Allowed

Rajinder Kumar Arora v. Jag Mohan

Delhi HC24 May 2017RC.REV./311/2016

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court set aside the dismissal of an eviction petition which followed a granted application for leave to defend. The Court held that under Section 25-B of the Delhi Rent Control Act, if leave to defend is granted, the proper course is to allow the tenant to file a written statement rather than dismissing the petition. The eviction petition was restored to original status.

What did the court decide?

The impugned order dismissing the eviction petition was set aside; the eviction petition was restored, and the tenant was directed to file a written statement.

Rajinder Kumar Arora Vs Jag Mohan — Landlord and Tenant | Delhi HC (2017)

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$~47

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- RC.REV. 311/2016

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RAJINDER KUMAR ARORA ..... Petitioner Through: Mr.A.K.Soni, Advocate.

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versus

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JAG MOHAN ..... Respondent Through: Mr.Digvijay Singh, Ms.Sahiba Pantel, Mr.Govind Singh and Mr.Santosh Kumar, Advocates.

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CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE PRATIBHA RANI

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O R D E R

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% 24.05.2017

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The petitioner has filed this revision petition impugning the order dated 04^th April, 2016 whereby the learned ARC while deciding the application seeking leave to defend filed by the respondent/tenant, dismissed the eviction petition filed by the petitioner/landlord under Section 14(1)(e) read with 25-B of Delhi Rent Control Act.

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The eviction petition bearing No.RC/ARC No.345/2016 was filed by the petitioner/landlord under Section 14(1)(e) read with Section 25-B of Delhi Rent Control Act in respect of a shop on the ground floor in property No.X/954, Chand Mohalla, Gandhi Nagar, Delhi.

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After service of notice of the eviction petition, the respondent/tenant filed application seeking leave to defend. Vide impugned order, the learned ARC while disposing of the application seeking leave to defend, dismissed the eviction petition.

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Notice of this petition was issued to the respondent/tenant.

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Heard learned counsel for the parties.

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RC.REV. 311/2016

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page 1 of 4

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Learned counsel for the respondent fairly concedes that if the learned ARC was inclined to allow the application seeking leave to defend, the only course open before the learned ARC was to give an opportunity to the respondent/tenant to file the written statement.

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Chapter-IIIA of Delhi Rent Control Act provides ‘Summary Trial of Certain Applications’ which includes Section 25-B i.e. Special procedure for the disposal of application for eviction on the ground of bona fide requirement.

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Clauses 4, 5 and 6 of Section 25B of Delhi Rent Control Act read as under:-

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‘25B - Special procedure for the disposal of applications for eviction on the ground of bona fide requirement. -

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xxxxxxx

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(4) The tenant on whom the summons is duly served (whether in the ordinary way or by registered post) in the form specified in the Third Schedule shall not contest the prayer for eviction from the premises unless he files and affidavit stating the grounds on which he seeks to contest the application for eviction and obtains leave from the Controller as hereinafter provided; and in default of his appearance in pursuance of the summons or his obtaining such leave, the statement made by the landlord in the application for eviction shall be deemed to be admitted by the tenant and the applicant shall be entitled to an order for eviction on the ground aforesaid.

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(5) The Controller shall give to the tenant leave to contest the application if the affidavit filed by the tenant discloses such facts as would disentitle the landlord from obtaining an order for the recovery of possession of the premises on the ground specified in clause (c) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 14, or under section 14A.

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(6) Where leave is granted to the tenant to contest the application, the Controller shall commence the hearing of the application as early as practicable.

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RC.REV. 311/2016

page 2 of 4

The bonafide requirement by the petitioner/landlord was that the elder son of the petitioner named Ashok is a Physiotherapist and was employed in a hospital at Gurgaon. He left the said employment and wants to set up his own clinic for which the premises in question is required. 10. The concluding paragraphs whereby the eviction petition has been dismissed by the learned Trial Court read as under:-

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‘5. A person who is a doctor/physiotherapist and had been serving as such, cannot be by any stretch of imagination inferred to be dependent on his father. Further, the petitioner has averred that his son wants to open a clinic in the premises. It is settled proposition of law that eviction of a tenant who enjoys immunity against eviction under the DRC Act cannot be caused on wants of the landlord/owner. The different between ‘want’ and ‘requirement’ is subtly and duly recognised by law.

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6. Since the landlord in the present case is the petitioner merely because he is receiving the rent and not due the fact of ownership therefore, it is the bonafide requirement of the owner which has to be assessed. Where a landlord (not being the owner) seeks eviction under Section 14(1)(e) DRC Act, it is the need of the person for whose benefit the premises are held, which forms the subject matter of a proceedings and not the need of the landlord. The pertinent portion of Section 14(1)(e) is reproduced below:

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“14(1)(e) ….himself or for any member of his family dependent on him, if he is the owner thereof, of for any person for whose benefit the premises are held and that the landlord or such person……”

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7. Be letter dated 07.10.1985, Charanjit Lal and Munshi Ram had authorised the petitioner to receive the rent, therefore, need/requirement of Charanjit Lal and Munshi Ram have to be the cause of eviction and not the need of petitioner/landlord or his dependents.

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8. The petition is dismissed.’

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RC.REV. 311/2016

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page 3 of 4

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The spirit of the order impugned herein is that the learned ARC was satisfied that it was a case where application seeking leave to defend was to be allowed. However, in that circumstance, the learned ARC should have posted the case for filing the written statement but dismissed the eviction petition which is not permissible under the law.

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The impugned order to the extent that it has dismissed the eviction petition, is hereby set aside.

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The Eviction Petition bearing RC/ARC No.345/2016 is restored to its original number.

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The parties are directed to appear before the concerned Court on 5^th July, 2017.

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Respondent/tenant is directed to file written statement on or before 5^th July, 2017.

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The petition is disposed of with above observations.

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A copy of this order be sent to the concerned Court for information and compliance and be also given dasti to learned counsel for the parties.

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PRATIBHA RANI, J.

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MAY 24, 2017 ‘st’

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RC.REV. 311/2016

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page 4 of 4

Rajinder Kumar Arora v. Jag Mohan

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Rajinder Kumar Arora v. Jag Mohan

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

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