IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
ROHIT RANJAN AGARWAL, J.
Dr. Arun Kumar Nigam - Revisionist
Versus
Kishor Kumar Gupta and Anr. - Opposite Parties
S.C.C. Revision No. 253 of 2015
Decided On : 13-01-2022
Provincial Small Cause Courts Act - Eviction - 1887 - [Relation of landlord and tenant, nature of accommodation, subletting, default in payment of rent, service of notice, benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972] - The court discussed the issues related to the relation of landlord and tenant, nature of the accommodation, subletting, default in payment of rent, service of notice, and the benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972. The court found that the property was let out for residential purpose, the tenant had defaulted in payment of rent, and the notice was duly served. However, the court found that the trial court failed to consider the evidence and pleadings regarding the nature of the accommodation and the benefit of Section 20(4) and remanded the matter back to the trial court for fresh findings on these issues.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiffs, joint owners and co-landlords of a property, filed a suit for eviction and arrears of rent against the tenant-revisionist. The tenant contested the suit, claiming that the property was non-residential and that he had tendered the rent. The trial court decreed the suit for eviction and arrears of rent, which led to the present revision.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the trial court failed to consider the evidence and pleadings regarding the nature of the accommodation and the benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972. As a result, the court remanded the matter back to the trial court for fresh findings on these issues.
Issues: The issues included the relation of landlord and tenant, nature of the accommodation, subletting, default in payment of rent, service of notice, and the benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision to remand the matter back to the trial court was based on the failure of the trial court to consider the evidence and pleadings regarding the nature of the accommodation and the benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972.
Final Decision: The court remanded the matter back to the trial court for fresh findings on the nature of the accommodation and the benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972.
JUDGMENT :
1. Heard Sri Ashish Kumar Srivastava, learned counsel for the revisionist and Sri Prakhar Tandon, learned counsel for the opposite parties.
2. Present revision filed under Section 25 of Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 (hereinafter called as 'the Act of 1887') challenges the judgment and decree dated 14.05.2015 passed by Judge, Small Cause Court/ Additional District Judge, Court No. 24, Kanpur Nagar in S.C.C. No. 77 of 2008 by which the court had decreed the suit for eviction and arrears of rent and damages filed by plaintiffs-opposite parties.
3. Facts in nutshell, are that plaintiffs-opposite parties are the joint owner and co-landlord of House No. 24/79 Birhana Road, Kanpur Nagar. Originally, the property belonged to Smt. Bittola Devi, widow of Late Shyam Sunder Gupta and mother of plaintiffs-opposite parties. On 11.12.2006, Bittola Devi unfortunately died and they became the legal heirs. According to plaintiffs, the house consisted of one shop and on the backside, three rooms are constructed which are connected with each other along with toilet and an open courtyard. The monthly rent of the property in dispute was Rs.750/-per month along with water tax. The provisions of Rent Control Act was applicable. From 01.01.2000, the tenant-revisionist did not tender any rent to plaintiffs-landlord. According to plaintiffs, there was outstanding rent from 01.12.2006 and from 01.01.2000 to 30.11.2006, the tenant was liable to pay Rs.750/-per month along with water tax, thus, the total outstanding was Rs.11,205/- It was also stated that the tenant had sublet the property violating the provisions of Act No. 13 of 1972. It was also stated that the tenant had purchased one house for residential purpose in the year 1978 and the sale deed was executed on 24.11.1978, thus, no benefit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972 can be given to the tenant. As the rent was not tendered, registered notice was sent on 22.02.2008 demanding the rent. As rent was not tendered nor the premises was vacated, S.C.C. Case No. 77 of 2008 was filed. The tenant-revisionist contested the suit and filed his written statement and submitted that the plaintiffs had locked the doors of the passage leading to the courtyard and rooms. He has also denied the amenity of water by putting the lock, closing the access to water tap. It was also stated that the tenant was a doctor and was running clinic at two places. It was also averred that the rent was tendered through money order on 01.02.2008 but the same was returned back with remark 'refused', it covered the period from 01.11.2006 to 31.10.2007. It was also averred that a sum of Rs.40,006/- was tendered on 25.07.2008. The said amount was deposited with intention that in case default in payment of dues arrears of rent is arrived at, the tenant would be relieved from liability of eviction within ambit of Section 20(4) of the Act No. 13 of 1972. Further, in Para 8 it was denied that the property was not sublet to any person in the name of A.K. Nigam and in fact the brief name of tenant-revisionist, Dr. Arun Kumar Nigam was A.K. Nigam. It was also averred that after the plaintiffs-landlord refused to accept the amount of rent, the tenant had deposited the same under Section 30 in Misc. Case No. 107/70 of 2008.
4. Lastly, notice has been contested on the ground that it did not provide the period and the tenancy did not stand determined as per Section 106 of Transfer of Property Act. In the additional written statement filed by tenant, it was stated that an application for allotment was moved by tenant for non-residential purpose on 05.06.1978 which was not opposed by landlord and in fact had given her consent for allotment and by order dated 12.12.1980 bearing no. 37, the property was allotted to tenant. Similarly, by allotment order dated 30.03.1979 being order no. 39, one kothari was allotted to the tenant which was vacated by one Ram Nath.
5. It was further averred that House No. 19/150, Patkapur was pur
Subhaash Chandra Purwar vs. District Judge, Mahoba and another
Jamuna Prasad Gupta vs. Additional District Judge, Court No. 14, Kanpur Nagar and 2 others
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for the trial court to consider all evidence and pleadings related to the nature of the accommodation and the benefit of Section 20....
The interpretation of 'first hearing' under Section 20(4) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Building Act is critical in determining tenant rights, emphasizing the need for evidence regarding the nature of p....
Point of law: When the aid of Revisional Court is invoked on the revisional side, it can interfere within the permissible parameters provided in the statute. It goes without saying that if a revision....
The tenant's acquisition of alternative accommodation under Section 13(1)(l) of the Rent Act justified eviction, with the principle of greater hardship being irrelevant in this context.
The Revisional Court's wide jurisdiction under Section 25 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 allows it to decide the suit on merits if there is sufficient evidence on record, without the ....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the application of Section 12 of the U.P. Act No. 13 of 1972, which deals with the declaration of vacancy of a tenement. The judgment emphasizes th....
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.