Kalimuthu Pillai vs Sakunthala Ammal

M. Chockalingam, J.—Challenging a judgment of the Rent Control Appellate Authority, Tiruvarur, made in RCA No. 12 of 2003 affirming

an order of the Rent Controller, Tiruvarur, in RCOP No. 3 of 2002 filed by the respondent herein seeking eviction on the grounds of demolition

and reconstruction, under Sections 10(3)(a)(ii) and 14(1)(b) of Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act 1960 as amended by Tamil

Nadu Act 23/72, the petitioner/tenant has brought forth this civil revision petition.

The case of the respondent/landlady before the Courts below was that the petition mentioned property belonged to her; that the revision

petitioner has been occupying a shop, wherein he is conducting his business, at the rate of Rs. 40/- per month towards rent; that the building is

required for the purpose of demolition and reconstruction of a new building; that the landlady has got three sons; that the premises is required for

carrying on their business; that a notice was issued; but, containing false allegations, a reply notice has been issued by the tenant, and under the

circumstances, the landlady was constrained to approach the Court for an order of eviction.

The petition was contested by the revision petitioner/tenant on the grounds that he has been there for the past 40 years; that it is not correct to

state that the premises is required for carrying on the business of the landlady''s sons; that originally, they have been carrying on their business

under the name and style of Nataraj Boundary in their own building, wherein they have been producing spare parts; that they have got a branch

office also; that there is no bona fide on her part; that he has also spent Rs. 2,000/- for the modification done in the building, and under the

circumstances, without any proper ground necessitated, the landlady has approached the Court, and hence, her claim was to be rejected.

The Rent Controller on enquiry found that the claim was made bona fide, and that the premises is required by the landlady, and thus, passed an

order of eviction. The appeal preferred at the instance of the revision petitioner/tenant, met the same fate at the hands of the learned Rent Control

Appellate Authority. Hence, this revision preferred before this Court.

The Court heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and also for the respondent/caveator.

After careful consideration of the rival submissions made, this Court is of the considered opinion that no case is made out in the revision.

It is an admitted position that the petition mentioned property belonged to the respondent/landlady, and the revision petitioner has been

occupying the shop as a monthly tenant. The question that arose for consideration before the authorities below and equally here also, is that

whether the building in question, is required by the landlady for the purpose of demolition and reconstruction of a new building to enable her sons

to carry on their business. It is also an admitted position that the landlady has got three sons. That apart, they are having a Boundary wherein spare

parts are being produced. The only contention put forth by the learned Counsel for the petitioner/tenant is that they are actually having a building of

their own in some other place, in which they have been carrying on their business, and hence, she is not entitled to maintain the petition at all as per

the provisions of the Act. Once it is brought to the notice of the Court that though they have got a building of their own in which they are carrying

on their Boundary, wherein they are manufacturing spare parts and selling the same, they require the building in question, and the building is old,

and apart from that, for the better investment, the landlady comes forward to demolish the same and construct a new building, there cannot be any

legal impediment for ordering eviction. That apart, the contentions put forth by the learned Counsel for the petitioner/tenant before the authorities

below have been properly rejected, and both the factual and legal positions were in favour of the respondent/landlady. Under the circumstances,

the Court has to necessarily reject the revision petition. The lower authorities were perfectly correct in ordering eviction, and this Court does not

find anything to interfere with the same.

However, considering the facts and circumstances that the petitioner is also running a shop in the premises in question, he has got to be given

reasonable time for eviction and handing over possession of the shop. Therefore, six months'' time is granted from today for eviction and handing

over possession by the petitioner/tenant.

In the result, with the above observation, this civil revision petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected CMP is also dismissed.