Timely resolution of Rent Control cases is mandated to prevent undue delays in judicial processes.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. SOUMEN SEN &

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SYAM KUMAR V.M.

TUESDAY, THE 24^TH DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 3RD CHAITHRA, 1948 OP (RC) NO. 66 OF 2026 AGAINST THE ORDER IN IA 13/2025 IN RCP NO.66 OF

2018 OF SPECIAL C SPE/CBI- II & 4 ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT/RENT CONTROL APPELLATE AUTHORITY, ERNAKULAM PETITIONERS/PETITIONERS:

1 ANNA JOHN CHAKOLA, ALIAS SUMA JOHN CHAOLA AGED 70 YEARS W/O LATE JOHN P. CHAKOLA, RESIDING AT PARIJATHAM HOUSE, PARIJATHAM ROAD, CHANGAMPUZHA NAGAR PO, KALAMASSERY, THRIKKAKARA NORTH VILLAGE, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682033

2 PAUL JOHN CHAKOLA AGED 42 YEARS S/O LATE JOHN P. CHAKOLA, RESIDING AT PARIJATHAM HOUSE, PARIJATHAM ROAD, CHANGAMPUZHA NAGAR PO, KALAMASSERY, THRIKKAKARA NORTH VILLAGE, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682033 BY ADV SHRI.KANDAMPULLY RAHUL RESPONDENTS/LEGAL HEIRS OF THE RESPONDENTS:

1 ANTONY MATHEW S/O VM PAILEE, RESIDING AT VADEKKEKUTTAM PARAMBIL, CANAL CROSS ROAD, PERUMANOOR SO, KOCHI, PIN - 682015 2 BLESSY ANTONY D/O VM PAILEE, RESIDING AT MANIYANTHARA HOUSE, KOCHI, THEVARA SO, ERNAKULAM -, PIN - 682015

3 BINDU JOSEPH, W/O SHIBU JOSEPH, RESIDING AT JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAM, VALLEY SAFARI, NORTH GOA -, PIN - 403506 THIS OP (RENT CONTROL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.03.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

JUDGMENT Dated this the 24^th day of March, 2026 Soumen Sen, C.J.

Heard Mr. Rahul Kandampully, learned counsel for the petitioners.

2. This OP(RC) has been filed seeking expeditious disposal of the RCP pending before the Rent Control Court, Ernakulam.

3. We take note of the dictum laid down by this Court in Irvin John Jayarajan and Others v. Madhavi alias Narayani Amma and Others¹, wherein all Rent Control Courts were directed to dispose of Rent Control Petitions within a period of three months. The e-court status produced along with this OP(RC) reveals that the RCP was instituted as early as in the year 2018 and that the matters had been adjourned from time to time.

4. Taking note of the dictum laid down in Irvin John

1 2022 (7) KHC 1

Jayarajan (supra) and the fact that the rent control petition has been pending since 2018, we deem it fit and proper to dispose of this OP(RC) by directing the Rent Control Court, Ernakulam, to dispose of the RCP preferably on or before 31 July 2026 without granting any adjournment to either of the parties unless it is unavoidable

5. In view of the nature of the order passed, we do not propose to issue notice to the respondents.

6. Accordingly, the OP(RC) is disposed of.

Sd/-

Soumen Sen Chief Justice Sd/-

Syam Kumar V.M.

Judge ds 24.03.2026 APPENDIX OF OP (RC) NO. 66 OF 2026 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 3. A TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION RCP

66/18FILED BY THE PETITIONERS UNDER SECTION 11(3) OF THE KERALA BUILDING (LEASE AND RENT CONTROL) ACT, 1965 BEFORE THE COURT BELOW Exhibit P2 4. A TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION DATED

05/03/2025 FILED BY THE RESPONDENTS Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF IA NO.

13/2025DATED,08/12/2025 FILED ON 10/12/2025 AND REGISTERED ON

12/12/2025