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2011 DIGILAW 60 (CHH)

Manju ghosh v. M. S. Bisen

2011-02-14

N.K.AGARWAL

body2011
ORDER N.K. Agarwal, J. 1. This revision is directed against the order dated 15-7-2010 passed by the Rent Controlling Authority, Durg (briefly 'RCA') in case No. 10-A-90/ 2007-08 granting decree of eviction against the applicants under Section 23A of Accommodation Control Act, 1961 (briefly 'the Act'). 2. Admittedly the non-applicant M.S. Bisen had purchased the suit accommodation on 20th March 2005 after his retirement on 30-4-98 from the post of Distt. Commandant Home Guards. Earlier proceeding under Section 23A of the Act were initiated on 12-7-2005. RCA granted the decree of eviction on 30-11-2005. There against the applicants preferred revision before this Court on the ground that the application under Section 23A of the Act filed before the RCA was premature and not maintainable in view of proviso to Section 23A of the Act wherein no application for eviction of the tenant was maintainable unless a period of one year had elapsed from the date of acquisition of the accommodation. The above revision was allowed by this Court vide its order dated 7-4-2008 and the eviction order passed on 30-11 -2005 was set aside. 3. Eviction petition in question was filed by the non-applicant after expiry of statutory period of one year under Section 23A of the Act. According to non-applicant, the applicants are residing in the suit accommodation as their tenant on monthly rent of Rs. 2000/-. Earlier applicants were tenants of late M.C. Tripathi. The suit accommodation was purchased by non-applicant vide registered sale deed dated 28-3-2005 from Smt. Gangashree Tripathi i.e. wife of late M.C. Tripathi and as such he became its owner and applicant's landlord. 4. The accommodation was let for the residential purpose. He needs it bonfire for occupation as residence for himself and for his family members and he has no reasonably suitable accommodation for residence in the city of Durg. 5. The applicants applied under Section 23J of the Act for leave of the Court to contest application. Leave was granted. 6. The applicants have filed their written statement. Issues were framed. Parties led their evidence. 7. 5. The applicants applied under Section 23J of the Act for leave of the Court to contest application. Leave was granted. 6. The applicants have filed their written statement. Issues were framed. Parties led their evidence. 7. Learned RCA on appreciation of evidence led and material placed on record, held the non-applicant as a landlord within the meaning of Section 23J; relationship of landlord and tenant exists between the parties; non-applicant is in bonfire need of the suit accommodation for occupation for his residence for himself and for his family members and passed the eviction order. Hence this revision. 8. Shri R.K. Tiwari, Learned Counsel for the applicants, would submit, they were inducted as tenant in the suit accommodation by late M.C. Tripathi i.e. husband of Smt. Gangashree Tripathi; the agreement of sale was executed between late M.C. Tripathi and the applicants and the applicants have also paid Rs. 35,000/- as part consideration to him. Since sale deed was not executed in their favor they have preferred the suit for specific performance of contract against the legal representatives of deceased M.C. Tripathi which is pending consideration in the court of Civil Judge, Durg in the light of above fact; since there is a dispute of title between the parties, learned RCA has no jurisdiction to pass eviction order; Smt. Gangashree Tripathi not being the only legal representative of deceased M.C. Tripathi, had no right to transfer the suit accommodation and as such, no absolute title passes in non-applicant's favor; since there is no relationship of landlord and tenant between the parties, the order of eviction is bad. A legal plea was also raised regarding maintainability of the eviction petition under Section 23A of the Act on the ground that the non-applicant acquired the accommodation after his retirement and therefore, he is not landlord of special category within the meaning of Section 23J of the Act. 9. On the other hand, Shri Yashwant Tiwari, Learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent supported the order and submitted that after taking into consideration every aspect of the matter, learned RCA has passed the order impugned. Therefore the revision deserves to be dismissed. 10. I have heard Learned Counsel for the parties and perused the record. 11. 9. On the other hand, Shri Yashwant Tiwari, Learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent supported the order and submitted that after taking into consideration every aspect of the matter, learned RCA has passed the order impugned. Therefore the revision deserves to be dismissed. 10. I have heard Learned Counsel for the parties and perused the record. 11. The question whether or not the government servant who acquired accommodation after his retirement comes within the category of landlord under Section 23J of the Act to invoke jurisdiction of RCA is now well settled by a full bench decision of M.P. High Court in the case of Kunjulal Yadu v. Parasram Sharma 2000 (2) MPLJ 514. The Full bench of the M.P. High Court in the above referred case after distinguishing the judgment of Supreme Court in case of J.D. Hingorani v. Ashok Kharbanda and Anr. 1995 Suppl. (3) SCC 185., has held in para 13 of its judgment as under: 13. In view of aforesaid, it becomes bounden duty not to read the words into Act as the same is not absolutely necessary to do so. This view of ours gets support from the decision rendered in the case of Director General, Telecommunication and Anr. v. T.N. Peethambaran AIR 1987 SC 162. Thus in view of the categorical clear unequivocal and unambiguous language used under Section 23J of the Act, we are inclined to hold that the terms 'a retired Government servant' is only capable of one interpretation and every retired Government servant is a landlord within the meaning of the aforesaid provision. We do not intend to read it down to add qualifiers. In our considered opinion such reading down is not necessary. The logic which has been incidentally given in the case of B. Johnson (supra) was not necessary to support the classification. Hence, we are unable to accept the view that has been taken in the case of B. Johnson (supra). 12. In view of the above, in the considered opinion of this Court, learned RCA has rightly exercised its jurisdiction in favor of the non-applicant who had acquired accommodation after his retirement. 13. There is no doubt, the applicants were inducted as tenant by late M.C. Tripathi, therefore, indisputably there was relationship of landlord and tenant between late M.C. Tripathi and the applicants. 13. There is no doubt, the applicants were inducted as tenant by late M.C. Tripathi, therefore, indisputably there was relationship of landlord and tenant between late M.C. Tripathi and the applicants. The suit accommodation was purchased by non-applicant by registered sale deed and thus the non-applicant acquired its title. Notice was sent to applicants regarding above acquisition vide Ex. P-4. Fact reveals, applicants are also otherwise aware about transfer. Being a tenant, he has no right to challenge derivative title of non-applicant in the facts and circumstances of the case. 14. In view of the above, learned RCA has rightly held the applicant as tenant of non-applicant. 15. It is well settled that the agreement of sale, if any, does not confer any title. The applicants have failed even to bring the cogent material regarding filing of such suit. More over, their remedy, if any, lies before the civil court. In eviction proceedings, merely because out of several legal representatives, only one has transferred the accommodation in favor of the non-applicant, the applicants/tenant have no right to challenge the validity of sale deed unless objected by other legal representatives. The judgments of MP High Court in cases of Santlal Rajput (supra) and Pyarelal Sakseria v. Devishankar Parashar 1994 (2) W.N. 40., have no application in the facts and circumstances of the present case, inasmuch as the applicants have not raised any complicated questions of relationship of landlord and tenant nor the case involves serious question of title. 16. As far as bonfire requirement is concerned, the finding has been recorded in favor of the non-applicant. The non-applicant succeeded to prove his bonfire need for residence under the provisions by adducing cogent evidence in this regard. The applicant failed to rebut the presumption in non-applicant's favor of his need as envisaged under Section 23D-e of the Act. 17. In view of above, this Court does not find any jurisdictional illegality, perversity or absurdity in the finding recorded by learned RCA under its revisional jurisdiction under Section 23E of the Act, therefore, the revision failed and is dismissed. 18. However, two months time from today is granted to the applicants to vacate the premises.