IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
ARUN MONGA, J.
Firoza Begum & Anr. – Petitioners
Versus
Mohd. Saeed & Anr. – Respondents
CR NO. 2973 of 2022 (O&M)
Decided On : 01-05-2023
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. background of ownership dispute and tenancy (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. argument regarding material failure by ld. rent controller (Para 3) |
| 3. court's observations on ownership and legal proceedings (Para 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 4. impleadment of petitioners to balance equities (Para 9) |
| 5. conclusion on the disposition of the case (Para 10 , 11) |
JUDGMENT
Arun Monga, J. (Oral)
Revisionists seek setting aside of an order dated 19.05.2022 (Annexure P-3) passed by Ld. Rent Controller, Malerkotla, whereby their application under Order 1, Rule 10 CPC for adding/substituting them as necessary party in petition under Section 13 of East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (for short 'the Act, 1949'), was dismissed.
2. Succinct facts first, as pleaded in the petition herein.
2.1. Respondent No.1-Mohd. Saeed has filed a rent petition under Section 13 of the Act, 1949 seeking ejectment of respondent No.2-Ramesh Singla from the shop in question situated at Mohalla Nishat Colony, Malerkotla. Respondent No.1 pleads that an oral partition and family settlement took place between his late father Shabbir Ahmad and Mohd. Shahid in the month of February, 2019. As per settlement shop in dispute along with remaining part of the building came into the share of Shabbir Ahmad. A written agreement was also executed on 15.03.2019, whereby it was settled Shabbir Ahmad will be entitled to receive the rent of the shop in dispute. Unfortunately, Shabbir Ahmad died on 15.04.2019. Respondent No. 2 Ramesh Singla is thus stated to be a tenant of shop in dispute on a monthly rent of Rs. 1,680/- per month on the basis of oral partition and family settlement.
2.2. Petitioners herein, claim that they are real owners and also in possession of the shop in question as the tenancy was surrendered on 01.10.2019 and vacant possession was also handed over to them. They plead that respondent No.1 has filed the rent petition by concealing these crucial facts from Ld. Rent Controller. Therefore, petitioners filed an application under Order 1, Rule 10 CPC read with section 151 CPC for adding/substituting the petitioners in the abovesaid rent petition. Notwithstanding their claim, Ld. Rent Controller vide its impugned order dated 19.05.2022 (Annexure P-3) dismissed the application filed by present petitioners.
3. Learned counsel argues that Ld. Rent Controller failed to consider material aspect of the case that, admittedly, respondent Nos. 1 & 2 have no concern with the suit property. Furthermore, the suit property is the part of one building measuring 151-1/4 sq. yds. He would further argue that Ld. Rent Controller has failed to consider that, as has been pleaded in para-3 of the application for impleadment, that petitioner No.1 Firoza Begum and one Farzana, wife of Mohd. Salim, had originally purchased entire property measuring 151-1/4 sq. yds. vide registered sale deed dated 09.11.2000 (Annexure P-4), which also includes the shop in question. Thereafter, on 20.06.2013, the abovesaid Farzana orally gifted away one-half share in favour of petitioner No.1 as per Mohammedan Law regarding which memorandum of oral gift (Annexure P-5) was also executed on 24.07.2013. Resultantly, petitioner No.1 became absolute exclusive owner in possession of the entire property measuring 151-1/4 sq. yds. He would further states that petitioner No.1 later sold half share of the property measuring 151-1/4 sq. yds. to the petitioner no.2 vide registered sale deed dated 03.06.2014 (Annexure P-6). Petitioners are thus co-owners in possession of the entire property measuring 151-1/4 sq. yards including shop in question.
4. None appears on behalf of respondents, despite service.
5. Heard.
6. Perusal of impugned order itself reflects that there is a dispute inter se the petitioners and respondent no.1 with regard to title of the premises in question. Respondent No.1 claims that he is the landlord while the petitioners herein claim that they are current owners in possession of the demised premises.
7
The Rent Controller's jurisdiction is limited to deciding eviction petitions and does not extend to adjudicating on the title of the landlord.
The court emphasized the importance of clarity in relief sought, considered the impact of delay on the respondent, and upheld the petitioner's right to cover all objections in the petition.
A co-owner can file a Rent Petition independently or jointly with others, but in case he prefers an Eviction Petition independently, then also other co-owners being landlords shall also be entitled f....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that genuine necessity and ownership rights of the petitioner, along with the provisions of Section 13-B of the Act, justified the grant of possess....
Tenants cannot challenge the landlord's title in eviction proceedings; only the landlord-tenant relationship is relevant under the Chhattisgarh Rent Control Act, 2011.
The admission made by a tenant regarding the relationship of landlord and tenant is considered as the best evidence, and the question of title is beyond the jurisdiction of the Rent Controller.
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