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Smart Summary

Court Opinion Summary — Raman, J.

Factual and Procedural Background

The petitioner is the landlord and the respondents are tenants of building No. 767 in Thrikkadavoor Village, Kollam District. The petitioner initiated eviction proceedings by filing R.C.P. No. 16/1999 before the Rent Control Court, Kollam, which dismissed the petition. The petitioner preferred R.C.A. No. 31/2000 before the Rent Control Appellate Authority, which reversed the Rent Control Court's order and ordered eviction. That order was confirmed in revision by this Court in C.R.P. No. 2111/2002 (produced as Ext.P2). The tenants then filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court; while that matter was pending, the parties reached a settlement. The Supreme Court disposed of the S.L.P. by order dated 7-1-2005 in terms of the settlement dated 29-10-2004 (memorial of settlement produced as Ext.P3).

Under clause 1 of the memorandum of settlement the respondents agreed to surrender 4 feet of the southern side of Door No. 767 so as to provide a passage of 14 feet width (north-south) measured from the northern wall of Door No. 765. The demolition of the surrendered area and reconstruction of the new wall were to be carried out by a Commissioner appointed by the Rent Control Court.

Pursuant to execution, the respondents surrendered the 4 feet and the Commissioner reconstructed the wall. The Commissioner reported the passage width as 12.25 feet; the petitioner asserted it was 11.9 feet. As the passage was still less than 14 feet, the petitioner applied in the Munsiff Court, Kollam, seeking a direction to the Commissioner to take possession of sufficient space to provide the 14-foot pathway. The respondents objected. By order Ext.P5 dated 17-3-2005, the Principal Munsiff dismissed the application. Aggrieved, the petitioner filed the present writ petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the writ petition under Article 227 is maintainable when the petitioner has an alternative statutory remedy under the proviso to Section 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 (i.e., a right of revision to the same Forum to which appeals ordinarily lie against the Munsiff's decisions).
  2. Whether the proviso to Section 14 of the Act is merely a non-substantive provision about forum or whether it confers an independent substantive right of revision (i.e., the legal effect and scope of the proviso).
  3. Whether the Munsiff (execution court) was empowered to direct the tenant to surrender more than the agreed 4 feet notwithstanding the terms of the compromise; equivalently, whether directing further surrender would violate the compromise terms.

Arguments of the Parties

Respondent's Arguments

  • The petitioner has an alternative remedy under Section 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 by way of revision to the same Forum to which an appeal ordinarily lies against the order of the Munsiff. Therefore, the writ petition under Article 227 is not maintainable.

Petitioner's Arguments

  • The proviso to Section 14 is not a substantive provision conferring a right of revision; it merely indicates the Forum. In the absence of guidelines prescribing the manner of exercising such power, the provision is unworkable.
  • The proviso generally carves out an exception from the main provision and does not create a substantive right (i.e., the proviso should not be interpreted as conferring a fresh right of revision).

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
State of Orissa v. Debaki Debi, AIR 1964 SC 1413 Illustrates that a period of limitation contained in a proviso can be an independent legislative provision; a proviso may be substantive in effect. The court relied on this decision to support the proposition that a proviso may, in substance, operate as a fresh enactment and thus may confer substantive rights rather than merely carve out exceptions.
I.T. Commissioner v. P. Krishna Warriar, AIR 1965 SC 59 Shows that a proviso (specifically proviso (b) to Section 4(3)(i) of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1922) can be treated as a substantive provision. The court cited this decision as further authority for treating the proviso to Section 14 as capable of being substantive in effect.
Commissioner of Stamp Duties v. Atwill (1973 (1) All ER 579) Privy Council reading of a proviso to a Stamp Duties Act provision as substantive. Used to illustrate international/authoritative support for the proposition that a proviso may read as a substantive provision; assisted the court's textual analysis of Section 14's proviso.
Khalid v. Pathummakutty Umma (1980 KLT 460) Interpreted the scope of the proviso to Section 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act; held that where the Principal Munsiff acts as an execution court, the proviso applies and revision lies to the District Court (not the High Court under Section 115 CPC). The court relied on this state's decision to demonstrate that the proviso to Section 14 has been previously interpreted to mean that revision lies to the District Court for orders passed in execution; it informed the court's conclusion about the proper forum for revision and the nature of the revisional remedy.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court examined the language of Section 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965, which mandates execution of certain orders by the Munsiff as if they were decrees and contains a proviso stating that an order passed in execution under this section shall not be subject to appeal but shall be subject to revision by the court to which appeals ordinarily lie against the decisions of the said Munsiff.

The court observed that although a proviso often functions to carve out an exception, a proviso may in substance operate as an independent legislative provision. To support this proposition the court cited precedents (State of Orissa v. Debaki Debi; I.T. Commissioner v. P. Krishna Warriar; Commissioner of Stamp Duties v. Atwill) which treat provisos as capable of substantive effect.

Applying this principle of construction to the text of Section 14, the court concluded that the proviso does more than merely state the forum: it confers a right of revision to the party aggrieved by an order under Section 14 to the same Forum to which appeal would ordinarily lie against the Munsiff's decision. The court further referred to Khalid v. Pathummakutty Umma (1980 KLT 460), which interpreted the proviso in the context of execution orders and held that revision lies to the District Court (rather than to the High Court under Section 115 CPC) in such cases.

The court also noted that Section 20 of the Act provides for revision against orders passed by the appellate authority and describes the revisional authority's power to call for and examine records and pass orders as to legality, regularity or propriety. From this statutory framework the court inferred that the legislature was aware of the scope of revision and the powers of revisional authorities, and that it is to be implied that a revisional authority under the proviso to Section 14 would exercise powers to investigate legality, regularity, or propriety of execution orders.

The court further recognized the settled principle that the existence of an alternative remedy is not an absolute bar to constitutional remedies under Articles 226 and 227. Nevertheless, the court explained its self-imposed restraint: when an effective alternative statutory remedy exists, the court will ordinarily decline to exercise extraordinary constitutional jurisdiction and will instead direct parties to the statutory remedy.

Applying these principles to the present petition, the court found that the petitioner has an effective alternative remedy (revision under the proviso to Section 14 to the appropriate revisional forum). Therefore, the court declined to exercise its Article 227 jurisdiction to interfere with Ext.P5 (the Munsiff's order dismissing the petitioner's application).

The court explicitly refrained from expressing any opinion on the merits of the dispute over whether additional surrender by the tenants is required; its decision was procedural and premised on availability of the revisional remedy. Given the absence of a statutory time limit for such revisions, the court directed that ordinarily revisions should be filed within a reasonable time and provided a specific facilitative window in this case.

Holding and Implications

Core Ruling: DISMISSED — The writ petition under Article 227 is dismissed.

Implications and direct consequences:

  • The court held that the proviso to Section 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 confers a right of revision to the same Forum to which an appeal would ordinarily lie against the Munsiff's decisions; therefore an effective statutory alternative remedy exists to challenge the Munsiff's execution order.
  • Because an effective alternative remedy is available, the High Court declined to exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 227 in this matter and refused to interfere with the Principal Munsiff's order (Ext.P5) dismissing the petitioner's application.
  • The court did not express any opinion on the merits of whether additional land must be surrendered to achieve the 14-foot passage; that substantive question is left to the revisional process or other competent proceedings.
  • The court directed that, in the absence of any statutory time limit, revisions should normally be filed within a reasonable time and, in this case, provided that if the petitioner files the revision within two months from the date of the judgment, the revisional authority shall consider and decide it on merits in accordance with law.

This summary is strictly based on the content and reasoning contained in the provided opinion and does not add or infer facts or holdings beyond those expressly stated by the court.

    Ayyappan Pillai A.R (Adv.) v. Mohana Chandran Pillai & Another

    Raman, J.:— Petitioner is the landlord and the respondents are the tenants of building No. 767 situated in the Thrikkadavoor Village of Kollam District. Petitioner initiated eviction proceedings against the respondents by filing R.C.P No. 16/1999 on the file of the Rent Control Court, Kollam. The R.C.P was dismissed by the Rent Control Court against which he preferred R.C.A No. 31/2000 before the Rent Control Appellate Authority. The Appellate Authority reversed the order of the Rent Control Court and ordered eviction. It was confirmed in revision by this Court in C.R.P No. 2111/2002, a copy of the same is produced as Ext.P2 in the present petition. Thereafter the tenants filed Special Leave Petition before the Apex Court. When the matter was pending before the Apex Court a settlement was reached between the parties and the Apex Court by its order dated 7-1-2005, a copy of which is produced as Ext.P3 in this petition disposed of the S.L.P in terms of the settlement dated 29-10-2004 except that the date mentioned in para 3 of the settlement will read as 31-3-2005 in place of 31-1-2005. The memorandum of settlement which was marked as Annexure A3 on the file of the Supreme Court is produced as Ext.P3 in the present writ petition. As per clause 1 of memorandum of settlement, it is agreed by the respondents herein that they will surrender 4 feet portion of Door No. 767 on the southern side so that there will be passage to the petitioner's building on the eastern side, of a width of 14 feet north south measured from the northern wall of door No. 765. It is also agreed that the demolition of the surrendered area will be carried out by a Commissioner appointed by the Rent Control Court and that the new wall on the southern side of Door No. 767 is to be constructed under the supervision of the said Commissioner. Pursuant thereto the petitioner herein sought to execute the order. It is a common case of the parties that 4 feet portion of Door No. 767 on the southern side was surrendered by the respondents herein and the wall was also reconstructed by the Commissioner. It was then found that width of the passage is only 12.25 feet as per the report of the Commissioner and according to the petitioner it is only 11.9 feet. At any rate even after surrender of 4 feet by the respondents herein the width of the passage could not be obtained to the extent of 14 feet. Petitioner in such circumstances filed an application before the Munsiff Court, Kollam praying that the Commissioner be directed by the Court to take possession of sufficient space to provide 14 feet pathway as passage to the building of the decree holder. The respondents objected the same and by Ext.P5 order dated 17th March, 2005 which is impugned in this writ petition, the Principal Munsiff, Kollam dismissed the application. Aggrieved thereby the petitioner has preferred this writ petition seeking appropriate, relief under Art. 227 of the Constitution of India.

    2. The Court below found in Ext.P5 order that if the tenant is now directed to surrender more portion, that will be in violation of the compromise. It is also found that there is no terms in the agreement that the tenant will surrender sufficient portion so as to form passage of 14 feet width. Taking the view that the Munsiff Court is not empowered to direct the tenant to surrender more portion for the passage to obtain a width of 14 feet the petition was dismissed.

    3. Heard Adv. Sri. Bechu Kurian Thomas, the learned counsel for the revision petitioner and also the Adv. Sri. B. Vinod, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent.

    4. It was contended before us by the learned counsel for the respondent that the petitioner has got an alternative remedy under Sec. 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 by way of revision, to the same Forum to which ordinarily an appeal would lie against the order of the Munsiff Court. Hence the writ petition is not maintainable. Learned Counsel for the petitioner, Sri. Bechu Kurian Thomas on the other hand contended that proviso to Sec. 14 is not a substantive provision conferring any right of revision; it merely provides the Forum; and in the absence of any guidelines prescribing the manner of exercise of such power the provision is unworkable. It is also contended that the proviso generally carves out an exception from the main provision and does not create a substantive right. We shall now refer to Sec. 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 which reads as follows;

    Every order made under section 11 (or section 12) or Section 13 or section 19 or section 33 and every order passed on appeal under section 18 or on revision under section 20 shall, after the expiry of the time allowed therein, be executed by the Munsiff or if there are more than one Munsiff, by the Principal Munsiff having original jurisdiction over the area in which the building is situated as if it were a decree passed by him;

    Provided that an order passed in execution under this section shall not be subject to an appeal but shall be subject to revision by the court to which appeals ordinarily lie against the decisions of the said Munsiff.

    5. From the language of the proviso it is clear that it is not exempting something from the main provision While the main section provides for execution of the orders passed under the Act whereas the proviso confers a right of revision from such orders. It is true that normally the ‘proviso’ carves out an exception. But this is only true of a real proviso. The inserting of a proviso by the draftsman is not always strictly adhered to its legitimate use and at times a Section worded as a proviso may wholly or partly be in substance a fresh enactment adding to and not merely excepting something out of or qualifying what goes before. It has been held by the Supreme Court in State of Orissa v. Debaki Debi (AIR 1964 SC 1413) that the period of limitation contained in the proviso to sub Section 6 of Section 12 of the Orissa Sales Tax Act 1947 was an independent legislative provision. Same view was taken of the proviso (b) to Section 4(3)(i) of Indian Income Tax Act 1922 (See I.T Commissioner v. P. Krishna Warriar (AIR 1965 SC 59). In Commissioner of Stamp Duties v. Atwill (1973 (1) All England Report 579) the Privy Council read the proviso to Section 102(2)(a) of the Stamp Duties Act of New South Wales as a substantive provision. Thus we have to go by the plain language used in the section to understand as to what is the effect; and purpose of enactment. On the plain language of the proviso we are satisfied that the proviso not only makes it clear that no appeal would lie from an order passed under Sec. 14 but it confers right of revision to the party aggrieved by an order under Sec. 14 to the same Forum to which appeal would ordinarily lie against the decision of the said Munsiff. In the decision reported in Khalid v. Pathummakutty Umma (1980 KLT 460) this Court has considered the scope of the proviso to Section 14 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965. A revision was filed under Sec. 115 of the C.P.C before this Court against an order passed by the Munsiff under Sec. 14 of the Rent Control Act. After referring to the relevant provisions contained in Sec. 14 of the said Act and also under Order XXI Rule 2(1) CPC this court held as follows:

    “As the Principal Munsiff is to execute the order for eviction as if it were a decree, he as execution court can record adjustment out of court of the order. The order will be one passed in execution. The powers to be exercised by the Munsiff under the section are only that of an execution court. So, the proviso to S. 14 of the Act will take in such an order passed by the Munsiff. In that case, the revision lies to the District Court and not to the High Court. So, these revisions filed before this court are not maintainable.”

    6. It is true that there is no provision under the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act providing for the manner in which and the grounds on which such revision could be filed and disposed of. But a provision in the same statute namely, Section 20 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act provides for revision against the order passed by the appellate authority. Under Sec. 20 the revisional authority can call for and examine the records relating to any order passed or proceedings taken under this Act: by such authority for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality, regularity or propriety of such order or proceedings, and may pass such order in reference thereto.

    7. Thus the Legislature while enacting Section 14 of the Rent Control Act is fully aware of the power of revision contained under Sec. 20 and also the power of the revisional authority as provided for under such section. In the absence of anything contained in the Statute and in the absence of anything otherwise provided, it is to be implied that a revisional authority under proviso to Sec. 14 of the Act would exercise the power of revision so as to satisfy itself as to the legality, regularity or propriety of the order sought to be reversed. In this view of the matter we hold that the petitioner has got a right of revision as provided for under the proviso to Section 14 to the same Forum to which an appeal would ordinarily lie against the decision of the Munsiff and if such a revision is filed, the revisional authority for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality, regularity or propriety would exercise such powers and would pass appropriate orders. It is now settled by a catena of decisions that existence of alternative remedy cannot be a bar for the exercise of Constitutional remedies under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India. At the same time by way of self imposed restriction if there is an effective alternative remedy this court will not be inclined to exercise such extra ordinary jurisdiction rather relegate the parties to the alternate remedies provided under the Statute. Petitioner is having an alternate remedy. We therefore decline to interfere with the order passed in exercise of the extra ordinary jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.

    8. Subject to the above observations the writ petition is dismissed. In the view we have taken we are not expressing any opinion on the merits of the contentions raised by the parties. In the absence of any provisions regarding time limit within which revision is to be filed such revisions are to be normally filed within a reasonable time. In case the revision is filed by the petitioner within a period of two months from today, the revisional authority shall consider the same on merits and dispose of it in accordance with law.

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    Ayyappan Pillai A.R (Adv.) v. Mohana Chandran Pillai & Another
    (Jun 22, 2005)