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Smart Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

The petitioner challenged an order passed by the Additional Rent Controller dated 10th October 1995, which had denied leave to contest an eviction petition filed by the respondent-landlady under Section 14(1)(e) of the Delhi Rent Control Act. The eviction petition concerned a property owned by the respondent, who claimed a bona fide requirement of the premises. The petitioner disputed the landlord-tenant relationship and ownership, citing a Will executed by the respondent's father and an advertisement for sale of the property published before the eviction petition was filed. The revision petition has been pending since 1996.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the petitioner can dispute the ownership of the respondent based on the Will and existence of other heirs.
  2. Whether the respondent's bona fide requirement of the premises stood established despite the advertisement for sale.
  3. Whether the petitioner could raise new grounds in revision proceedings that were not presented in the leave to defend application before the Additional Rent Controller.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioner's Arguments

  • The petitioner disputed the landlord-tenant relationship by contesting the respondent's ownership, arguing that other heirs existed and the Will was not conclusive.
  • The petitioner submitted an advertisement published in the Hindustan Times prior to filing the eviction petition, indicating the respondent intended to sell the property, thus questioning the bona fide requirement.
  • An affidavit from a property broker was filed to support the claim regarding the advertisement.

Respondent's Position

  • The respondent relied on a Will executed by her father, establishing ownership.
  • The respondent had obtained probate of the Will, reinforcing her ownership rights.
  • The respondent asserted a bona fide requirement of the premises for herself and her adult son.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court held that the petitioner could not dispute the ownership of the respondent once probate of the Will had been granted, as challenging the Will was not open to the tenant but to other heirs. Regarding the bona fide requirement, the Court noted the advertisement for sale was published prior to the eviction petition but found the affidavit supporting the advertisement unreliable. The Court further emphasized the statutory procedure under Chapter III of the Delhi Rent Control Act, particularly Section 25, which mandates a tenant to plead all grounds in the leave to defend application within fifteen days of service of notice. The Court held that it was impermissible to raise new grounds in revision proceedings that were not raised earlier. Additionally, the Court referred to Section 19 of the Delhi Rent Control Act, which provides a remedy for tenants if a landlord abuses the eviction process by subsequently letting or selling the property. Based on these legal principles and facts, the Court found no ground to interfere with the order of the Additional Rent Controller.

Holding and Implications

DISMISSED

The Court dismissed the revision petition, thereby upholding the order of the Additional Rent Controller denying leave to contest the eviction petition. The decision affirms the procedural rigor required under the Delhi Rent Control Act and confirms that ownership established by probate cannot be challenged by a tenant in eviction proceedings. No new precedent was set; the ruling directly affects the parties by maintaining the status quo in the eviction matter.

    Mrs. Krishna Chopra & Another v. Smt. Raksha & Others

    Vijender Jain, J.— Aggrieved by the order passed by the Additional Rent Controller on 10th October, 1995, the petitioner has preferred this revision petition. It has been pending in this Court since 1996.

    2. The eviction petition was filed by the respondent-landlady under Section 14(1)(e) of the Delhi Rent Control Act. The size of the family of the respondent is not disputed. The family of respondent consists of herself and her grownup son who is 29 years old. The extent of accommodation available with the respondent is only one room on the ground floor. There is no dispute with regard to the purpose of letting. However, the petitioner has disputed the relationship of tenant and landlord. Respondent brought on record a Will in favour of the respondent executed by the father of the respondent. It was contended before the Additional Rent Controller that there may be other brothers and sisters of the respondent and, therefore, respondent was not the absolute owner of the property in question. Mr. Vijay Gupta, learned Counsel for the petitioner has contended that this Court directed the petitioner to file an affidavit bringing on record an advertisement which was published in the Hindustan Times on 20th December, 1992, prior to the filing of the eviction petition. The said advertisement was for the sale of the property in question. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has contended that on the basis of the aforesaid advertisement, it is manifestly clear that the sole intention of the respondent was to sale and dispose of the property. Therefore, the finding of the Additional Rent Controller that the premises were required bona fide by the respondent on the basis of the record was untenable. In support of the advertisement an affidavit of one property broker has also been filed by the petitioner in this Court. I have carefully gone through the arguments advanced by Counsels for the parties.

    3. At the outset, I must say that the petitioner cannot dispute the ownership of the respondent. The petitioner cannot plead that under the Will respondent has no right and there are other successors of the father of the respondent. It is not open to a tenant to dispute the contents of the Will. The law is well settled. The Will may be challenged by other heirs or successors of person making the Will. Any event of the matter, the respondent filed a suit to obtain Probate of the said Will. Probate in favour of the respondent has been granted. In view of grant of Probate, it is not open to the petitioner to challenge the ownership of the respondent. That brings me to the question of bona fide requirement.

    4. The present revision petition was filed aggrieved by the order of the Additional Rent Controller not granting leave to contest the eviction petition. Nothing was urged before me on the basis of leave to defend application filed by the petitioner before the Additional Rent Controller. Legislature in its wisdom has provided Summary Trial under Chapter-III of the Delhi Rent Control Act. Under Section 25 of the Delhi Rent Control Act procedure has been provided as to how to deal with the petition under Section 14 of the Delhi Rent Control Act. From the service of the notice on the tenant under Section 14(1)(e) of the Act fifteen days' time is granted to the tenant to file the leave to defend application and to plead all such grounds which, if proved, would disentitle a landlord from obtaining an order of eviction. In view of such a stringent procedure laid down by the Parliament, is it open for this Court which is not even exercising an appellate jurisdiction as contemplated under the Code of Civil Procedure, to allow a tenant to say that at the time of filing of leave to defend application certain facts were not available to him and same can be brought to the notice of this Court while exercising revisional jurisdiction. In view of expressed provisions of the Statute, in my considered opinion while exercising the revisional jurisdiction emanating finder the Act it is not permissible. As I have heard Mr. Gupta on merit, therefore, I have considered the advertisement placed on record as well as the affidavit of the property broker in support of the advertisement. The affidavit which has been filed by the broker at the instance of the petitioner does not inspire any confidence even if it is assumed that the respondent was interested in selling the property, according to the learned Counsel for the petitioner, the advertisement was issued on 20th December, 1992. The petition for eviction was filed in the year 1994. It cannot be said that when the petition was filed, the requirement of the respondent was not bona fide. In any event of the matter, Section 19 of the Delhi Rent Control Act provides an answer. If a landlord abuses the process of the Court, obtains an order of eviction, subsequently lets out the property or sells the same, the tenant can also apply for restitution under Section 19 of the Delhi Rent Control Act.

    5. No ground to interfere.

    6. Dismissed.

    Revision dismissed.
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    Comments

    Mrs. Krishna Chopra & Another v. Smt. Raksha & Others
    (Sep 13, 1999)