SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2003 Supreme(All) 2489

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
S. U. Khan, J.
RAJA RAM - Appellant
Versus
XTH ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE - Respondents
C. M. W. P 7408 Of 1997
Decided On : 11/14/2003

Advocates Appeared:
O.P.AGARWAL, RAJESH SRIVASTAVA, Rohit Agarwal, VIJAI BAHADUR

The main legal point established in the judgment is the significance of rent deposits under Section 30, the treatment of water tax as part of the rent, and the impact of summons service on the tenant's liability for ejectment.

Headnote:

Ejectment - Default - Section 30 of the Act - 1981 ARC 675, 1982 ARC 121, 1985 (1) ARC 201, 1984 UPRCC 37, 1998 (1) ALR 514, 1983 (1) ARC 523, 1993 (2) ARC 629, 1982 (1) ARC 555, 1982 (1) ARC 248, 1995 (2) ARC 52, 1996 (2) ARC 119, 1997 (2) ARC 670 - The court discussed the validity of rent deposits under Section 30 of the Act, the treatment of water tax as part of the rent, and the implications of summons service on the tenant's deposit of rent. The court also highlighted the relevance of previous authorities in interpreting the legal provisions.

Fact of the Case:

The landlord filed a suit for ejectment and recovery of rent against the tenant on the ground of default. The trial court decreed the suit, but the revisional court reversed the judgment and dismissed the suit. The main issue was whether the tenant was liable to ejectment due to default in rent payment.

Finding of the Court:

The lower revisional court rightly reversed the trial court's finding on the validity of rent deposits and the service of summons. However, the matter was remanded to the trial court to determine the validity of the summons service and the deposit of water tax by the tenant.

Issues: Validity of rent deposits under Section 30, treatment of water tax as part of rent, and the relevance of summons service on rent deposits.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that rent deposits under Section 30 after knowledge of the pending eviction suit were not valid. The court also emphasized the treatment of water tax as part of the rent and the importance of summons service in determining the tenant's liability for ejectment.

Final Decision: The writ petition was allowed, the judgments of the lower courts were set aside, and the matter was remanded to the trial court for further determination.

S. U. KHAN, J.

( 1 ) THIS is landlords writ petition. Suit filed by landlord petitioner against tenant respondent No. 3 on the ground of default was decreed by the trial court however the revisional court allowed the revision, reversed the judgment and decree passed by the trial court (J. S. C. C.) and dismissed the suit of the landlord. The only question involved in this writ petition is whether tenant was liable to ejectment on the ground of default or not. Petitioner landlord (since deceased and survived by legal representatives) filed S. C. C. Suit No. 23 of 1989 before J. S. C. C. , Kanpur nagar against tenant respondent No. 3. According to the plaint allegation rate of rent was Rs. 200 per month apart from taxes, that defendant tenant was defaulter with effect from 1. 12. 1987, that till 30. 11. 1988 amount of 12 months rent amounting to Rs. 2,400 alongwith water tax with effect from 1. 7. 1978 was due against the tenant. In the notice and the plaint varying rates of water tax were mentioned, i. e. , 7. 5% till March, 1981, 15% till September, 1985, and 18% since october, 1985. According to plaint rent and tax had not been paid inspite of notice dated 15/19. 12. 1988. Landlord also admitted in his oral statement that after notice tenant sent some rent through money order, which was short of the demand hence it was not accepted. The tenant pleaded that prior to notice, after refusal of money order by landlord, he deposited the rent from 1. 12. 1987 to 31. 5. 1988 and water tax under Section 30 of the Act. The trial court/iind Additional j. S. C. C. , Kanpur Nagar decreed the suit for ejectment and recovery of rent, etc. through judgment and decree dated 23. 5. 1992. The trial court held that the amount deposited under section 30 after receipt of notice was not valid and as no money order after notice was refused by landlord hence the rent deposited under Section 30 after notice could not be taken into consideration. Tenant respondent No. 3 filed a revision against the said judgment and decree being S. C. C. Revision No. 103 of 1992. The said revision was allowed by Xth Additional district Judge, Kanpur Nagar through judgment and order dated 19. 11. 1996. By judgment of the revisional court suit of the petitioner was dismissed. The revisional court held that the amount had rightly been deposited under Section 30 hence tenant was not defaulter. Regarding water tax the revisional court held that even if there was default in payment of water tax tenant could not be ejected on the basis of the same. Thereafter revisional court also held that in any case defendant tenant had also deposited the water tax.

( 2 ) THE trial court impliedly believed the version of the tenant that prior to notice rent sent by him through money order to the landlord was refused hence he rightly deposited the rent from 1. 12. 1987 to 31. 5. 1988 under Section 30 of the Act. However, the trial court held that the subsequent deposit of rent from 1. 6. 1988 to 31. 1. 1989 under Section 30 on 10. 3. 1989 was not valid as notice of landlord dated 15. 12. 1988 had admittedly been served upon the tenant on 19:12. 1988. The assertion of the tenant that after receiving the notice on 19. 12. 1988 he sent m. O. of the rent from June, 1988 to December, 1989 on 13. 1. 1989 which was refused by the landlord was not considered by the trial court/j. S. C. C. as it held the same to be beyond the pleading/case of the tenant (Abhivachan ke pare ). The precise sentence of the Judgment of the trial court translated in English is as follows :

"the evidence of defendant to the effect that he sent money order on 13. 1. 1989 is beyond his defence (Abhivachan) hence there is no need to consider the said evidence. " As noted by the trial court itself on internal page 4 of its judgment (Annexure-6 to the writ petition), according to the landlord the tenant after receiving the notice sent some rent through money order, which was not according to the demand hence it was refused by h






Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top