2005 Supreme(UK) 406
2006 (1) U.D., 103
High Court of Uttaranchal
Hon'ble Prafulla C. Pant, J.
Ram Chandra Kapil (deceased)-Smt. savitri Kapil (L.R.) - Petitioner/tenant
Vs.
Sri Jag Mohan Chandra Pandey (deceased)- Smt. Neeru Pandey and others (L.Rs.) -Respondents
Writ Petition No. 5221 of 2001 (M/S),
decided on 15-09-2005.
Shri Pankaj Miglani, Advocate, for the petitioner/tenant.
Shri Anirudh Bhatt and Sri Rajesh Joshi, Advocates for the respondent No. 1/1 Land lord.
1. 2. 3.
The court emphasized the importance of not interfering with findings of fact unless they are perverse or against the evidence on record, and clarified the relevance of subsequent events in determining the fate of the release application.
Headnote:
Writ Petition - Release of Shops - U.P. Urban Building (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, Section 21(1)(a), Section 22 - The court discussed the bonafide need of the landlord, the comparative hardship, and the relevance of subsequent events in determining the fate of the release application.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, a tenant, sought to quash the judgment and order for release of shops under U.P. Urban Building Act. The landlord claimed genuine need for opening a restaurant and dining hall.
Finding of the Court:
The court upheld the concurrent findings of both lower courts regarding the genuine need of the landlord and the greater comparative hardship in his favor.
Issues: The issues revolved around the bonafide need of the landlord, comparative hardship, and the relevance of subsequent events in the release application.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that it should not interfere with findings of fact unless they are perverse or against the evidence on record. It also clarified the relevance of subsequent events in determining the fate of the release application.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed, and the petitioners were allowed two months to vacate the shops in question.
By means of this petition, moved under article 226 of Constitution of India, the petitioner/tenant has sought writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the judgment and order dated 26-03-1990 (in RC case No. 06/1982) passed by the Prescribed Authority, Nainital and judgment and order dated 22-11-1985 (RC App. No. 26/1985) passed by III Additional District Judge, Nainital.
2. Brief facts of the case as narrated in writ petition, are that petitioner is a tenant in the shops in question bearing No. 7 and 8 in ground floor of Tourist Hotel, Bhowali, on rent at the rate of Rs. 1200/- per year. Original landlord of said shops was Sri Nand Kishore (since dead) father of the respondent No. 1 Jag Mohan Chandra Pandey. The respondent NO.1 moved an application (Rent Control Case No. 06/1982) under Section 21 (1) (a) of U.P. Urban Building (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, for release of the shops in the year 1982, on the ground that he needs the shops for opening restaurant and dining Hall. It is alleged in the petition that the petitioner, himself was running restaurant In the shop in question. It is also alleged that respondent No.1 was not alone to inherit property of Sri Nand Kishore and can not be said to be sole landlord. The petitioner filed written statement and contested the application for release of the shops before the Prescribed Authority pleading that neither the respondent No. 1 is sole owner nor his need is bonafide and nor is there greater comparative hardship in his favour. By way of amendment in written statement it is further stated that during pendency of proceeding respondent No. 1 has got constructed big room in which his requirement of dining hall can be fulfilled. It is also pleaded by the petitioner (tenant) that need of the landlord' can be got fulfilled from other shops No. 3 and 4 also. The Prescribed Authority, after taking evidence of parties and hearing them, not only found need of the landlord (respondent NO.1) as genuine and bonafide but also gave the finding that there is greater hardship in his favour as against the tenant. Aggrieved by said order, the tenant (petitioner no. 1) prepared Rent Control Appeal No. 26 of 1985, under Section 22 of U.P. Act 13 of 1972. However, after hearing the parties, respondent NO.2 (III Additional District Judge) dismissed the same vide his order dated 26-03-1990. Hence this writ petition by the challenging both the orders passed by authorities below on the ground that the said authorities committed gross Illegality In holding need of the landlord bonafide and the accepting his case of greater hardship. It is also alleged in the writ petition that the respondent No. 1 was not sole owner. The petitioner further alleged in the writ petition that the courts below have erred in law by ignoring the Commissioner's report. During the pendency of writ petition both petitioner Sri Ram Chandra Kapil and respondent No. 1 Sri Jag Mohan Chandra Pandey died and their widows got substituted on the basis of said development. Subsequently it is stated by way of amendment that substituted respondent had failed to plead her need as required under Clause (7) of Section 21 of U.P. Act No. 13 of 1972. Lastly It is pleaded that the petitioner's restaurant
has earned good-will and can not be shifted elsewhere.. . '.
3. The respondent No. 1 filed counter affidavit in which it has been stated that concurrent findings of fact of courts below can not be interfered with by this Court in. its writ jurisdiction. It is reiterated that the respondent No. 1 needs shop No. 7 and 8 in the ground floor as his tourist Hotel is not running well for want of a "restaurant and dining hall with it. It is further stated In the 'counter affidavit that petitioner does not require shops in question as he is running fair price shop elsewhere. It is also stated by answering respondent that one son of the petitioner (tenant) is running bakery, another a betel shop, third Is in the army,