Ramesh Salunkhe vs Pramila Jain
- Citation2022 SCC OnLine Mad 372
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Under Section 4(2) of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, when an existing tenancy created before the commencement of the Act had no written agreement, the landlord and tenant must execute a tenancy agreement that documents the terms of that existing tenancy—not introduce new terms. Consequently, a landlord cannot unilaterally impose substantially increased rent (such as an increase from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 15,000 per month) in the written agreement required by Section 4(2); the agreement must reflect the rent actually paid under the pre-existing oral tenancy. A tenant who has not refused to enter into a written tenancy agreement reflecting the existing terms of the tenancy, but has only objected to unilateral modifications of those terms by the landlord, cannot be evicted under Section 21(2)(a) of the Act on the ground of failure to enter into an agreement. The tenant's refusal to accept unreasonable and unilateral changes to the rent does not constitute a refusal to enter into a tenancy agreement as contemplated by Section 4(2). The 575-day period prescribed in Section 4(2) of the Act is the deadline by which the landlord and tenant must execute the tenancy agreement; it does not begin the clock for the landlord to apply for termination of tenancy under Section 21(2)(a). An application for eviction filed before meaningful negotiation has occurred and before the statutory period has expired may constitute premature recourse to the courts. The High Court will intervene under Article 227 of the Constitution where the courts below have fundamentally misinterpreted a statute in a manner that results in manifest miscarriage of justice—specifically, where they have permitted a landlord to use the statutory requirement of a written agreement as a tool to evict a long-standing tenant by imposing fanciful and unreasonable rent increases.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
RESERVED ON : 25.10.2021 PRONOUNCED ON : 25.01.2022 CORAM
THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE G.CHANDRASEKHARAN
C.R.P.(N.P.D)No.1996 of 2021 and C.M.P.No.15184 of 2021 Ramesh Salunkhe ...Petitioner
Vs.
Pramila Jain ...Respondent
Prayer:- Civil Revision Petition is filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, to set aside the fair and decreetal order dated 07.09.2021 in R.L.T.A.No.5 of 2021 on the file of the II Additional Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai, confirming the order dated 10.03.2021 passed by the XII Small Causes Court, Chennai in R.L.T.O.P.No.3 of 2019 and allow the revision.
For Petitioner : Mr.G.Rajagopalan Senior Advocate for M/s.S.T.Raja For Respondent : Mr.OmPrakash Senior Advocate for M/s.K.Bakthavachalu
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ORDER
This Civil Revision Petition is filed challenging the order
passed by the learned II Additional Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai in
R.L.T.A.No.5 of 2021 confirming the order of the learned XII Judge,
Small Causes Court, Chennai in R.L.T.O.P.No.3 of 2019.
2. The respondent as a petitioner filed an application
under Section 21 (2) (a) and Section 21 (2) (g) of Tamil Nadu Regulation
of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017 for
the relief of evicting the petitioner from the schedule property and
claiming a compensation of Rs.3000/- per month from 01.06.2019 till the
termination of the tenancy under Section 23 of the said Act.
3. The averments made in the application, in brief, are
as follows:
The respondent/applicant purchased the petition premises
along with the entire building in auction sale conducted by
Purasaiwakkam Benefit Fund Limited in 2002 and became absolute
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owner of the land and building at premises bearing door No.134,
N.S.C.Bose Road, Chennai. Applicant wrote a letter to the respondent to
attorn the tenancy in her favour. Respondent attorned the tenancy and
was paying the monthly rent of Rs.1500/- regularly. The erstwhile
landlord filed C.S.No.160 of 2005 before this Court to declare auction
sale as null and void. Respondent and other tenants were parties to the
suit. Respondent has not raised any claim regarding the advance amount
said to have been paid to erstwhile landlord Babu Narashimma Rao. This
Court in application No.1070 of 2005 directed all the tenants including
the respondent to pay the monthly rent and arrears to the applicant.
C.S.No.160 of 2005 was dismissed and O.S.A.No.217 of 2018 filed by
Babu Narashimma Rao is pending. Respondent has been regularly
paying rent from 2002 onwards. There exist relationship of landlord and
tenant between respondent/applicant and petitioner/respondent.
Applicant is carrying on business as a dealer in diamond, gold, silver,
precious stones and artificial works. She wants to renovate the entire
building by giving facelift consistent with the business requirements to
attract customers. She wants to construct a strong room, modern lift
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facilities in the premises. She is carrying on business in several places in
city and wants to shift the entire business to one place. The purpose of
purchasing the property is locating entire business in this premises.
Applicant genuinely requires the premises for her own use. There is no
rental agreement entered into between the respondent/applicant and
petitioner/respondent. Petitioner/respondent has not paid any rental
advance or security to the applicant. Applicant has written a letter to the
respondent enclosing a rental agreement for perusal and that was
received by the respondent. Respondent has written a letter dated
27.04.2019 stating he paid Rs.3,75,000/- as rental advance to the
erstwhile landlord Babu Narashimmia Rao. Applicant replied to the letter
on 30.04.2019 denying the contents. Respondent again wrote a letter
dated 03.05.2019, but he has not come forward to enter into a written
agreement with the applicant, which is mandatory under Section 4 (2) of
the Act 2017 and therefore, he is liable to be evicted. Applicant issued a
legal notice dated 08.05.2019 stating that the premises occupied by the
respondent is required for her business purpose and terminated the
respondent's tenancy ending with 31.05.2019. Respondent was called
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upon to quit and deliver the vacant possession of the portion of the
building on or before 01.06.2019. Respondent replied the legal notice
with false, frivolous, vexatious, unacceptable and untenable contentions.
A suitable rejoinder was sent. Respondent issued a sur-rejoinder.
Respondent failed and neglected to vacate the premises. Therefore, this
application.
4. Petitioner/respondent filed counter denying the
averments made in the application and contended that he was inducted as
a tenant by Babu Narashimmia Rao for a rent of Rs.1000/- per month.
He paid a sum of Rs.3,75,000/- as advance. Respondent purchased the
premises under occupation through auction during 2002. This auction
was challenged by Babu Narashimmia Rao by filing C.S.No.160 of 2005
and it was dismissed. Appeal in O.S.A.No.217 of 2018 was filed before
this Court. When the appeal proceedings is pending between owners of
the property, present eviction proceedings is against law. Applicant has
accepted the respondent as tenant and received a monthly rent of
Rs.1500/- per month from 2007 till date. Despite, the litigation with
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original landlord, respondents is paying the monthly rent at Rs.1500/- per
month from 2007 without any default. Applicant issued a letter dated
15.04.2019 enclosing a rental agreement by enhancing the rent from
Rs.1500/- per month to Rs.15,000/- per month and demanded three
months rental advance of Rs.45,000/-. Advance of Rs.3,75,000/- paid to
the previous owner was suppressed. Respondent sent a reply to pay the
agreed rent of Rs.1500/- instead of Rs.15,000/-. There had been
exchange of notices between the parties. Without considering the
hardship of the respondent, this application is filed. Unless conditions
under Section 9 (2) of the Act is satisfied, applicant cannot maintain the
petition. The application is not maintainable either in law or facts and
therefore liable to be dismissed.
5. During the enquiry before the learned Rent Court,
PW1 and RW1 were examined. Exhibits P1 to P26 were marked on the
side of the petitioner. Exhibits R1 and R2 were marked on the side of the
respondent.
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6. On considering the oral and documentary evidence,
the Rent Court allowed the petition under Section 21 (2) (a) of the Act
and directed the petitioner/respondent to vacate the building. This was
confirmed by the Rent Tribunal. Against the said order this Civil Revision
Petition is preferred is preferred. Though the application was filed under
Section 21 (2) (a) and 21 (2) (g) of the TNRRRLT Act, the
respondent/applicant not pressed the petition filed under Section 21 (2)
(g). Therefore, both the Courts have considered the only ground under
Section 21 (2) (a) for disposal.
7. The learned counsel for the petitioner/tenant
submitted that the respondent purchased the petition mentioned premises
under occupation through Auction under condition “as it whereas basis”
during the year 2002. This auction was challenged by the erstwhile
original owner Babu Narashima Rao by filing C.S.No.160 of 2005 and
the same was dismissed. Aggrieved, an appeal is preferred in
O.S.A.No.217 of 2018 and it is pending. The conduct of the
respondent/landlord in claiming the enhanced rent of Rs.15,000/- per
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month is arbitrary, unreasonable and is against Section 4 (2) of Tamil
Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and
Tenants Act, 2017 (herein after referred as TNRRRLT Act, 2017).
Petitioner has challenged the constitutional validity of Sub-Section 2 of
Section 21 of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017 in W.P.No.2648 of 2021, which is
pending before this Court. This fact was also brought to the notice of the
learned Appellate Authority. Without considering the same, orders had
been passed in haste. Section 4(2) of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017 provides
time limit of 575 days to enter into the rental agreement. This case has
been filed before the expiry of 575 days and therefore, it is not
maintainable.
8. One more submission advanced by the learned
counsel for the petitioner is that Section 4 of TNRRRLT Act, 2017 deals
with the Tenancy Agreement.
Section 4 (1) of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017 deals with a new
tenancy and tenancy agreement to be entered into between the landlord
and tenant after commencement of this Act.
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Section 4 (2) of the said Act deals with entering into the tenancy
agreement in respect of a tenancy, which had come into existence before
the commencement of the Act, and when there is no agreement in
writing. This provision requires the landlord and tenant to enter into an
agreement in writing with regard to that existing tenancy within a period
of 575 days from the date of commencement of this Act.
Section 4(3) deals with the registration of the agreement entered
under Section 4 (1) and 4 (2) of the said Act and also the written
agreement entered into between the landlord and tenant before the
commencement of this Act.
9. Among these three categories, this case fits into the
second category i.e., there is already an existing tenancy but there is no
written agreement. In the case on hand, the landlord and tenant are
required to enter into the tenancy agreement in respect of the existing
tenancy. No new terms can be included in the existing tenancy
agreement. What is required under Section 4 (2) of the Act is that the
terms of the existing oral tenancy have to be reduced into writing as a
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tenancy agreement. However, in the case before hand, the respondent
instead of entering into the tenancy agreement with existing terms, by
incorporating new terms, had required the petitioner to enter into a new
tenancy agreement by asking him to pay a sum of Rs.15,000/- per month,
which is contrary to the rent paid at Rs.1500/- per month previously. The
advance paid by the petitioner to the tune of Rs.3,75,000/- was also not
considered and that was a reason why the petitioner has not come
forward to execute the tenancy agreement sent by the respondent.
However, both the Courts below on misreading of the provisions and on
wrong understanding of the facts, have come to the conclusion that the
petitioner had not come forward to enter into the tenancy agreement with
the respondent and therefore the respondent is liable to be evicted under
Section 21 (2) (1) of the said Act. Therefore, the learned counsel for the
petitioner prays for setting aside the orders of the Courts below.
10. In response, the learned counsel for the
respondent/landlord submitted that TNRRRLT Act, 2017 has replaced
Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act by repeal. After this
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Act came into force, no person was allowed to take any premises on rent
except by written agreement. In the case before hand, the respondent
sent a notice to the petitioner requiring him to enter into a tenancy
agreement. However, the petitioner refused to enter into the tenancy
agreement by giving flimsy and unreasonable reasons. The alleged rent
of Rs.1,500/- was fixed decades ago. The respondent cannot be expected
to continue with the old minimum rent after purchasing the property and
hence the respondent requested the petitioner to enter into the new
tenancy agreement as per Law. When the petitioner failed to do so, he
has to face the consequences. He has not produced any material to show
the payment of advance of Rs.3,75,000/- paid to the former owner.
Taking all these facts into consideration, both the Courts below have
correctly decided the matter and directed the petitioner to vacate and
handover the vacant possession to the respondent. Therefore, he prayed
for sustaining the order of the Courts below and for dismissal of this Civil
Revision Petition.
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11. I have considered the rival submissions and perused the
materials available on record.
12. Section 4 of TNRRRLT Act, 2017 deals with the tenancy
agreement. It reads as follows:
“4. Tenancy Agreement.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, no person shall, after the commencement of this Act, let or take on rent any premises except by an agreement in writing.
(2) Where, in relation to a tenancy created before the commencement of this Act, no agreement in writing was entered into, the landlord and the tenant shall enter into an agreement in writing with regard to that tenancy within a period of five hundred and seventy five days from the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided that where the landlord or tenant, fails to enter into an agreement under this sub-section, the landlord or tenant shall have the right to apply for termination of the tenancy under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 21.
(3) Every agreement referred to in sub-section (1)
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and sub-section (2) and any tenancy agreement in writing already entered into before the commencement of this Act, shall be registered with the Rent Authority by the landlord or tenant, by making an application in the Form specified in the First Schedule within such time as may be prescribed.
(4) Omitted.
(5) Omitted.
(6) Omitted.
13. From the reading of the above Section, we can understand
that there are three situations possible when entering into a tenancy
agreement. The first situation is that entering into a tenancy after the
commencement of the new Act. The tenancy itself is created after
commencement of the Act and therefore the tenancy agreement will also
have to be executed after commencement of the Act. This is dealt under
section 4 (1) of the Act.
14. Next situation is that there is an existing tenancy.
There is no written agreement between the landlord and tenant. Possibly,
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the tenancy agreement was an oral agreement. The landlord and tenant
might have orally agreed on certain amount of advance, certain amount
of rent, certain modes of payment of rent etc., Section 4 (2) of the
TNRRRLT Act, 2017 requires that the existing oral tenancy agreement
has to be reduced into writing and a tenancy agreement has to be
executed between the landlord and tenant with regard to the terms of the
existing tenancy. The period fixed for executing this tenancy agreement
is 575 days from the commencement of this Act. The proviso to this
Section gives an option to landlord or tenant to apply for termination of
tenancy if the landlord or tenant fails to enter into an agreement.
15. The third situation is that there is already a tenancy
prior to the commencement of this Act. The tenancy is evidenced by a
written agreement. In all these three situations, the tenancy agreement
has to be registered with the authority. For the purpose of disposal of this
petition, we are concerned only with Sub Sections 1,2 and 3 of Section 4
of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017, especially Sub Section 2 of section 4 of the
TNRRRLT Act, 2017.
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16. In the case before hand, there is no dispute with
regard to the fact that the petitioner is a tenant in respect of the petition
premises even before the purchase of the property by the respondent in
auction. It is claimed by the petitioner that the petitioner purchased the
property under the condition “as it whereas basis”. Therefore it is
claimed by the petitioner that whatever the tenancy agreement he had
with his previous owner, has to be continued with the subsequent owner,
namely the respondent. It is further submitted that the respondent cannot
impose any new terms of tenancy than what was agreed under the
previous tenancy.
17. As explained above, Section 4 (2) of the TNRRRLT
Act makes it clear that in case of tenancy created before the
commencement of this Act, where there is no written tenancy agreement,
a tenancy agreement has to be entered into between the landlord and
tenant with regard to "that tenancy", i.e., the existing tenancy.
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18. In this legal background, we have to assess the
evidence available in this case. Ex.P1 is the copy of the letter dated
15.04.2019 sent by the respondent/landlord to the petitioner/tenant. This
letter reads that the respondent / landlord enclosed a rental agreement as
per the new Act viz., TNRRRLT Act, 2017 for perusal of the tenant and
requested him to do the needful. This rental agreement incorporated
several terms inclusive of fixing monthly rent at Rs.15,000/- per month
and security deposit of three months at Rs.45,000/-. The period of
tenancy was fixed from 01.05.2019, 31.05.2019 etc., After receiving the
said letter, the tenant sent Ex.P2 reply stating that he was inducted as
tenant by the former owner Babu Narashima Rao during the year 1998
for a rent of Rs.1000/- per month and he paid a sum of Rs.3,75,000/- as
advance. Then he claimed that after the property was purchased by the
respondent, he was paying Rs.1,500/- per month as rent to the
respondent without any default. Thus he requested to maintain the
monthly rent of Rs.1,500/- in the rental agreement. It was replied
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through Ex.P3 letter by the respondent/landlord that she is not concerned
or connected with the advance amount of Rs.3,75,000/- allegedly paid by
the petitioner /tenant to the former owner Babu Narasimma Rao. It is
further stated that she has not received any advance. She admitted that
the petitioner was paying monthly rent at Rs.1,500/-. Since the petitioner
is governed by the new Act, the terms and conditions have to be
incorporated in the agreement as per the new Act. Therefore, she cannot
accept the old rent and new rent claimed at Rs.15,000/- is very
reasonable. Then on 03.05.2019, the petitioner sent Exhibit P4 rejoinder
to the respondent reiterating the payment of Rs.3,75,000/- as advance
and rent at Rs.1,500/- per month. It was followed by Ex.P.5, legal notice
dated 08.05.2019, claiming that the petitioner was paying Rs.1,500/- as
monthly rent and respondent requires the building for her business
purpose and with an information that the tenancy is terminated w.e.f.,
31.05.2019. The respondent sent Ex.P6 reply notice reiterating the
advance of Rs.3,75,000/- paid and the payment of Rs.1,500/- as rent and
that the respondent cannot enhance the rent. It was replied through
Ex.P7 with a request to vacate and deliver possession.
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19. From these letters and notices, it is clear that the
petitioner was paying Rs.1,500/- as monthly rent to the landlord after
purchase of the premises. In fact, it is admitted in the application that
respondent was paying a monthly rent of Rs.1500/-. Of course, there is a
dispute with regard to the advance amount of Rs.3,75,000/- said to have
been paid to the former owner. Respondent states that she is not
concerned with or connected with the said amount. It is clear from the
evidence of P.W.1 that the monthly rent prior to the commencement of
this Act was paid at Rs.1,500/-. PW1 in his evidence, had deposed that “
a sum of Rs.1,500/- was received as monthly rent till April 2019”. He
also admitted that the petitioner has sent a reply expressing his
willingness to execute the tenancy agreement for a monthly rent of
Rs.1,500/-. The question now looms large is whether the
respondent/landlord can impose and direct the petitioner to pay a sum of
Rs.15,000/- per month as rent when he was actually paying a rent of
Rs.1,500/- per month.
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20. The answer to the question is clearly indicated in
section 4 (2) of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017. Section 4 (2) of the TNRRRLT
Act, 2017 requires the landlord and tenant to enter into an agreement in
writing i.e., tenancy agreement with regard to that tenancy. "That
tenancy" means the tenancy created before the commencement of the
Act. Therefore, the respondent cannot unilaterally fix the monthly rent
Rs.15,000/- to the petitioner as the tenancy agreement should only refer
the terms that were existing prior to the commencement of this Act. In
the case before hand, the rent was paid at Rs.1500/-per month before the
commencement of TNRRRLT Act, and therefore, the unilateral demand
made by the respondent to execute a tenancy agreement on a monthly
rent of Rs.15,000/- per month is contrary to the legal requirement under
Section 4(2) of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017. However, both the Courts
below on misreading of the provisions, had found that the landlord is
entitled to fix the rent unilaterally and the tenant has no option except to
enter into a tenancy agreement, even it is unreasonable claim. That is not
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proper and not on the basis of correct reading of the legal provisions and
the scope of the act. "The new Law aims to regulate the rent as per the
terms and conditions of the agreement to be entered into between the
owner of the premises and the tenant. It also aims to balance the rights
and responsibilities of the landlord and the tenant and provide
regulation of the rent as per the agreement.”
21. The next aspect is that the tenancy agreement
stipulated under Section 4 (2) of the TNRRRLT Act, 2017 can be
executed within a period of 575 days from the date of commencement of
the Act. This Act came into force and commenced from 22.02.2019. In
that case, the petitioner still has time to enter into the tenancy agreement
with the respondent. But the petition was filed within a period of 575
days on 01.07.2019 and it is a premature petition. Both the Courts
below have misconstrued this 575 days and the learned Rent Controller
found that this period relates only to the period for entering a tenancy
agreement and not for approaching the Rent Court for termination, once
there is a failure to enter into the agreement.
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22. In the case on hand, the petitioner has not refused to
enter into the tenancy agreement with the respondent. He is prepared to
enter into the tenancy agreement with the respondent as per the existing
terms. That is what is required under Section 4 (2) of the TNRRRLT Act,
2017. Without entering into the meaningful discussion with the
petitioner, the respondent rushed to the Court, when there is no express
refusal on the part of the petitioner to enter into a tenancy agreement, of
course with the existing terms. In fact, it is the respondent, who shut the
door once for all by categorically saying in her letter in Exhibit P3 that
she does not want any communication or exchange of letters from the
petitioner regarding the rental agreement.
23. No doubt that, there is a lacuna in TNRRRLT Act to
meet the situation, where there is no agreement between the landlord and
tenant with regard to the quantum of rent, advance amount and other
aspects in an existing tenancy and where there is no written agreement.
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However, it cannot be used as a tool for evicting a tenant by making
fanciful and unreasonable claim of rent or by denying the agreed rent.
24. One more aspect canvassed by the learned counsel
for the respondent/landlord is that as per Section 38 (5) of the TNRRRLT
Act, 2017, there is no provision for revision or appeal available under the
said Act. He further submitted that the scope of judicial interference
under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, is limited and this Court
cannot act as a Court of appeal and should not interfere with the decision
of the inferior Courts, unless there is manifest miscarriage of justice. He
relied on the following judgments in support of this proposition. Delhi
High Court in CM.(M) No.1041 of 2011, CM.Nos.16799 of 2011 and
16800 of 2011 (Jasbir Singh Vs. Manjit Kaur and Others), observed
that,
26.Upon careful reading of observations in the above referred cases, it can be safely said that the scope of judicial interference under Article 227 is well settled and the Court ceased of the proceedings under Article 227cannot act as a Court of appeal and should
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interfere with the decision of the inferior tribunal or Court only to keep the authorities and Courts within their bounds and in the cases where it results into manifest miscarriage of justice and not in all other cases to correct mere errors. The power under Article 227 is thus discretionary in nature and can be exercised in the cases where the lower Court ignores material piece of evidence or considers some evidence which it ought not to have considered resulting into injustice and not in cases where there are two views possible and the view adopted by lower Court is reasonable and plausible one and the High Court would be unjustified to interfere in such cases merely to arrive at different view in the matter as this would be re-appreciating the evidence on finding of facts which is the role of the appellate Court and not the supervisory Court acting under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.
It is observed in the judgment reported in (1975) 1 Supreme
Court Cases 858 (Bathutmal Raichand Oswal Vs. Laxmibai R.Tarta
and another), that,
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8.Here, when we turn to the judgment of the High Court, we find that the High Court has clearly misconceived the scope and extent of its power under Article 227 and overstepped the limits of its jurisdiction under that Article. It has proceeded to reappreciate the evidence for the purpose of correcting errors of fact supposed to have been committed by the District Court. That was clearly impermissible to the High Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 227.
25. However, the learned counsel for the petitioner
submitted that the High Court in its power of superintendence over the
Subordinate Courts under is territory can always interfere with the
proceedings of the Courts below, if the proceedings results in miscarriage
of justice by improper application of law.
He relied on the judgment reported in 1983 AIR SC 473 (Mithu
Vs. State of Punjab) for the proposition that if a provision of law is
unconstitutional, that must be struck down. It is observed in this
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judgment that,
A savage sentence is anathema to the civilized jurisprudence of Article 21. The sentence of death, prescribed by Section 303 of the Penal Code for the offence of murder committed by a person who is under a sentence of life imprisonment, is arbitrary and oppressive so as to be violative of Articles 21 and 14. Accordingly, Section 303 is declared unconstitutional and void and is struck down. All cases of murder will now fall under Section 302 and there shall be no mandatory sentence of death for the offence of murder.
26. The reading of the judgments cited by the learned
counsel for the respondent shows that High Court cannot unnecessarily
interfere with the decision of the Tribunal or inferior Court and judicial
interference should be limited. The interference should be limited only to
keep the authorities or Courts within their bounds and in cases where it
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results into manifest, mis-courage of justice.
27. In the case before hand, both the Courts below have
wrongly interpreted Section 4(2) Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and
Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017 and came to the
conclusion that even in case of existing tenancy, the landlord can
unilaterally fix a fancy rent and the tenant has no choice except to accept
the terms of the landlord. This is against the fundamental principle of law
especially Section 4(2) of TNRRRLT Act. The respondent/landlord
clearly admitted in the application, exchange of notices and during
evidence that the monthly rent was only Rs.1500/- Therefore, the
landlord cannot enhance the rent ten times higher, taking advantage of
the introduction of TNRRRLT Act, with the only motive to steamroll and
evict the tenant.
28. It is observed in Timbak Vs. Ram Chandra reported
in AIR 1977 SC 1222, that,
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"It is also well established that it is only when an order of the
Tribunal is violative of the fundamental basic principles of justice and
fair play or a patent or flagrant error in the procedure of law has crept
or where the order passed results in manifest injustice, that a court can
justifiably intervene under Article 227 of the Constitution."
29. This is a fit case requiring the interference from this
Court under Article 227 of Constitution of India to undo the manifest
miscarriage of justice committed in this case to the petitioner.
30. Therefore, this Court finds that the judgment of
learned II Additional Judge in R.L.T.A.No.5 of 2021 confirming the
judgment of learned Small Causes Rent Court, in R.L.T.O.P. No.3 of
2019 is illegal and has to be necessarily set aside and accordingly set
aside.
31. With regard to the striking down of Section 21 (2)
(a) of TNRRRLT Act, there is already a Writ Petition in W.P.No.12648 of
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2021 is pending in this regard and this Court does not want to express
any opinion in this regard.
32. In conclusion, this Court finds that the judgment of
learned II Additional Judge in R.L.T.A.No.5 of 2021 confirming the
judgment of learned Small Causes Rent Court, in R.L.T.O.P. No.3 of
2019 is illegal and has to be necessarily set aside and accordingly set
aside. This Civil Revision Petition is allowed with costs of the petitioner.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
Ep/Vum 25.01.2022
Index:Yes/No Internet:Yes/No Speaking Order: Yes/No
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To 1. The II Additional Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai. 2. The learned XII Judge, Small Causes Court, Chennai. 3. The Section Officer, VR Section, High Court of Madras.
29/31 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(N.P.D).No.1996 of 2021
G.CHANDRASEKHARAN.J,
Ep/Vum
C.R.P.(N.P.D)No.1996 of 2021 and C.M.P.No.15184 of 2021
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25.01.2022
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