IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
B. Vijaysen Reddy, J.
Bharath Bhushan Sanghi - Appellants
Vs.
Manoj Kumar Soni - Respondent
CRP No. 445 of 2017
Decided On : 18-06-2021
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Section (sic Order) XV-A - Transfer of Property Act - Section 106 - Evidence Act - Section 116 - Arrears of rents - Claimed damages/mesne profits - Terminating lease - Application filed under Section (sic Order) XV-A of CPC praying to strike off defense of respondent/defendant for not paying arrears of rents, was dismissed - Petitioner that respondent alongwith his mother and sister approached petitioner somewhere for taking suit schedule property on lease - There were negotiations between them and petitioner agreed to let out said property on lease to respondent.; on monthly rent - Accordingly, a rental agreement was entered into for a period of 11 months - Rent was to be paid by respondent on or before 5th of each English calendar month - Respondent was irregular in payment of rent - Respondent paid rent for a period of four months - Petitioner had been communicating about payment of rent with defendant and his sister, staying with him and other family members - It is specific case of petitioner that rents were remitted to petitioner's bank account through online (NEFT) payment - Held, Even assuming that rental agreement was not part of record of Court below, it needs to be emphasized that respondent/tenant did not dispute the plaint averments that rental agreement was entered into; rents were paid through NEFT and communication was being made with Ms. Bhagawati Soni, sister of respondent/tenant - This Court, prima facie, is of view that petitioner is owner of subject property and respondent cannot be permitted to continue in premises without paying rents - Finding of Court below that jural relationship of parties has to be decided in main suit and not at preliminary stage, in view of fact that respondent has questioned the rental agreement, is erroneous and unsustainable - Civil revision petition is allowed.
ORDER :
B. Vijaysen Reddy, J.
1. This civil revision petition arises out of order dated 29.9.2016 passed by the VIII Junior Civil Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad in IA No. 318 of 2015 in OS No. 1897 of 2015 wherein an application filed under Section (sic Order) XV-A of the Code of Civil Procedure praying to strike off the defense of the respondent/defendant for not paying arrears of rents, was dismissed.
2. The petitioner instituted a suit OS No. 1897 of 2015 for eviction of the respondent/defendant/tenant. In IA No. 318 of 2015 it was stated by the petitioner that the respondent alongwith his mother and sister approached the petitioner somewhere in the month of September, 2011 for taking the suit schedule property on lease. There were negotiations between them and the petitioner agreed to let out the said property on lease to the respondent.; on monthly rent of Rs. 9,500/-. Accordingly, a rental agreement dated 24.10.2011 was entered into for a period of 11 months. The rent was to be paid by the respondent on or before 5th of each English calendar month. The respondent was irregular in payment of rent. On 30.7.2014, the respondent paid rent for a period of four months i.e., 24.9.2013 to 23.1.2014. The respondent is due a sum of Rs. 1,75,794/- calculated upto 23.5.2015. The petitioner had been communicating about payment of rent with the defendant and his sister, Ms. Bhagawati Soni, staying with him and other family members. It is the specific case of the petitioner that rents were remitted to the petitioner's bank account through online (NEFT) payment. Several emails have been addressed to the respondent for payment of rental arrears and seeing no response, legal notice dated 14.6.2015 was issued terminating lease by giving 15 days notice as required under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act. In the notice, the petitioner claimed damages/mesne profits at Rs. 25,000/- per month. The rent as on the date of filing of the suit was Rs. 10,998/-.
3. On a perusal of the contents of the written statement, this Court finds the defence taken by the respondent adverting to the statements made by the petitioner/plaintiff in Paras 3 to 7 of the plaint is vague. This Court is concerned only with regard to the deposit of rents during the pendency of the suit, hence, deems it appropriate not to make any observations, which would have bearing on the merits of the suit.
4. In regard to the specific averments made in the plaint, as above, regarding payment of rental amount through NEFT and communication (Para 2) with the sister of the defendant, there is no denial to such pleadings by the respondent in his written statement. Further, regarding rental agreement dated 24.10.2011, there is no specific denial in the written statement except stating that the petitioner has suppressed true facts and made false pleadings; petitioner is not the owner of the premises and not entitled for the relief sought.
5. IA No. 2 of 2017 is filed in this revision to receive the rental agreement dated 24.10.2011 entered into between the petitioner and the respondent as additional evidence. The said application is ordered since it is stated that the rental agreement could not be filed at the earlier point of time as it was sent for impounding. The agreement is entered into for a period of 11 months commencing from 24.10.2011 on a monthly rent of Rs. 9,500/-. The rent is payable on or before the 5th of each English calendar month.
6. Mr. Sharad Sanghi, learned Counsel for the petitioner, relied upon a judgment of this Court in Sharada Bai v. Navratan Vyas, 2017 (3) ALD 212, wherein it was held that the tenant cannot dispute the title of the landlord since estoppel operates against him under Section 116 of the Evidence Act.
7. Mr. R. Umender Kumar, learned Counsel for the respondent, submits that the rental agreement was not part of the Court record when the impugned order was passed by the Court below and during the trial the rental agreement was marked as Ex. Al,
A landlord-tenant relationship must be acknowledged for the court to enforce rent deposits; mere denial does not negate the obligation to pay legally due rent.
Order XV(A) CPC requires an admission of the landlord-tenant relationship for its applicability; disputes over this relationship preclude its enforcement.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the importance of preventing unscrupulous tenants from avoiding rent payment during eviction proceedings, as emphasized by the court in its decisio....
The court upheld the Tribunal's order for payment of rent arrears under Order 15-A of CPC, emphasizing the necessity of summary enquiry for disputed amounts.
Point of Law : It is undisputed that rent has not been deposited before court concerned there is no provision in law to grant any relief, but the only option is to strike off the defence as provided ....
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.