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2008 Supreme(Online)(SC) 46

SUPREME COURT
A. K. Mathur, *Tarun Chatterjee, JJ.
M/s. K.B. Saha & Sons Pvt. Ltd. – Appellant
Versus
M/s. Development Consultants Ltd. – Respondent
F.A. Nos. 39-40 of 1998 | Title Suit No 19/92 | Title Suit No 39/95



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Somnath Mukherjee
For the Respondents: None appeared

An unregistered lease agreement is inadmissible for establishing eviction grounds; subsequent use by a different officer does not constitute 'change of user' under the law.

Headnote:(A) West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 - Section 13(1)(b) and Transfer of Property Act, 1882 - Section 49, Section 107, and Clause (o) of Section 108 - Appeals against dismissal of suits for eviction of tenant based on unregistered lease agreement limiting use of premises - Court held that tenancy was not exclusive to named officer; hence, subsequent occupation by another employee did not amount to 'change of user'. (Paras 26, 29)

(B) Evidence - The unregistered lease agreement was inadmissible as the lease required registration under Section 107, preventing declaration of occupation terms. (Paras 19, 21)

(C) Conditions of tenancy - Tenant’s compliance with statutory provisions under Rent Control was upheld; the landlord failed to provide grounds for eviction as per Section 13 of the Act. (Paras 27, 30)

Facts of the case:
The appellant filed two suits against the respondent, seeking eviction based on a tenancy agreement stipulating residential use by a specific officer. The respondent contested the suits, stating the tenancy continued despite the officer vacating.

Findings of Court:
The High Court affirmed that the leases were governed by the Act, denying grounds for eviction as the tenancy agreement, though unregistered, was considered bound under the law.

Issues: 1) The enforceability of an unregistered tenancy agreement, 2) Allegations of tenancy change of use, 3) Grounds for eviction under statutory law.

Ratio Decidendi: The agreement’s unregistered status rendered it inadmissible for establishing eviction grounds, and merely using premises for another employee after one left did not breach tenancy as 'change of user.'

Result: Appeals dismissed.

Table of Content
1. court establishes factual background of tenant and lease. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. appeals result from dismissal of suits; grounds for eviction reviewed. (Para 4 , 10)
3. court emphasizes significance of absence of evidence from the respondent. (Para 5 , 14 , 31)
4. court denies eviction based on unregistered lease clause. (Para 9 , 21 , 23 , 28)
5. counsel argues legality of unregistered lease and tenant's rights. (Para 11 , 12 , 16 , 24)
6. both appeals dismissed; no merit found. (Para 30 , 32)

1. These two appeals are directed against the common final judgment and order dated 18th of May, 2001 of the High Court of Calcutta passed in F.A. Nos. 39-40 of 1999 affirming the judgment and decree dated 11th of November, 1998 passed by the Asstt. District Judge, 9th Court at Alipore, South 24 Parganas whereby the two suits namely, Title Suit No 19/92 and 39/92 filed at the instance of the appellant were dismissed.

2.The facts leading to the filing of these two appeals are narrated in a nutshell as follows:
M/s. K.B. Saha & Sons Pvt. Ltd. (in short "the appellant") brought Title Suit No. 19/92 before the 9th Court of the Asstt. District Judge, Alipore, South 24 Parganas against M/s. Development Consultants Ltd. (in short "the respondent") alleging, inter alia, that the appellant was the owner of Premises No. 28/8, Gariahat Road, within Police Station Lake in the district of South 24 Parganas (hereinafter called "the suit property"). By a memorandum dated 30th of March, 1976, the respondent became a tenant in respect of a flat, as fully described in Schedule A of the plaint, in the suit property (hereinafter called "the suit premises") for the residential accommodation of a particular officer Mr. Keshab Das and members of his family and for no other purpose. The monthly rent was fixed at Rs. 1100/-, which included the rent of fixtures, fittings and parking place payable in advance by 5th of the current month for which the rent became due. The monthly rent and other charges were increased to Rs. 1210/- from September, 1985. The appellant alleged that the memorandum dated 30th of March, 1976 specifically provided that if the respondent intended to use the suit premises for any purpose other than providing residential accommodation to its named officer Mr. Keshab Das and members of his family, the respondent would have to seek a written consent from the appellant bringing the change of purpose by a notice.

3. By a letter dated 6th of March, 1992, the respondent informed the appellant that Mr. Keshab Das had vacated the suit premises and that it wanted to make repairs and to allot the same to another employee to which the appellant objected and replied by a letter dated 12th of March, 1992 that the respondent had no right to allot the suit premises to another employee and, therefore, must surrender the same once vacated by Mr. Keshab Das. However, the appellant was informed by the respondent that they would not surrender the suit premises and shall carry out the repair work in it. In this backdrop, the aforesaid Title Suit No. 19/92 was filed by the appellant for declaration and permanent injunction that as per the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement dated 30th of March, 1976, the respondent had no right to allot the suit premises to any other employee after the same was vacated by Mr. Keshab Das and members of his family. By an interim order passed on 13th of March, 1992 in the aforesaid suit, the Assistant District Judge, 9th Court at Alipore had passed an order of injunction restraining the respondent from allowing any other person except Mr. Das to occupy the suit premises. This interim order was made final on 2nd of September, 1992. On 18th of March, 1995, a notice under S.13(6) of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 (in short "the Act") was served on the respondent asking them to vacate the suit premises and on failure of the respondent to vacate the suit premises as desired in the notice, another suit was filed b






















































































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