be lengthened unnecessarily, so as to dilute the purpose and object of Tamil Nadu Act, 42 of 2017. Under the guise of the principles of natural justice, no party should be allowed to prolong and protract the issues under Section 36 (1) of the Act. The Code of Civil Procedure is inapplicable to the proceedings under the New Act and therefore, an application under Order 7 Rule 11 is not entertainable. When the Code of Civil Procedure itself is not applicable, the Interlocutory Applications, if any, filed under the Code of Civil Procedure cannot be entertained and the Rent Court and Rent Tribunal are to regulate the proceedings in such a manner, so as to ensure that the cases are disposed of within the time limit contemplated under the Act itself. The filing of frivolous and unnecessary Interlocutory Applications repeatedly with a motive to drag the proceedings, at no circumstances, be encouraged by the Courts. If the Rent Court formed an opinion that such applications are frivolous in nature and filed to drag on the proceedings, then exemplary or maximum costs is to be imposed on such applications. Developing a practice of filing frivolous and unnecessary applications in order to increase the longevity of the litigation is to be looked into by the Courts concerned and all appropriate actions are to be initiated to dispose of such applications without causing undue delay. The Rent Courts and Tribunals are expected to be vigilant and conscious about the purpose and object of Tamil Nadu Act, 42 of 2017, while dealing with the tenant-landlord issues.
