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2013 DIGILAW 264 (AP)

Faheemuddin Ahmed v. Farzana Abedi

2013-04-04

L.NARASIMHA REDDY

body2013
Judgment : The petitioners are tenants of residential premises at Chanchalguda, Hyderabad, owned by the respondent. R.C. No.323 of 2003 was filed by the respondent before the II Additional Rent Controller, Hyderabad, for eviction of the petitioners by citing reasons of wilful default in payment of rent from April, 2001 onwards and bona fide requirement. It was mentioned that the respondent is residing in Saudi Arabia, and taking advantage of the same, the petitioners failed and refused to pay the rents to authorized person. It was also stated that the respondent used to come to India frequently, and used to stay for a considerable time and when she informed the petitioners that the premises are needed for her personal occupation, they refused to vacate the premises. She further stated that though the petitioners knew the fact that the premises was purchased by the respondent from her previous owner, they deliberately filed R.C. No.188 of 2001 under Section 8 of the Rent Control Act, for deposit of rents. Learned Rent Controller dismissed R.C. No.323 of 2003 through order, dated 06-12-2005. Aggrieved by that, the respondent filed R.A. No.21 of 2006. The appeal has been partly allowed through order, dated 25-08-2008. Hence, this revision. 2. Sri S. Balchand, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the learned Rent Controller recorded the findings to the effect that the respondent failed to establish both the grounds pleaded, and the appellate authority has reversed the same without any basis. He contends that the respondent filed an application at the stage of appeal with a request to receive additional evidence, but no evidence was recorded by the Appellate Authority nor the matter was sent to the Rent Controller for recording of evidence. He submits that though the respondent owned several premises, she has chosen the petitioners alone for eviction. 3. Sri A. Sameer Kumar, learned counsel for the respondent, on the other hand, submits that the Rent Controller proceeded purely on hyper technicalities and though adequate material was placed before it, the grounds of eviction were not accepted. He submits that the additional evidence is comprised only of the certificates, disclosing that the sons of the respondent are studying in the institutions in Hyderabad and that the same did not need any oral evidence at all. 4. The tenancy of the petitioners was with the original owner of the premises. He submits that the additional evidence is comprised only of the certificates, disclosing that the sons of the respondent are studying in the institutions in Hyderabad and that the same did not need any oral evidence at all. 4. The tenancy of the petitioners was with the original owner of the premises. The respondent purchased the same during the subsistence of the tenancy and it was transferred to her. Though the petitioners feigned ignorance of the transfer, once they have been informed of the same, they were under obligation to pay the rents to the respondent and recognize her as their landlady. 5. The ground of wilful default pleaded by the respondent was held not proved before the Rent Controller. Even the Appellate Authority concurred with that finding, and it became final. 6. The second ground pleaded by the respondent, viz., bona fide requirement, though was not accepted by the Rent Controller, was held proved by the Appellate Authority. The respondent pleaded that she frequently visits India and the very purpose of purchasing the premises was to have a residence of her own in India. It is also stated that on account of her not owning any residence, she had to reside in the house of her erstwhile landlords. 7. The children of the respondent are studying in India. Though relevant material in that behalf was not placed before the Rent Controller, she filed I.A. No.785 of 2006 before the Appellate Authority under Section 20 of the A.P. Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1960 (for short ‘the Act’) read with Rule 11 (2) of the Rules made thereunder. Though Rule 27 of Order XXXXI CPC was also invoked, it is difficult to apply the parameters of that provision to the proceedings under the Act. The Act makes it very clear that the provisions of CPC would apply to the proceedings under it only to the extent that the area is not covered. When there is a specific provision under the Act and the Rules made therunder pertaining to filing of additional material, the stringency of Order – XXXXI Rule – 27 cannot be imported into the proceedings under the Act. Further, the Appellate Authority did not base its findings exclusively upon the additional material. The petitioners also did not dispute the fact that the children of the respondent are studying in the institutions in Hyderabad. 8. Further, the Appellate Authority did not base its findings exclusively upon the additional material. The petitioners also did not dispute the fact that the children of the respondent are studying in the institutions in Hyderabad. 8. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the order of eviction is since been executed. 9. The Civil Revision Petition is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. The miscellaneous petition filed in this revision petition shall also stand disposed of.