Dwarika Nath Acooli vs Dulal Chandra Bayen & Ors

Dwarika Nath Acooli ...Appellant

Vs.

Dulal Chandra Bayen and Ors. ...Respondents

JUDGMENT

Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of a Division Bench of the

Calcutta High Court allowing the writ petition filed by the respondents. Challenge in the writ petition was to the judgment and order passed by the

West Bengal Reforms and Tenancy Tribunal (in short the `Tribunal')

whereby the earlier writ petition filed by the respondents was dismissed.

3. Background facts, as projected by appellant, in a nutshell, are as

follows:

Originally, one Durga Bala Acooli, the predecessor-in-interest of the

appellant was the owner of the premises being 18/1, Ramesh Mitra Road,

Kolkatta. In terms of the final decree passed in Suit No.467 of 1970 the

Calcutta High Court, the appellant claimed to have become the absolute

owner of the suit property. The aforesaid Durga Bala Acooli had inducted

one Ratan Chandra Byen as monthly tenant in respect of premises i.e. land

with structures and/or sheds. On 2.11.1981 the Calcutta Thika Tenancy

(Acquisition & Regulation) Act, 1981 (in short the `Act') came into force.

On 5.5.1982 in exercise of power conferred by Section 20 of the Act the

State Government framed Calcutta Thika Tenancy (Acquisition &

Regulation) Rules, 1981 (in short the `Rules') which became operative from

that date and under Rule 3(a) of the Rules, the Thika tenants were directed

to file Return under Form-A before the Thika Controller within 240 days

2 from the date of commencement of the Act. However, the Thika Controller

was given power to extend the time not exceeding six months subject to

filing of an application for condonation of delay.

According to the appellant the tenant was paying rent to the owner of

the said premises after the death of Durga Bala Acooli in 1969. The

appellant collected rent upto the months of August and September, 1986.

The last payment was made on 14.3.1987 relating to September 1986.

Several writ petitions were filed before the High Court challenging the

validity of the Act. By judgment dated 8.7.1987 it was held as follow:

"Within the scope and ambit of Section 5 of the impugned Act only lands comprised in Thika Tenancy within the meaning of Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949 namely Kutcha structure and/or Pucca structure constructed for residential purpose, with the permission of the Thika Controller under the Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949 and Khatal land held under a lease shall vest and save as aforesaid no other lands and structure vests under the impugned Act. Sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 8 of the impugned Act and rule 5 of the Calcutta Thika Tenancy (Acquisition & Regulation) Rules, 1982 are ultra vires to the Constitution."

3 The appellant through his advocate sent a notice to respondent No.1

under Section 13(6) of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 (in

short the `Tenancy Act') and Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act,

1882 (in short the `TP Act') for terminating the tenancy. Against the

judgment of the High Court an appeal was preferred before this Court. In

Civil Appeal Nos. 3713-3900 of 1987 an order of status quo as on the date

was directed to be maintained. On 18.2.1988 the respondents replied to the

notice sent by the appellant's advocate denying that the appellant was not

their landlord. Since the tenant failed to hand over the vacant and peaceful

possession a title suit was instituted for recovery of possession, damages

and/or mesne profits and other reliefs which was numbered as Title Suit 68

of 1988. Shri Birendra Chandra Bayen, defendant No.4 in the civil suit

filed an application under Section 17(2) and Section 2A and 2B of the

Tenancy Act before learned Civil Judge, Junior Division 4th Court, Alipore.

The appellant also filed a petition on 23.7.1988 in connection with the

application under Section 17(2) of the Tenancy Act denying the allegations.

According to the appellant Shri Birendra Chandra Bayen by filing a

petition not only admitted on oath that appellant was the landlord of the

premises but also sought for a direction upon the appellant to repair the

4 sheds and structures of the premises. Since the deceased after 7 years from

the date of coming into force of the Act filed Return under Section Form-A

of Rule 3(a) of the Rules before the Thika Controller claiming to be the

Thika tenant of the property without notice to the appellant, the controversy

in real sense starts from this point. On 4.10.1989 the Inspector of Regional

Office of Thika Controller provisionally accepted the Return subject to the

verification of tenancy and without any legal right. Such acceptance was

made without notice to the appellant and also without disclosing the fact

that the civil suit was pending between the parties. Such acceptance of rent

was without prejudice to the right of the Government and without creating

any right of the tenant. After the provisional acceptance of rent, Shri

Birendra Chandra Bayen filed an application in the pending suit that in view

of Section 5 of the Act, the suit is not maintainable. The High Court on

revision application being C.O.2670/1990 directed that the preliminary

point raised by the defendant would be decided at the final hearing of the

suit. When the appellant came to know about the filing of the Return in

Form-A under Rule 3(a) without application for condonation of delay

during the pendency of the civil suit, he raised an objection by filing an

application before the Thika Controller against the preliminary acceptance

of rent and prayed for determination under Section 5 of the Act inasmuch as

5 there was no provision in the Act to prefer an appeal under Section 13 of the

Act against the provisional acceptance of the Return. Since the objection

was not considered for a long time, appellant filed a writ petition before the

Calcutta High Court for a direction to the Thika Controller to decide

whether the said property has been vested to the State. The High Court

disposed of the writ petition directing the Thika Controller to dispose of the

representation after giving hearing to the parties. In terms of the aforesaid

order of the Thika Controller he concluded that the property had not been

vested to the State under Section 5 and Shri Birendra Chandra Bayen was

not the Thikha tenant. The learned Munsif disposed of the application of

late Birendra Chandra Bayen under Section 17(2) and 2A and 2B of the

Tenancy Act determining the relationship between the parties of the suit as

landlord and tenant under the Tenancy Act. Thus, this application had

become final. Against the order dated 8.12.1993 of the Thika Controller,

legal heirs of Shri Birendra Chandra Bayen preferred a statutory appeal

under Section 13 of the Act before learned District Judge who dismissed the

same holding that the defendants could not produce any document that they

were Thika tenants and the Controller had jurisdiction to pass an order

under Section 5 of the Act. Respondent No.1 filed an application under

Article 227 of the Constitution of India, 1950 (in short the `Constitution')

6 challenging the aforesaid order of the District Judge which was transferred

to the Tribunal. The Tribunal dismissed the appeal holding as follows:

(i) After the statutory period of limitation as provided

under Rule 3(a) no Return could be filed.

(ii) Further the tenants paid rent to the landlord upto

1986 accepting the appellant as landlord when the Act of

1981 came into force on 18.1.1982 and the liability of

`Thika Tenant to pay rent ceased from that date.

(iii) Therefore, acceptance of Return under Form-A

was without jurisdiction and dismissed the application

holding that the Thika Controller has got jurisdiction to

decide whether the person is a Thika Tenant or not.

(iv) The applicant is a tenant in respect of structures,

he does not own structures therefore he is a premises

tenant.

On 1.3.2003 a Notification under Section 1(3) of the West Bengal

Thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 2001 (in short the `2001

Act') was published and under Section 27, the earlier Act of 1981 was

7 replaced but pending proceedings were saved. By the 2001 Act, sub-section

(3) of Section 5 was amended to provide that if any question arises as to

whether the person is a Thika tenant or not the matter shall be decided by

the Controller. Respondent No.1 challenged the said order passed by the

Tribunal dated 19.9.2002 by filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the

Constitution on the ground inter-alia that the Thika Controller has no

jurisdiction to decide the question whether the respondent was a Thika

tenant or not and only the Civil Court had jurisdiction. On 19.8.2003 the

State of West Bengal withdrew the appeal before this Court. On 23.2.2004

a Division Bench of the High Court by an impugned order allowed the writ

application and set aside the order of Thika Controller, Appellate Tribunal

and the Tribunal holding that the predecessor-in-interest of respondent No.1

was accepted as Thika tenant. Against the adjudication under Section 5(3)

of the Act, no appeal was preferred and as such the application of the

appellant for cancelling the recording of Thika tenancy is not maintainable

and there is no provision in the Act empowering the Thika Controller to

entertain such application after declaration of the Thika tenant.

4. Stand of learned counsel for the appellant essentially is that there was

no question of condonation of delay of an application which was filed after

8 about 7 years. The eviction suit was filed on 14.3.1988 and rent was paid till

1986 under the Tenancy Act and thereafter it was stopped. It is pointed out

that under Section 17 of the Tenancy Act if the application is on the

ground of default, an application can be made to make the deposit. The

application dated 25.4.1988 is still pending. On 4.10.1989 the only

endorsement was of provisional acceptance subject to verification. It was

clearly noted as follows:

"By whom paid Payment made Amount Head of Account On behalf of the Account Officer Person

Biren Ch. Biren Ch.Bayen Adhoc Rent .029 Land Revenue Bayen 40/1 Ramen Mitra 165/- 3869.5/- Land Revenue/Tgax Road, Cal-25 Ist Instalment Collection of Tax Under the Calcutta Thika Tenancy Acquisition and RegulationAct,1951

Calcutta Collectorate Acceptance provisionally subject to Treasury Department 1) Verification of tenancy and Counter No. 2) recovery adjustment with the revenue to the Cash received finally determined under the W.B. Act XXXVII Of 1981. Such acceptance of rent shall not treat or established and right or interest without Which otherwise not legally in existence."

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5. The representation made by the appellant was on 16.11.1992. It was

however unnecessary as there was no order. The High Court inter-alia had

disposed of earlier writ petition by directing the Controller to consider and

dispose of the representation. The High Court by the impugned judgment

seems to have over-looked the fact that there was in fact no cancellation.

6. Learned counsel for the respondent on the other hand supported the

order.

7. In the impugned order the High Court seems to have proceeded on the

basis that there was cancellation. It noted as if the Thika Controller was

moved for cancelling the order recording the tenancy. As a matter of fact

there was no cancellation and there was a provisional order. There was no

question of preferring an appeal unless the final order is passed. So far as

the onus is concerned, it is on the appellant to establish the tenancy. It needs

to be noted that on the Return no order was passed. The Thika Controller,

Appellate Authority and the Tribunal came to positive finding that

respondent No.1 was not a Thika tenant. They took decision on the basis of

the High Court's order to deal with a representation of the appellant.

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8. In view of the aforesaid we are satisfied that the order of the High

Court is indefensible. We set aside the impugned order and direct that the

revenue authority shall decide the relevance of the Return and pendency of

the eviction suit. As the Return is in terms of Rule 3, the revenue authority

has to decide the matter.

9. The appeal is accordingly disposed of with no order as to costs.

.........................................J. (Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT)

.........................................J. (Dr. MUKUNDAKAM SHARMA) New Delhi, January 6, 2009

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