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1997 Supreme(All) 483

HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
S.N.Agarwal
ANISH AHMAD
Versus
SPECIAL
Decided On : 01 May 1997
C. M. W. P No. 14421 of 1979

Advocates Appeared:
L.N.Pandey,

The landlord's acceptance of rent after the notice was sent did not amount to a waiver of the notice as there was no intention on the part of the landlord to treat the lease as subsisting or waive the notice.

Headnote:

U. P. URBAN BUILDINGS (REGULATION OF LETTING, RENT AND EVICTION) ACT, 1972 - SECTION 113 - WAIVER OF NOTICE - LANDLORD'S ACCEPTANCE OF RENT AFTER NOTICE - INTENTION TO TREAT LEASE AS SUBSISTING - KNOWLEDGE OF FACTS ENABLING ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS.

Fact of the Case:

Petitioner, a tenant, challenged the order of the Judge Small Causes Court decreeing the suit of the landlord for recovery of arrears of rent, ejectment, and damages for use and occupation. The petitioner argued that the notice sent by the landlord was waived as he accepted rent after the notice was sent.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the landlord's acceptance of rent after the notice was sent did not amount to a waiver of the notice as there was no intention on the part of the landlord to treat the lease as subsisting or waive the notice.

Issues: 1. Whether the landlord's acceptance of rent after the notice was sent amounted to a waiver of the notice. 2. Whether the notice was served upon the petitioner.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. A landlord can waive the notice as provided under Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act, but the person claiming the waiver must satisfy two essential ingredients: (i) the intention of the landlord was to treat the lease as subsisting; and (ii) he had knowledge of the fact that this conduct amounts to waiver. 2. The landlord's acceptance of rent for the period subsequent to the date of termination of tenancy does not amount to a waiver of notice, unless there are other compelling circumstances to indicate that there was an intention of the landlord to treat the lease as subsisting.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the writ petition, holding that there was no merit in the petitioner's arguments.

SUDHIR NARAIN, J.

The petitioner seeks writ of certiorari quashing the order dated 8-2-1994 passed by the Judge Small Causes Court, Saharanpur, respondent No. 2 decreeing the suit of plaintiff-respondent and judgment dated 10-4-1997 passed by respondent No. 1 dismissing the revision against the aforesaid order.

2. The petitioner was tenant of Shop No. 47 situate in Qasba Deoband, district Saharanpur on monthly rent of Rs. 30 and respondent No. 3 is landlord. Respondent No 3 filed S. C. C. Suit No. 12 of 1984 on 16th August, 1984 in the Court of Judge Small Causes Court, Saharanpur on the al legation that the petitioner failed to pay arrears of rent since 1st July, 1982. He had sent composite notice on 20th March, 1984 demanding arrears of rent and terminating the tenancy. The petitioner did not comply with the notice. It was further stated that the shop in question was constructed in the year 1978 but it was assessed for

the first time in the year 1982 and the provisions of U. P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) were not applicable.

3. The petitioner filed written state ment. It was stated that he did not receive the notice alleged to have been sent by the landlord. He was tenant for the last 7 years and the provisions of the Act were ap plicable. It was denied that he was in arrears of rent since 1st July, 1982. He had paid rent by various money orders for the period which covered up to August, 1984.

4. The Judge Small Causes Court held that the shop was constructed in the year 1978 but it was assessed for the first time in the year 1982. The provisions of the Act were not applicable. The petitioner was served with a notice. The petitioner had paid rent up to the period May, 1983. The suit was decreed for recovery of arrears of rent, ejectment and damages for use in oc cupation. The petitioner filed revision against this judgment. Respondent No. 1 has dismissed the revision by the impugned order dated 18-4- 1977. These judgments have been challenged in the present writ petition.

5. Sri L. N. Pandey, learned counsel for the petitioner, has not assailed the finding recorded by the Court below that the provisions of U. P. Act No. XIII of 1972 are not applicable. Learned counsel for the petitioner urged that after the notice was sent by the respondent No. 3 on 20th March, 1984, he had accepted Rs. 90/- as rent sent by the petitioner in June, 1984. The amount having been accepted after the notice was sent by respondent No. 3, the said notice shall be treated as waived. He has placed reliance upon the decision Ram Dayal v. Jwala Prasad, AIR 1966 Alld. 623; wherein the Court held that if the landlord accepts rent for a period subsequent to the notice, in that circumstances the notice can be treated as waived.

6. A landlord can waive the notice as provided under Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act which provides that the notice given under Section 113, Clause (h), is waived, with the express or implied con sent of the person to whom it is given, by any act on the part of the person giving it show ing an intention to treat the lease as subsist ing. The person claiming that the notice has been waived has to satisfy two essential in gredients (i) the intention of the landlord was to treat the lease as subsisting; and (ii) he had a knowledge of the fact that this conduct amounts to waiver.

7. In Associated Hotels of India Ltd. v. S. B. Sardar Ranjit Singh, AIR 1968 SC933; the Honble Supreme Court made the fol lowing observations:-

"a waiver is an international relinquishment of a known right. There can be no waiver unless the person against whom the waiver is claimed had full knowledge of his rights and of facts enabling him to take effectual action for the enforcement of such rights. See Dhankdhari Singh v. Nathima Sahu, (1990) Cal WN 848 at 852. "

8. In Ram Krishna and others v. Jhaman Das, (1986) 1 ARC 276; it was held that if the landlord accepts the rent a











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