JUDGMENT - R.D. TULPULE, J.:---This petition raises a question with regard to the scope of section 37 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act and the import of that section. 2. The question arises in the following circumstances : Lands Survey No. 25 Hissan Nos. 1 and 2 admeasuring 2 Acres and 8 1/2 Gunthas of village Kase in Sangameshwar Taluka, District of Ratnagiri, was leased to Narayan Ganpat as a tenant. Land belonged to respondent-Habiba. Habiba filed a proceeding against Narayan under section 31 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act claiming possession on the ground that she required the land for bona fide personal cultivation. That was Tenancy Suit No. 303 of 1962. It is common ground that Habiba succeeded in that suit and was rewarded with an order of possession of those lands. Accordingly, she was actually put in possession in the year 1964. Since then she has been cultivating this land personally about which there is no dispute. 3. On the 9th of April, 1973 Habiba executed a sale deed in favour of respondents Nos. 2 and 3 Ganpat Chavan and Gangubai Chavan, his wife, it appears that as soon as the sale deed was executed and within a few days thereform the parties thought of cancellation of that document. To that effect, on the 13th of May, 1973, an application was given by Ganpat and his wife to the Registrar to cancel that document. It appears that respondents Nos. 2 and 3 were then ready to cancel the document but such a thing could not be done, and the Registrar informed them that if they did not want the land then they had to execute a reconveyance in favour of the Vendor Habiba. Accordingly, a document came to be executed on 29th June, 1973 reconveying the same land by respondents Nos. 2 and 3, namely, Ganpat and his wife in favour of Habiba from who they had purchased this land. 4. On the 31st of May, 1973 Narayan called upon Habiba to hand over possession of the land of which she had taken possession in a proceedings under section 31 by recourse to section 37 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act. It was his contention that the land had been transferred by Habiba and, therefore, she was liable to put tenant Narayan into possession and restore the land to him. It was his contention that the land had been transferred by Habiba and, therefore, she was liable to put tenant Narayan into possession and restore the land to him. As Habiba did not agree, tenant Narayan filed a suit, which gives rise to the present petition, in the Court of Tahsildar, Deorukh. 5. In his application to the Tahsildar, Deorukh, Narayan alleged that Habiba had executed a sale deed on the 29th of May, 1973 in favour of Ganpat Chavan. The date, however seems to be wrong. He then contended that the land is in possession of Ganpat and that this transaction of sale is illegal. Habiba had no right to effect such a sale and the sale deed is not binding upon him. He, therefore, claimed possession. It is significant to note that in his application for possession under section 37, he has not made any reference to the land or the use to which, if any, Ganpat had put the lands or whether Habiba had ceased to cultivate the land personally. This application was filed on the 18th of August, 1973. 6. The Tahsildar, Deorukh held that there was a contravention of the provisions of section 37 by Habiba. He therefore, ordered restoration of possession of the land by Habiba to Narayan. 7. Aggrieved by that judgment and order, Habiba preferred an appeal. That appeal came to be heard by the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Dapoli. It may be stated that Ganpat and Gangubai were joined as parties to his application before the Tahsildar by Narayan. They did not, however, file any appeal to the Collector, but it was only Habiba who filed that appeal Ganpat and Gangubai were made respondents along with Narayan. The Special Lands Requisition Officer confirmed the order passed by the Tahsildar. 8. Habiba then took a revision application to the Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal being Revision Application No. 169 of 1976. The Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal allowed the application and set aside the orders passed by the Special Land Acquisition Officer as well as of the Tahsildar, but instead of deciding the question which was raised therein, it remitted the matter back to the Tahsildar, Sangameshwar, for an inquiry. That inquiry was directed in regard to the question as to the use to which the land had been put during the period 9th April, 1973 to 29th June, 1973. That inquiry was directed in regard to the question as to the use to which the land had been put during the period 9th April, 1973 to 29th June, 1973. The learned Member of the Tribunal observed that the period during which Habiba was not in possession, assuming that the recitals in the sale deeds are correct, was between 9th April, 1973 to 29th June, 1973 only and that was a very short period and normally this is not a period during which any cultivation as such could be undertaken. It made a reference to what had appeared in the judgment of the authorities below as summer paddy cultivation. It, therefore felt, "it was necessary for the tenant to adduce evidence to show that the appellant has failed to use the land for agriculture purpose." It is for that purpose that the Tribunal directed the matter back, to be inquired into by the Tahsildar, Sangameshwar. It will be seen from the judgment of the Tribunal that the Tribunal had made a distinction between sale of land and sale of proprietary interest, and cessation of the use to which the land must be put and was required to be put before provisions of section 37 got attracted. It correctly pointed out that the judgment and orders passed by the authorities below suffer from undue emphasis and consideration of facts and circumstances which were not relevant. It pointed out that section 37 speaks of failure to use the land for the purpose for which it was obtained. What the authorities below considered was the question of possession having been transferred from Habiba to Ganpat Chavan and the proprietary interest in the property also passing form Habiba to Chavan and repassing from Ganpat Chavan to Habiba. Indeed the consequence of the property passing back to Habiba on account of the reconveyance deed is not given its due and necessary consideration by the authorities below. 9. Mr. Jadhav, who appeared for the petitioner, raised a contention that section 37 was clearly infringed by respondent-Habiba in the present case, by executing on sale deed in favour of Ganpat Chavan. It was Mr. Jadhavs contention that Habiba by further parting with possession must be deemed to be, and must be held to have ceased to use the land for the purpose for which he obtained the land. It was Mr. Jadhavs contention that Habiba by further parting with possession must be deemed to be, and must be held to have ceased to use the land for the purpose for which he obtained the land. The moment Habiba transferred the property to Ganpat Chavan, it was Mr. Jadhavs contention, that she ceased to have any dominion over the property and could not thereafter cultivate it personally. It was his submission that the landlord must not only cultivate the land or use it for the purpose for which he has obtained the possession from the tenant but that his capacity as a landlord or owner by virtue of which he got back the possession from the tenant must continue with him. In other words, Mr. Jadhavs contention was that landlord must not only continue to use the land for the purpose for which he obtained the possession from the tenant, but he must also continued to be the landlord or the owner of the land. Where he ceases to be such an owner, and the character of his possession of such land, even if he is in physical possession, changes and the result is that he is not in possession as a landlord and not using the land for the purpose for which it has been given. In other words, it seems to be his contention that the landlord must continue to use the land for the purpose of which it had been given to him and in that capacity, there must be no change in his character of holder. 10. In other words, it seems to be his contention that the landlord must continue to use the land for the purpose of which it had been given to him and in that capacity, there must be no change in his character of holder. 10. So far as the relevant point of section 37 is concerned, it is as follows : "37(1) if after the landlord takes possession of the land after the termination of the tenancy under section 31, 33-B or section 34 of this Act as it stood immediately before the commencement of the Amending Act, 1956 he fails to use it for any of the purposes specified in the notice given under section 31, 33-B or section 34 of this Act as it stood immediately before the commencement of the Amending Act, 1956 within one year form the date on which he took possession or ceases to use it at any time for any of the aforesaid purposes with twelve years from the date on which he took such possession, the landlord shall forthwith restore possession of the land to the tenant whose tenancy was terminated by him...." Now, analysing this section for our purposes, it would be seen that there are two contingencies in which a tenant who has lost possession or possession has been taken from his in a proceeding commenced by the landlord under sections 31, 33-B or 34 before its amendment in 1956 would become entitled to restoration of possession. The first contingency is where the landlord who has recovered possession from the tenant, "fails to use it within one year from the date on which he took the possession " for the purpose for which he has obtained possession. Therefore, where a landlord has obtained possession from his tenant on the ground that he requires the land for personal cultivation, then within a period of one year he must start cultivating the land personally. Where he has obtained possession for a non-agricultural purpose, then he must put the land within a period of one year for such non-agricultural purpose. The purpose to which the land must be put is the purpose mentioned of specified in the notice proceeding action under section 31, 33-B or 34, as the case may be. 11. Where he has obtained possession for a non-agricultural purpose, then he must put the land within a period of one year for such non-agricultural purpose. The purpose to which the land must be put is the purpose mentioned of specified in the notice proceeding action under section 31, 33-B or 34, as the case may be. 11. The second contingency in which the tenant would be entitled to restoration of possession is a contingency which may occur within a period of 12 years from the date of taking possession, that is, where the landlord "ceases to use it at any time for any of the aforesaid purposes within twelve years from the date on which he took such possession." The combined effect of the two parts of the section, therefore, is that where a landlord takes possession he must within a period of one year from the date of his taking possession put the land to the purpose for which he has obtained possession and use it for that purpose on pain of loosing possession. Similarly he must continue to use the land for such purpose for a period of twelve years from the date of his taking possession, otherwise if he ceases to use the land for that purpose, he renders himself liable to loose possession and the tenant who has lost possession becomes entitled to restoration of possession. 12. Now important words in this section are obviously the words "failing to use it for any of the purposes" and "ceasing to use it for any of the aforesaid purposes". The expression" for any of the purposes" any of the aforesaid purposes" is common. What section 37 seems to strike at is failure to use the land for the purpose of "ceasing to use it" for the purpose during the period of twelve years from the date of taking possession for which possession was obtained. The emphasis, therefore, is user of the land for the purpose for which the land has been obtained. What the section aims at, therefore, is non-use of the land for the purpose for which it has been obtained. If there is such a non-use, then the landlord would be visited with the penalty of loosing the land and the tenant who has been deprived of possession of the land to enable the landlord to put it to that use, is put back in possession. If there is such a non-use, then the landlord would be visited with the penalty of loosing the land and the tenant who has been deprived of possession of the land to enable the landlord to put it to that use, is put back in possession. 13. It would be seen that the section does not say anything as to the capacity in which the landlord or a former landlord must use the land or continue to use it. The converse of ceasing to use is continuing to use. What was contended by Mr. Jadhav was that the section makes no reference to the word "owner", It uses all along and everywhere in the section the word landlord. It also refers to landlord and, therefore, it was his contention that it is the landlord who must use it within a period of one year and must continue to use it for a period of twelve years for the purpose for which the land was given to him and he obtained from the tenant. If the person ceases to be the landlord, meaning thereby, according to him, the owner of the land, then he automatically must be deemed to have "failed to use it" or ceased to use it" for the purpose for which the land was let. In other words, according to Mr. Jadhav, the status of the landlord and the use of the land must go hand in hand. If any of them is discontinued and does not walk in step, then section 37, according to him, is immediately attached. 14. Now it is true that in section 37 the word used is "landlord". But it is obvious that what is meant by the word "landlord" is an ex-landlord or owner. Once the relationship of landlord and tenant ceases, he landlord having succeeded in suit for possession, he cannot be described with reference to the land as landlord, since there is no tenant on the landlord. The person who obtains possession is no more a landlord with reference to the land. The proper description of such a person would be an ex-landlord. Wherever similarly the section uses the word "tenant", it really means ex-tenant. The word landlord in such a case would mean owner and the tenant would mean an ex-tenant. 15. The person who obtains possession is no more a landlord with reference to the land. The proper description of such a person would be an ex-landlord. Wherever similarly the section uses the word "tenant", it really means ex-tenant. The word landlord in such a case would mean owner and the tenant would mean an ex-tenant. 15. Now there are no express words in this section which place any embargo or prohibition upon the status of the owner or ex-landlord changing from that to any other. If the section intended that the owner, namely, ex-landlord must for a period of twelve years from the date of his taking possession continue as an owner and must not part with the property in any manner or must not loose dominion over the land, then it is reasonable to suppose that the Legislature would have used such words limiting the landlords power to transfer his interest in the land. 16. Whenever the Legislature wanted to prohibit transfers of land or dispossession thereof, it has used such words so as to clearly bring out its intention. An instance of this intention can be given by making a reference to section 63 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act and also to section 27. Section 27 prohibits an assignment of any interest by a tenant and section 63 prohibits a sale, gift, exchange lease of any land in favour of a non-agriculturist. The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act has been enacted, as the preamble says to amend the law which governs the relationship of landlord and tenant of agricultural lands. Its object was to ensure " the full and efficient use of land for agriculture". The scheme of the Act also goes to show that the intention of the enactment was to eliminate absentee landlords, and to confer the status of a proprietor upon persons who were actually cultivating the land. The object of the legislation, therefore, was clearly that those persons who were interested in cultivation of agricultural land should cultivate the land and should continue to cultivate that land. The ordinary law relating to landlord and tenant and the right of a lessor to recover possession which was available to him under the Transfer of Property Act, by this Legislation has been seriously controlled and curtailed. The ordinary law relating to landlord and tenant and the right of a lessor to recover possession which was available to him under the Transfer of Property Act, by this Legislation has been seriously controlled and curtailed. It is no more possible for a landlord, which it was possible for him under the Transfer of Property Act, to simply terminate the tenancy of his tenancy and then recover the possession he can do so only by following the procedure and in the circumstances laid down by the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act only and not otherwise. 17. Once, however, the landlord has established his right to recover possession, then all those rights which he had under the ordinary law relating to his property, the right of disposal and the right of enjoyment, again accrue to him and are not subject to any limitation except if there be any imposed by the act under which he has been able to get the possession. Such a provision limiting the rights of an owner lessor who has acquired possession by resort to the provisions of Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act is section 37. It is, therefore, clear that the provisions of section 37 are restrictive of the common law rights and the ordinary rights of a lessor. If a legislation of a provision of a section is restrictive of the rights provisions it is settled law, must be construed strictly. Section 37, therefore, has to be given a very strict interpretation. It cannot, therefore, be allowed to travel beyond its text to matters which do not come within the ambit of section 37. As pointed out, the section places no restriction of whatsoever kind or nature upon the owners or ex-landlords title, status and character vis-a-vis the land in question. The only liability or duty under the provisions of the Act is that he must not fail to use the land within a period of one year from the date of taking possession for the purpose for which he has obtained possession, and must continue to use it for the said purpose for a period of twelve years. The only liability or duty under the provisions of the Act is that he must not fail to use the land within a period of one year from the date of taking possession for the purpose for which he has obtained possession, and must continue to use it for the said purpose for a period of twelve years. The section does not say or speak of what capacity, and in what right he must continue to use the land for the purpose for which he has obtained the possession and must not fail to use it within a period of twelve years. If he continues to use it and if he does not fail to use it for the purpose for which he has obtained the possession, then I do not see why, even if he has ceased to be an owner, or the content of ownership does not continue to remain with him, he can be said to have infringed the provisions of section 37. If the object of the section and the Act is to insist on the land being used by the person for the same purpose for which it has been obtained, then the instance is upon the actual use and the character of that use and not in the capacity in which the said use is being made. 18. A number of instances and illustrations can be given to bring out the distinction between the capacity of the ex-landlord or owner and the nature of actual use of the land. An owner and ex-landlord who has obtained possession can also mortgage that land. If the mortgage is a simple mortgage, then no question as raised by Mr. Jadhav will arise at all. But even if he executes a usufructuary mortgage by force of circumstance and part with possession and obtains the land on the same day very same time from the mortgagee in possession for cultivation and cultivates it personally, it is difficult to see how in such a case, merely because he has created a subsidiary interest in favour of another person that he can be said to have ceased to use the land for the purpose for which he has ceased to use the land for the purpose for which he has obtained. He continues to be the owner of the land. He continues to be the owner of the land. He also continues to use the land for the purpose for which he has obtained possession thereof. The only thing which happens is that a subsidiary interest is created in favour of a third person. The section does not seem to prohibit any such transfer of proprietary interest. What it seems to prohibit is the non use of the land by the person concerned to anything other than the purpose for which it was bad. Similar can be the position where a person is unable to cultivate the land on account of certain exigencies and circumstances beyond his control and allows the land to remain follow in a particular year, in such a case the person would be no doubt continuing to be the landlord and owner. If such a use or to be correct, non-use is continued for sufficiently reasonable period, then it is difficult to see how section 37 would not be infringed by such a landlord. The section does not allow any scope for non-use or cessation of use without a reasonable cause or any such circumstances. All that it seems to consider is the factor of use and the factor of cessation of use. The emphasis is, therefore, clearly, in my opinion, on the actual user or non-user of the land by the owner and not on the capacity in which he has been doing so. His capacity may be that of a partner. He may also cease to cultivate himself and may get the land cultivated on his behalf by somebody. Such a cultivation would also for the purposes of the Act be deemed to be personal cultivation. 19. There is one more reason why section 37 must be construed strictly. The section does not speak of any particular purpose, but the purposes specified in the notice proceeding the action. Now both section 31 and former section 34 speak of seeking possession of land not only for cultivating it personally but also for the purposes of a non-agricultural purpose. Section 33, however, is only confined to personal cultivation. It does not speak of right to recover possession for a non-agricultural purpose. Now both section 31 and former section 34 speak of seeking possession of land not only for cultivating it personally but also for the purposes of a non-agricultural purpose. Section 33, however, is only confined to personal cultivation. It does not speak of right to recover possession for a non-agricultural purpose. Now when a person requires possession of any land for a non-agricultural purpose or, for an instance, like developing that land by making a layout and dividing it into buildable plots and then selling the plots, it is difficult to see how, when such a person prepares the layout, develops the locality and sells the plots thereby parting with proprietary interest in the property, can be said to have infringe the provisions of section 37. Similarly, where a person acquires possession of any land or, for instance, for building a house and builds a house or builds a factory and later sells the house or the factory, it is extremely doubtful if it can be said that he has ceased to use the land for a non-agricultural purpose or the land is not being used for the purpose for which its possession was taken from the tenant and conferred upon the landlord. It is true that in such a case the person entitled to the enjoyment of the land and possession of the land may change but the purpose for which the land is being used continues to be the same. If import of section 37 is towards the purpose for which possession has been given, then it seems to be reasonable that it is unnecessary to be weighed with the considerations of ownership unless the transaction is such that the owner has placed it beyond his powers to continue to use the land for that purpose for which he obtained possession. Such a situation might arise where the land is sold for good within a period of twelve years and the transferror either does not get possession or has no right to possession. It is also possible to conceive of a case where the land is sold but at the same time the transferror obtains a lease for a period more than twelve years from the vendee of the very lands in question and continues to cultivate them personally for which purpose he obtained possession. It is also possible to conceive of a case where the land is sold but at the same time the transferror obtains a lease for a period more than twelve years from the vendee of the very lands in question and continues to cultivate them personally for which purpose he obtained possession. In such a case, there would not be even break of a single moment in the continued possession of the owner of ex-landlord. All that has changed is the character of his possession. Section 37 does not seem to strike at any such change of character. It strikes merely at the cessation of the use by the person concerned. 20. In the present case, a contention was raised that though the land was sold by Habiba to respondents Chavan, the intention was not to part with the land and part with the possessions. Notwithstanding the recitals in the document, a case was made out that possession was not actually, parted. In any event, possession of Habiba was restored on the 29th of June, 1973. Therefore, even assuming that possession was handover to Chavan on the 9th of April, the loss of possession was only for a period of two months and 17 days. Now agricultural operations and even for that matter personal cultivation, does not required day in any day cut work on the land depending on the character of the land and the type of crops which are grown. In case of day lands, it is common that during the summer months there is no agricultural operation carried on the land. A reasonable view, therefore, has to be taken of the provisions of section 37. It does not mean continuance and daily use for the purpose for which the possession of the land is obtained, but only use for the purpose for which it is obtained. If, therefore, between the period of 9th April, 1973 to 29th June, 1973 there was no agricultural operations carried on or contemplated, then even if during that period possession was with Ganpat Chavan, it cannot be said, since nobody carried out any agricultural operations that the owner or ex-landlord Habiba had ceased to continue to use the land for the purpose for which she obtained possession. On the 29th of June, 1973, she has resumed back to herself not only the right to the land but the right to continue to use the land for any purpose which she may have wanted. 21. It is this aspect of the matter which should have been really taken into account by the authorities below. Instead they concentrated themselves on the question of passing of title and possession. In remitting the matters to the authorities below, the tribunal, therefore, rightly brought out the emphasis of section 37 and required a finding as to whether during that short period there was any cultivation of this land. If there was no cultivation of this land by anybody, taken on the resumption of the right to possession and actual possession by Habiba, it is difficult to see how it can be said that Habiba has ceased to use the land for the purpose for which she obtained possession, only because for a short period 2 and ½ months she had parted with her proprietary interest in the land. It is conceivable that if no agricultural operations were carried on during a particular period by the landlord, the landlord may conveniently use the land for any other purpose during that short period and still continue to use the said land for the purpose for which she obtained possession. This he can do so by using it during the remaining period for that purpose. A temporary use or permission to use the land or a licence for a limited operation for a limited duration where a land is not used for agricultural operations cannot be said to be such a cessation of use of the land. 22. In the view of the matter, the order passed by the Tribunal has to be confirmed. 23. He petition fails and is dismissed. There will, however, be no order as to costs. Rule discharged. Petitioner dismissed. -----