2007 Supreme(MP) 516

2008(3) JLJ 151
(SUPREME COURT)
S.B. Sinha and P.K. Balasubramanyan, JJ.
Tara Chand v. Sagarbai @ Chaiyalibai
Appeal No.2411 of 2007 against the judgment and decree passed by the High Court of M.P. Jabalpur, in Second Appeal No.474 of 2001;
Decided on 9.5.2007.

Headnote:(1) Transfer of Property Act, 1882 -- Ss.111(f), 58(d) and 62 -- Evidence Act, 1872 -- S.15 -- M.P. Accommodation Control Act, 1961 -- S.12(1) -- tenant entered into an agreement of usufructuary mortgage with his landlord -- tenancy surrendered impliedly -- he became mortgagee and is estopped from challenging the deed.

       Held : The mortgagee was to vacate the house and possession thereof after 10 years on payment of the entire mortgage money. The stipulations contained in the deed do not stop there. It conferred a right upon the mortgagee to get the house auctioned and to recover the entire mortgage amount in the event the amount advanced is not paid back. Other covenants contained also clearly show the right of the appellant as a mortgagee and not as a tenant. The stipulations contained in the mortgage deed, therefore, are such that they would lead to an inference that the tenancy was impliedly surrendered by the appellant.

       When the parties altered their position knowing fully well their mutual rights and obligations under an agreement thereto existing, the rule of estoppel shall apply. Appellant, was, thus estopped from disputing the contents of the mortgage or the relation arising thereunder. As surrender is founded upon estoppel, the intention of the parties may not be of much significance. In this case also, there is a clear intention on the part of the mortgagee only to retain his interest in that capacity and not as a tenant. The parties altered their position. A new relationship was created. It was acted upon and in that view of the matter, we are of the opinion that the High Court was correct in its view. (1991)3 SCC 464, (2001)5 SCC 51 and (1984)4 SCC 382 distinguished. (1997)9 SCC 244 relied on. Judgment of High Court affirmed. [Paras 21, 24 & 33

       (2) Accommodation Control Act, 1961 (M.P.) -- S.12(1) -- rights of tenant -- are protected by non-obstante clause -- such rights would, however, be available provided tenancy continues -- once tenant ceases to be a tenant -- Act does not apply thereafter. [Para 13

       (3) Transfer of Property Act, 1882 -- Ss.58(d), 59, 62 and 83 -- registered usufructuary mortgage -- period expired -- mortgagor may file suit for redemption and possession or may deposit the amount under S.83 in Court. [Paras 15 & 16

       ¼1½ laifÙk varj.k vf/kfu;e] 1882 && /kkjk 111¼p½] 58¼?k½ rFkk 62 && lk{; vf/kfu;e] 1872 && /kkjk 15 && e-iz- LFkku fu;a=.k vf/kfu;e] 1961 && /kkjk 12¼1½ && vfHk/kkjh us Hkw&Lokeh ls Hkksxca/kd dk djkj fd;k && vfHk/k`fr foof{kr :i ls vH;fiZr gks xbZ && og ca/kdnkj gks x;k vkSj foys[k ij vk{ksi djus ls focaf/kr gks x;kA

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ca/kdnkj dks edku [kkyh dj ds mldk dCtk] laiw.kZ ca/kd&/ku dk lank; djus ds i‘pkr~ 10 o"kZ i‘pkr~ lkSaiuk FkkA foys[k esa dsoy ;gh ‘krZ ugha FkhA fn;k x;k /ku okil ugha fd, tkus dh n‘kk esa iwjk ca/kd&/ku olwy fd, tkus ds fy, ca/kdnkj dks edku uhyke fd, tkus dk vf/kdkj Hkh iznku fd;k x;k FkkA vihykFkhZ dk vf/kdkj ca/kdnkj dh Hkk¡fr gS] vfHk/kkjh ds :i esa ugha] ;g varfoZ"V vU; lafonkvksa ls Li"Vr% nf‘kZr gS] blfy,] ca/kd&foys[k esa varfoZ"V ‘krsZa ,slh gSa ftlls ;g fu"d"kZ fudysxk fd vihykFkhZ }kjk vfHk/k`fr foof{kr :i ls vH;fiZr dj nh xbZ FkhA

       mlds fy, djkj dh fo|ekurk ds v/khu tc i{kdkjksa }kjk vius ijLij vf/kdkjksa vkSj nkf;Roksa ls iwjh vfHkKrk ls viuh vofLFkfr esa ifjorZu fd;k] foca/k dk fu;e ykxw gksxkA bl Hkk¡fr vihykFkhZ ca/kd dh fo"k;&oLrq vFkok mlds v/khu mn~Hkwr laca/k ij fookn djus ls focaf/kr FkkA D;ksafd vH;i.kZ foca/k ij vk/kkfjr gS] i{kdkjksa dk vk‘k; vf/kd egRoiw.kZ ugha gksxkA

       bl ekeys esa Hkh ca/kdnkj dk Li"V vk‘k; dsoy mlh gSfl;r esa viuk fgr izfr/kkfjr djus dk Fkk] vfHk/kkjh dh Hkk¡fr ughaA i{kdkjksa us viuh vofLFkfr ifjofrZr dhA u;k laca/k l`ftr fd;k x;kA ml ij vey gqvkA vkSj ekeys dh bl n`f"V ls gekjh jk; gS fd mPp U;k;ky; viuh jk; esa lgh FkkA ¼1991½3 ,l lh lh 464] ¼2001½5 ,l lh lh 51 rFkk ¼1984½4 ,l lh lh 382 izHksfnrA ¼1997½9 ,l lh lh 244 voyafcrA mPp U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; vfHkiq"VA ¿ iSjk 21] 24 ,oa 33

       ¼2½ LFkku fu;a=.k vf/kfu;e] 1961 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 12¼1½ && vfHk/kkjh ds vf/kdkj && loksZifj [kaM }kjk lajf{kr gS && rFkkfi] ,sls vf/kdkj miyC/k gksaxs ;fn vfHk/k`fr pkyw jgsxh && tSls&gh vfHk/kkjh] vfHk/kkjh ugha jgrk && rRi‘pkr~ vf/kfu;e ykxw ugha gksrkA ¿ iSjk 13

       ¼3½ laifÙk varj.k vf/kfu;e] 1882 && /kkjk 58¼?k½] 59] 62 rFkk 83 && jftLVªhd`r Hkksxca/kd && vof/k lekIr gqbZ && ca/kddrkZ] ekspu vkSj dCts ds fy, okn Qkby dj ldrk gS vFkok /kkjk 83 ds v/khu jde U;k;ky; esa fuf{kIr dj ldrk gSA ¿ iSjk 15 ,oa 16