5 shops were required by the landlord-Respondent for opening a mall. It was further averred that qua the remaining 4 shops also ejectment petitions had been filed. Upon notice, the tenant-Petitioner appeared and filed his reply stating therein that earlier also the landlord-Respondent No.1 along with his brother filed a petition for ejectment of the tenant-Petitioner from the demised premises and he was ordered to be evicted. However, an appeal was filed by the tenant-Petitioner which was allowed on 18.04.1994. It was further averred that the landlord-Respondent No.1 had intentionally concealed the fact that he owned a plot measuring about 4 kanals situated on GT Road within the Municipal Limits of Dhariwal which was ideal for constructing a mall. It was also averred that 2 shops had earlier been sold by the landlord-Respondent No.1.

3. On the basis of the pleadings and the evidence on the record, the Rent Controller held that the demised premises were required by the landlord-Respondent No.1 for his personal use and occupation and that of his son and the tenant-Petitioner was directed to vacate the demised premises within a period of one month. Aggrieved by the said order, the present revision petition has been filed.

4. On 29.01.2015 the following order was passed :

    "Heard.

    Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that Respondent/landlord, a Canadian Citizen, has filed petition seeking ejectment of revision Petitioner(s) from demised premises claiming himself to be a Non Resident Indian. The leave to contest was declined to the revision Petitioner by the Rent Controller relying upon the plea of Respondent that h

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