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2022 DIGILAW 2368 (RAJ)

Arvind Kumar Arora Karta of Joint Hindu Undivided Family v. Union of India Through Secretary, Sanchar Mantralya, New Delhi

2022-09-02

ANOOP KUMAR DHAND

body2022
Judgment 1. The instant appeal has been preferred by the plaintiffappellant (hereinafter to be referred as 'plaintiff') against the judgment dated 26.02.2009 passed by the Court of Additional District Judge (Fast Track) No. 2, Ajmer (for short, the 'Court below') in Civil Suit No. 75/07 (23/03, 26/03) by which the application filed by the plaintiff for fixation of rent has been partly allowed. 2. Facts in brief of the case are that the plaintiff filed a suit against the defendants/respondents (for short 'the defendants') under Section 6 of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950 (for short 'the Act of 1950') for fixation of standard rent stating therein that the property was let out to the them 40-45 years back and thereafter the lease was also executed on 01.02.1992 between the plaintiff and defendants for the purpose of payment of rent @ Rs. 900/- per month. It was pleaded in the plaint that the premises in question consists of 25029 Sq. yard land and he can fetch on rent @ Rs. 17600/- per month but the defendants denied to make payment of the said rent, hence, the application was submitted for fixation of the rent. 3. The defendants submitted their reply and denied the averments made in the plaint and submitted that previously the rent was fixed as Rs. 50/- per month which was enhanced to Rs. 900/- per month with effect from 01.02.1992 and lease deed was also executed in this regard. It was also pleaded by the defendants in the reply that they have deposited the rent under Section 19 (A) of the Rent Control Act but the plaintiff refused to accept the same. Defendants further submitted that no cause of action arose to file the said suit for determination of rent. 4. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the Court below framed as many as 6 issues and decided the plaint finally vide judgment dated 26.02.2009 on the basis of the judgment of Kamal Kishore and 16 Ors. Vs. State of Rajasthan, reported in (2008)(2) RLW (Raj.) 192. During the pendency of the above proceedings, the plaintiff as well as defendants submitted the valuation report of the premises. Considering both the reports, the Court below came to the conclusion that the rented premise is a residential one and accordingly the rent was determined vide impugned judgment. 5. Mr. Vs. State of Rajasthan, reported in (2008)(2) RLW (Raj.) 192. During the pendency of the above proceedings, the plaintiff as well as defendants submitted the valuation report of the premises. Considering both the reports, the Court below came to the conclusion that the rented premise is a residential one and accordingly the rent was determined vide impugned judgment. 5. Mr. M.M. Ranjan, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. Lokesh Tiwari appearing for the plaintiff submits that the judgment passed by the Court below is based on the judgment delivered by this Court in the case of Kamal Kishore (supra). Learned counsel submits that there were conflicting views on the issue of fixation of rent, hence the matter was referred to the Larger Bench of this Court in the case of Bhag Chand Vs. Additional District Judge No. 5, Kota and Ors. reported in 2009 (3) RLW 2081 (Raj.) and the Larger Bench of this Court has answered the question in favour of the plaintiff. Counsel further submits that without there being any evidence available on record, the Court below has treated the suit premises as residential one. Counsel submits that under these circumstances, the impugned judgment passed by the Court below is not sustainable and the same is liable to be quashed and set aside by this Court. 6. Per contra, counsel for the defendants opposed the arguments raised by the counsel for the plaintiff and submitted that the Court below has correctly taken into consideration the factors while passing the impugned judgment. Thus the impugned judgment dated 26.02.2009 passed by the Court below does not call for any interference by this Court. 7. Counsel for the defendants, however, is not in a position to controvert the submissions made by the learned Senior Counsel for the plaintiff with regard to the settled proposition of law for determination of rent in the present case in the light of the judgment of Larger Bench of this Court in the case of Bhag Chand (supra). 8. I have considered the submissions made by both the counsel at Bar and gone through the impugned judgment dated 26.02.2009 passed by the Court below as well as other relevant material available on record. 9. 8. I have considered the submissions made by both the counsel at Bar and gone through the impugned judgment dated 26.02.2009 passed by the Court below as well as other relevant material available on record. 9. Without going into the merits of the case, this Court is of the view that the impugned judgment has been passed by the Court below on the view taken by this Court in the case of Kamal Kishore (supra). Since the Larger Bench of this Court in the case of Bhag chand (supra) has decided the controversy while dealing with this question:- '2. Whether the suits, applications and other proceedings relating to fixation of standard or provisional rent under Sections 6 and 7 of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950, which have been saved by Section 32 (3) (a) of the Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001, will be governed by the provisions of the Old Act of 1950, after coming into force of the New Act of 2001 or will be governed by the provisions of the New Act of 2001 as Sections 6 and 7 of the Act of 1950, having been impliedly repealed, by virtue of Section 29 of the New Act of 2001 as held by the Division Bench in Kamal Kishore's case (supra)?' 10. The Larger Bench has answered the above question in para 32 as under: '32. Having answered the question No. 1 in the negative, the answer to the question No. 2 is that by virtue of Section 32 (3) (a) of the New Act of 2001 all the suits, applications and other proceedings relating to the fixation of the standard rent and provisional rent under Section 6 and 7 of the Old Act of 1950 would be governed by the provisions of the Old Act of 1950 despite coming into force of the New Act of 2001 and not by the provisions of Section 6 and 7 of the New Act of 2001, as held by the learned Division Bench in Kamal Kishore's case (supra).' 11. Apart from above, this Court is of the view that the question before the Court below was Whether the premises in question is a residential or commercial one and this question has been decided by the Court below after taking into consideration the documents available on the record. 12. Apart from above, this Court is of the view that the question before the Court below was Whether the premises in question is a residential or commercial one and this question has been decided by the Court below after taking into consideration the documents available on the record. 12. Thus, this Court is of the view that the matter requires reconsideration by the Court below. Hence, the impugned judgment dated 26.02.2009 passed by the Court below is quashed and set aside and the matter is remitted back to the Court below for deciding the same afresh in the light of the judgment delivered by the Larger Bench of this Court in the case of Bhag Chand (supra) and other material available on record, within a period of six months from the date of appearance of the parties before the Court below, after affording an opportunity of hearing to both the parties. 13. Both the parties are directed to appear before the Court below on 16.09.2022. With the above observations, the appeal filed by the plaintiff stands disposed of. Stay application and all pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of. Summoned record be sent back to the Court below. 14. It is made clear that till the decision of this suit, the amount of rent determined by the Court below will remain as it is and the defendants will continue to pay the same to the plaintiff till final disposal of the suit.