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Judgment Summary — Interpretation of Section 113, Transfer of Property Act

Factual and Procedural Background

Charan Singh (plaintiff-respondent) was the landlord of disputed premises. He served a first notice on the defendant-tenant, Shivjit Singh (defendant-appellant), dated 22 November 1967 requiring vacation by 31 December 1967 (Exhibit P.1). The tenant remained in possession. The landlord served a second notice dated 5 January 1968 (Exhibit P.2) demanding vacation within one week and threatening a claim of Rs.100 per month as damages for wrongful use and occupation in addition to the agreed rent of Rs.92 per month. The tenant again did not vacate. The landlord served a third notice dated 7 August 1968 (Exhibit P.3) asking the tenant to vacate by 30 September 1968. When the tenant did not vacate, the landlord sued for possession and Rs.2,044 as rent and damages.

At trial several issues were framed, notably whether the plaintiff was entitled to recover Rs.100 per month from 18 January 1968 onwards and whether the tenancy had been validly terminated by notice. The trial court found the tenancy terminated effective 30 September 1968 and awarded damages from that date; the landlord appealed. The appellate court held the tenancy terminated effective 31 December 1967 (the date in the first notice) and modified the decree in the landlord's favour (by an additional Rs.777). The tenant appealed further. The Full Bench was asked to decide whether issuance of subsequent notices (second or third) alone will operate as a waiver of the first notice under Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether mere issuance of a second or third notice to quit by the lessor to the lessee, by itself, amounts to a waiver of the first notice within the meaning of Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
  2. As a corollary on the facts, whether the tenancy in this case was terminated on 31 December 1967 (first notice) or continued (so as to end on 30 September 1968, as per third notice), with consequences for damages and rent recovery.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant (defendant-tenant) — principal contentions

  • Relying on illustration (b) to Section 113, the appellant submitted that by giving subsequent notices (second and third), the landlord waived the first notice and recognised the tenant as a lessee, thereby extending/continuing the tenancy until 30 September 1968.
  • Primary reliance was placed on the literal reading of illustration (b) and on the Single Bench decision in Mohanlal v. Vijai Narain (AIR 1961 Raj 136) for the proposition that giving a second notice operates as a waiver of the first notice as to the person giving it.

Respondent (plaintiff-landlord) — principal contentions

  • Reliance on Bhagabat Patnaik v. Madhusudhan Panda (AIR 1965 Orissa 11) and Dewan Basheshwar Nath Sarin v. The Delhi Improvement Trust (1954 ILR (PB) 149) that illustration (b) must be read subject to the section's main text requiring evidence of intention to treat the lease as subsisting; mere issuance of a subsequent notice is not enough unless there are other circumstances showing a mutual intention (express or implied) to continue the lease.
  • On the facts, the landlord consistently asserted that the tenancy had been determined by the first notice, refused tenders of rent (money orders), and sought damages for wrongful occupation; thus there was no intention to treat the lease as subsisting.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Loewenthal v. Vanhouts, 1947 (1) A.E.R. 116 Where a tenancy is determined by a notice to quit, revival requires a new tenancy (express or implied); a subsequent notice to quit is of no effect unless other circumstances permit inferring a new tenancy. The Court treated Denning J.'s observations as directly applicable and supportive of the view that a subsequent notice alone does not revive a tenancy; Loewenthal was relied upon with approval to reject the appellant's literal reliance on illustration (b).
Tyabali Jaffarbhai Tankiwala v. Messrs Asha & Co. and another (1970 RCR 150 / AIR 1971 SC 102) Considered illustration (b) and observed that Section 113 does not expressly require a new tenancy but waiver requires proof of an act showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting with the consent of the person to whom the notice is given. The Court noted the Supreme Court left the matter open but observed that Grover, J.'s remarks supported interpreting Section 113 as not necessarily requiring creation of a new tenancy; the present Court relied on that passage to read the section as requiring proof of landlord's act plus consent.
Navitlal Chunilal v. Baburao and another, AIR 1945 Bombay 132 Section 113 requires both: (a) an act by the landlord showing intention to treat the lease as subsisting, and (b) the consent (express or implied) of the person to whom the notice was given; waiver cannot rest on the action of one party alone. The Court relied on the reasoning in Navitlal to conclude Section 113 mandates bilateral intention/consent and that an illustration cannot override this requirement; Navitlal was used to construe the section's two-fold requirement.
Bhagabat Patnaik and others v. Madhusudhan Panda and others, AIR 1965 Orissa 11 Illustrations to a statute must be read subject to the parent provision; to amount to waiver there must be evidence showing intention to treat the lease as subsisting. The Court adopted Barman, J.'s statement that illustration (b) must be read subject to the governing parent provision; used to support the view that mere second notice is insufficient without evidence of intention.
Dewan Basheshwar Nath Sarin v. The Delhi Improvement Trust, 1953 Punjab 243 (Division Bench) Held that unless circumstances show a new tenancy was created after the expiry of the first notice, a subsequent notice to quit is of no effect; relied on Loewenthal. The Court noted that in Basheshwar Nath the second letter was not a formal notice and observations were partly obiter, but the decision had been relied upon to support the principle that a second notice does not automatically waive the first.
Muralidhar Kulthia v. Smt. Tara Dye, AIR 1953 Cal. 349 Under Section 113, waiver requires the landlord's act showing intention to treat the lease as subsisting and the tenant's consent; a subsequent demand for possession did not show such intention. Quoted with approval to show that a subsequent notice or demand which is in effect a demand for possession does not indicate an intention to treat the lease as subsisting; used to reject appellant's contention.
Mohanlal v. Vijai Narain and another, AIR 1961 Raj 136 Contained a brief observation that giving a second notice to quit is a waiver of the first notice as far as the person giving it is concerned (followed by caveats regarding the consent of the person to whom notice is given). The Court treated this Single Bench observation as either obiter or distinguishable on facts (first notice was held bad in that case) and rejected reliance on it as laying down a general rule contrary to the weight of authority.
Harihar Banerji and others v. Ramshahi Roy and others, 45 IA 222 (and cited AIR 1981 P.C. 102) Indicated that principles governing notices to quit under Section 106 (Transfer of Property Act) are similar in England and India; English authorities are relevant. The Court relied on the proposition that English authorities (such as Loewenthal) are relevant and persuasive for construing Section 113 in India.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court proceeded in two interrelated steps: (1) statutory interpretation of Section 113 and its illustration (b); and (2) application of that interpretation to the facts of the case.

1. Interpretation of Section 113:

  • The Court emphasized the plain text of Section 113: waiver of a notice under Section 111(h) occurs "with the express or implied consent of the person to whom it is given, by any act on the part of the person giving it showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting." The Court extracted a two-fold requirement from this language: (a) an act by one party showing intention to treat the lease as subsisting, and (b) express or implied consent by the other party. Both elements must be present; waiver is not a unilateral act.
  • The Court held that illustrations are subordinate to the parent provision. An illustration cannot be read so as to be repugnant to the statutory text; illustrations must be read in harmony with the main section.
  • Focusing on illustration (b), the Court analyzed the phrase "A gives to B as lessee a second notice to quit" and concluded that the key word is "as": the second notice must be given to the addressee in the capacity of a lessee. If the second notice is directed to a trespasser, a wrongful occupant, or a person holding over after termination, it is not "as lessee" and the illustration does not apply.
  • The Court relied on precedent (Navitlal, Loewenthal, Bhagabat Patnaik, Muralidhar) to reinforce the interpretation that a tenancy determined by notice is not revived by anything short of a new tenancy — that is, a mutual intention (express or implied) to continue the lease must be inferable from the facts; a mere second notice is typically insufficient.
  • The Court treated the Single Bench observation in Mohanlal as either obiter or factually distinguishable and declined to accept it as laying down a contrary rule.

2. Application to the facts:

  • The Court examined Exhibits P.2 and P.3 and found they did not show an intention by the landlord to treat the lease as subsisting. On the contrary, those documents reaffirmed the landlord's position that the tenancy had been terminated on 31 December 1967 and framed subsequent communications as demands for possession and claims for damages (including an enhanced claim for wrongful use and occupation).
  • The landlord had refused money orders tendered by the tenant (for December 1967–January 1968 and later for December 1967–June 1968), characterizing the tenders as misconceived and insisting on damages. This conduct was inconsistent with treating the lease as subsisting.
  • There were no other circumstances apart from the giving of subsequent notices from which any inference of intent to continue the lease could be drawn. The totality of evidence pointed against the existence of mutual intention or consent required by Section 113.
  • Accordingly, on the facts the Court concluded that the tenancy had validly terminated on 31 December 1967 (the date in the first notice), and the subsequent notices did not amount, by themselves, to a waiver of the first notice.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Full Bench reached the following conclusions:

  • Answer to the principal question: The mere issuance of a second or third notice to quit, by itself, does not amount to a waiver of the first notice under Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act. Waiver requires (a) an act by the party giving notice showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting and (b) the express or implied consent of the person to whom the notice was given.
  • Outcome in this case: The Court affirmed the judgment and decree of the first appellate court (which held the tenancy terminated with effect from 31 December 1967) and dismissed the appellant's appeal with costs.

Implications:

  • Direct effect on the parties: The tenant's appeal was dismissed and the appellate court's decree (holding the tenancy terminated on 31 December 1967 and awarding the enhanced recovery) was affirmed. The tenant therefore could not rely on the second or third notice alone to argue continuation of tenancy.
  • Legal clarification: The decision clarifies and applies Section 113 by requiring evidence of a bilateral intention (or acts from which such mutual intention can be inferred) before treating a previously given notice to quit as waived. The Court relied on Indian and English authorities to construe the provision harmoniously with established principles that a tenancy determined by notice is not revived by mere subsequent notices absent additional circumstances showing a new tenancy.
  • The Court declined to treat a brief or fact-specific Single Bench dictum (Mohanlal) as overriding weightier authority and statutory text.

This summary is confined strictly to the material and rulings contained in the provided opinion. It does not add facts or authorities beyond those expressly cited in the opinion.

    Shivjit Singh, . v. Charan Singh,

    Man Mohan Singh Gujral, J. - The main point for determination in this appeal relates to the interpretation of Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act. Before considering the point involved few necessary facts may be noticed. The plaintiff-respondent Charan Singh the landlord of the premises in dispute served a notice on the defendant-appellant on 22nd November, 1967 asking him to vacate the premises by 31st December, 1967. As the premises were not vacated by the due date a second notice was served on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises within a week failing which he would have to pay Rs. 100.00 p.m. as damages for wrongful use and occupation of the premises in addition to agreed rent of Rs. 92 p.m. This notice was also ignored and Charan Singh gave a third notice on 7th August, 1968 asking the tenant to vacate the premises by the end of September, 1968. As no action was taken on this notice either, ultimately a suit was filed by the landlord for the possession of the premises and for Rs. 2,044 as rent and damages. The suit was resisted by the tenant and one of the pleas raised by him was that the landlord was only entitled to rent at the rate of Rs. 92 p.m. and could not claim any addition amount. On the basis of this plea the following issues was framed. "Is the plaintiff entitled to recover additional money of Rs. 100 p.m. from 18.1.1958 onwards ?" The trial Court came to the conclusion that the tenancy came to an end with effect from 30th September, 1968 and not from 31st December, 1967 and that the landlord was only entitled to recover damages at the rate of Rs. 184 p.m. from 1st October, 1968. The landlord took an appeal and the only question which was canvassed before the appellate Court was with regard to the date from which the tenancy came to an end. On behalf of the landlord it was contested that the tenancy had come to an end with effect from 31st December, 1967 while on the other hand it was urged by the tenant that it expired on 30th September, 1968. The contention of the landlord prevailed and consequently the decree of the trial Court was modified to the extent that the plaintiff was granted a decree for Rs. 777 more. 2. The main question raised in the present appeal is whether mere giving a second notice by the landlord has the effect of waiving the first notice or a tenancy cannot be revived by anything short of a new tenancy for the creation of which there must be an express or implied agreement to that effect. 3. In order to appreciate the point involved it is necessary to make a reference to the relevant provision. "113. A notice given under Section 111, clause (h), is waived, with the express or implied consent of the person to whom it is given, by any act on the part of person giving it showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting. Illustrations (a) x x x x (b) A the lessor, give B, the lessee, notice to quite the property leased. The notice expired, and B remains in possession. A give to B as lessee a second notice to quit. The first notice is waived." On the basis of Bhagabat Patnaik and others v. Madhusudhan Panda and others, AIR 1965 Orissa 11 and Dewan Bhasheshar Nath Sarin v. The Delhi Improvement Trust, 1954 ILR (PB) 149, it was contended on behalf of the respondent that illustration (b) to Section 113 must be read subject to the parent provision in the section requiring that there must be evidence showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting and that where a notice to quite has been given a subsequent notice to quit is of no effect unless there are other circumstances on the record to show that a new tenancy has been created after the expiry of the first notice. On the other hand, it was canvassed on behalf of the appellant that having regard to illustration (b) to Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act mere giving of a second notice amounted to waiver of the first notice so far as the person giving the first notice was concerned. Support for this argument was sought from Mohanlal v. Vijai Narain and another, AIR 1961 Rajasthan 136. 4. In the Division Bench authority of this court in Dewan Basheshwar Nath Sarin's case, reliance was placed on the following observations of Denning, J., in Loewenthal v. Vanhouts, 1947(1) A.E.R. 116, for coming to the conclusion that unless that there are circumstances to show that a new tenancy has been created after the expiry of the first notice, a subsequent notice to quit was of no effect and did not amount to waiver. "In my opinion, the law is well settled now that, when a forfeiture of a lease is incurred, the lease is voidable and not void, and in those circumstances the giving of a notice to quit may recognise the subsistence of the lease and may, therefore, waive the forfeiture, but in the case where a tenancy is determined by a notice to quite, the position is entirely different." No doubt, the above observations support the case of the respondent but it may be mentioned here that in Dewan Basheshar Nath Sarin's case it was found as a fact that the second letter was really not a notice but was only reply to the request of the lessee for the grant of one year's grace which was refused and thereafter fifteen days were given to the lessee to quite. As the second notice in Dewan Basheshar Nath Sarin's case was not a valid notice within the meaning of clause (h) of Section 111, the observations were more in the nature of obiter. 5. Recently, the question was considered by the Supreme Court in Tyabali Jaffarbhai Tankiwala v. Messrs Asha and Co. and another, 1970 RCR 150 (S.C.) and the following observations were made - "If only the language of the illustration were to be considered, as soon as the second notice was given the first notice would stand waived. Counsel for the appellant has relied on the observation of Denning, J., (as he when was) in Loewenthal v. Vanhouts, 1947 IAER 116, that where a tenancy is determined by an notice to quit it is not revived by anything short of a new tenancy and in order to create a new tenancy there must be an express or implied agreement to that effect and further that a subsequent notice to quit is of no effect unless, with other circumstances, it is the basis for inferring an intention to create new tenancy after the expiration of the first. The Privy Council in Harihar Benerji and others v. Ramsashi Roy and others, 45 IA 222, had said that the principles governing a notice to quit under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act were the same in England as well as in India. For the purpose of the present case it is wholly unnecessary to decide whether for brining about a waiver under Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act a new tenancy by an express or implied agreement must come into existence. All that need be observed is that Section 113 in terms does not appear to indicate any such requirement and all that has to be seen is whether any act has been proved on the part of the present appellant which shows an intention to treat the lease as subsisting provided there is an express or implied consent of the person to whom the notice is given." From the above observations it would appear that the point with which we are concerned in this case was not finally decided but the observations made by Gorver, J., who delivered the judgment, lend support to the contention of the learned Counsel for the appellant that Section 113 does not indicate that a new tenancy by express or implied agreement must come into existence before the first notice would stand waived. From the above observations of the Supreme Court it also follows that all that has to be established under Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act is that the landlord has by his act shown an intention to treat the lease as subsisting provided there was an express or implied consent of the person to whom the notice was given. 6. Though in Tyabali Jaffarbhai Tankiwala's case the Supreme Court did not consider it necessary to interpret the true scope of illustration (b) to section 113, but having regard to the observations made by Grover, J., in that case it will be necessary to further consider the view taken by this Court in Dewan Basheshar Nath Sarin's case and to examine, in the light of the observations of the Supreme Court, whether considering the language of illustration (b) to Section 113 the mere giving of a second notice will have the effect of waiving the first notice. 7. For the reasons stated above and considering that the question involved is of considerable importance it is directed that the papers be laid before my Lord the Chief Justice for constitution of a larger Bench. Order of the Full Bench Sandhawalia, J. - "Will the issuance of a second or third notice to quit the leased property, by the lessor to the lessee, per se amount to a waiver of the first such notice within the meaning of Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act ?" 9. This is the primary legal question which arises for determination in this regular second appeal which is before the Full bench on a reference. The point arises from facts which are neither complicated nor in serious dispute. 10. Charan Singh plaintiff-respondent is the landlord of the premises in dispute and he served the notice Exhibit P.1 dated the 22nd of November, 1967, on Shivjit Singh, defendant-tenant, directing him to vacate the leased premises by the 31st of December, 1967 without fail. The tenant ignored the notice and continued to remain in occupation. Consequently, the landlord issued the second notice Exhibit P.2 dated the 5th of January, 1968, directing the house be vacated within one week of the receipt of the said notice, otherwise the defendant would be liable to pay a sum of Rs. 100/- per mensem towards the use and occupation thereof besides the agreed rent of Rs. 92/- per mensem till the date it is vacated. However, the tenant again ignored the second notice as well as on the 7th of August, 1968, the landlord issued a third notice Exhibit P.3 reiterating his earlier two notices and demanding that he should vacate the house by the 30-th of September, 1968, without fail. No response having been made to this notice either, the plaintiff-landlord ultimately filed a suit for the possession of the premises and for the recovery of Rs. 2,044/- as rent and damages for the use and occupation of the property. 11. The suit was resisted by the defendant tenant inter alia on the ground that no valid notice was served upon him for terminating the tenancy and that the plaintiff was not entitled to recover any damages or enhanced rent for use and occupation. He stated his willingness to pay the agreed rent of Rs. 92/- which was alleged to be the prevailing rent in locality for similar accommodation and also made claims in regard to the electricity and water charges etc. On these pleadings the following issues were framed :- 1. Has the tenancy been terminated by means of a valid notice ? 2. Is the plaintiff-entitled to recover additional money of Rs. 100/- p.m. from 18.1.1968 onwards ? 3. Is the defendant entitled to make adjustment of Rs. 86/- on account of electricity charges etc., as claimed ? 4. Relief. The trial Court held on the material issue No. 2 that the tenancy had terminated with effect from the 30th of September, 1968, which was the date mentioned in the third notice Exhibit P.3. Consequently it held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover damages at the rate of Rs. 184/- per month for the use and occupation of the premises in question with effect from that date. In the result he passed a decree in favour of the plaintiff-respondent for possession of the premises in question and for the recovery of Rs. 1,104/- with proportionate costs. The plaintiff landlord went up in appeal before the District Judge and the sole question which was argued there, as also before us and the learned referring Judge, is whether the tenancy had terminated with effect from the 31st of December, 1967, in accordance with the terms of the first notice Exhibit P.1 or on the 30th of September, 1968, which was the date mentioned in the third notice Exhibit P.3. The District Judge, disagreeing with the trial Court, held that the tenancy had in fact been terminated with effect from the date in the first notice, that is, the 31st of December, 1967. Consequently he granted a decree for the recovery of Rs. 777/- more in favour of the plaintiff-respondent with costs on this amount throughout. The defendant tenant is now the appellant in this appeal. 12. The argument on the basic legal issue raised by Mr. Malook Singh, learned Counsel for the defendant-appellant, is that giving of the subsequent two notices (in particular Exhibit P.3 irrespective of the contents thereof) amounts to waiver of the first notice Exhibit P.1. Reliance of the learned counsel is on illustration (b) of Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and on those premises it is contended that the defendant-tenant having remained in possession the same must be deemed to be permissive till September 30, 1968, as mentioned in the last notice Exhibit P.3. 13. As the argument centres around Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act and, in particular, around illustration (b) thereof, it is necessary to notice the provisions thereof :- "113. A notice given under Section 111, clause (h), is waived with the express or implied consent of the person to whom it is given, by any act on the part of the person giving it showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting. Illustration. (a) .... ...... ..... ..... (b) A, the lessor give B, the lessee, notice to quit the property leased. The notice expired, and B remains in possession. A gives to B as lessee a second notice to quite. The first notice is waived." Adverting first to the plain language of the body of the section abovesaid, it is evident that the crucial element from which a waiver of the earlier notice may be implied is the intention of the parties. This is particularised as an intention to treat the lease as a subsisting one. A two-fold requirement is visualised, namely, an act of one party showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting and the express or implied consent of the other party. It is, evident, therefore, that the intention to treat the lease as subsisting has not to be merely a unilateral one but has to be bilaterally. At one particular point of time, there must exist a mutual intention of the lessor and the lessee to continue the lease despite its earlier determination by a notice under Section 111(h) of the Act. Equally clear it is from the language of the provision itself that this intention may be inferred from conduct (i.e., it need not necessarily be express) or as the statute says from any act of the party. Similarly, the consent of the other party may be express or implied. This construction flows from the plain language of the section and is supported by the Division Bench authority of Stone, CJ. and Kania, J. in Navitlal Chunilal v. Baburao and another, AIR 1945 Bombay 132. Therein Kania, J. (as his Lordships then was) observed as follows :- "The structure of Section 113 is entirely different. It is expressly provided that there must be the consent of the person to whom property was given on lease to bring about a waiver off the notice to quite. On the side of the landlord it is provided that he must do an act showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting. It is, therefore, clear that under Section 113 there has to be an agreement between the two parties, and the waiver of a notice to quit cannot be brought about by an action either of the tenant alone or of the landlord alone." Stone, CJ. has this to say on the point - "..... ............... ............ ........ and, in my judgment,there is a fundamental difference between a waiver of a forfeiture, which is a matter which can be done at the election of the landlord alone, and what is inaccurately referred to as the waiver of a notice to quit, which can only proceed on the basis that the landlord and tenant are ad idem in making a new agreement. The difference is well stated in the following passage in Woodfall's `Law of Landlord and Tenant'. ............................... To repeat for purpose of emphasis, the crucial thing, therefore, require by the statute is the intention to treat the lease as subsisting by one party and an express or implied consent thereto by the other. It is obvious that the mere giving of a second notice by itself is of no great consequence except for the purpose of arriving at and determining the intention of the parties. It is, therefore, evident that the language of the section itself gives no support or aid to the contention on behalf of the appellant that the mere issuance of second or third notice will amount to the waiver on the first notice. Indeed the statute negatives any such contention. 14. However, the primary reliance of the appellant is on illustration (b) quoted above. As already noticed, had the section stood alone, there was no foundation for the appellant's contention. Nevertheless a closer analysis of illustration (b) relied upon will show that it can hardly advance the case of the appellant. The crucial thing in the sentence "A gives to B as lessee a second notice to quit" appears to be the word `as'. It is only if the lessor gives the second notice recognising the lessee as such that illustration (b) would come into play. It is the legal character of the person to whom the second notice is given which is of significance. If the notice purports to be given to a trespasser, or a person in wrongful occupation, or one holding over after the due termination of the lease, then it is not a notice as a lessee and consequently illustration (b) would not be attracted. 15. Added to the above, is the settled rule of construction that it is the provisions of the section themselves which partake of the dominant character whilst the illustrations to a section are elaborations of the principle laid down therein. There is no manner of doubt that the illustrations appended to a section by the legislature itself are a very valuable guide to the interpretation thereof. Nevertheless an illustration cannot run counter to or be repugnant to the section itself. Indeed there is high authority for holding that in an extreme and special case, an illustration may be rejected on the ground of its absolute repugnancy to the section itself. No such repugnancy arises in the present case but it is obvious that, according to the rule of harmonious construction, illustration (b) must be read in the light of the language of the section itself and, if necessary, be controlled thereby. This view finds full support from the following observations of Barman, J., in Bhagabat Patnaik and others v. Madhusudhan Panda and others, AIR 1965 Orissa 11 :- "The phrase `showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting' in Section 113 is clear to indicate that to amount to waiver there must be evidence of such intention. The parent provision of section 113 containing the said phrase requires that there must be evidence showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting. The illustrations must be read subject to this parent provision in the section itself. Thus viewed illustration (b) on which the plaintiffs rely is subject to the governing provision of the section itself, namely that there must be evidence `showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting." A reference is also made hereafter to the authoritative observations of their Lordships of the Supreme Court in this context. 16. Before adverting to the authorities bearing directly on the point what first deserves notice in Navitlal's case (supra) is that Kania, J. in categorical terms observed as follows :- "It was contended that Section 113, Transfer of Property Act, made the Indian Law different from the English law. In my opinion, there is no substance in that contention." And again - "It was contended that section 116 made a difference in the Indian law. That argument, in my opinion, is unsounded." There is then the authoritative pronouncement in Harihar Banerji and others v. Ramshahi Roy and others, AIR 1981 P.C. 102, holding that the principles governing the construction of a notice to quit laid down by English cases are equally applicable to cases arising in India. It is evident, therefore, that English authorities on the point are relevant and of considerable assistance. Indeed in Navitalal's case, their Lordships placed reliance on a number of English case. On the present issue, the ratio in Loewenthal v. Vanhoute and another, 1947 All England Law Reports 116 is directly applicable. The express point raised in that case also was that by giving of a second notice by the solicitors of the landlord, the earlier notice to quit stood waived. Repelling this contention Denning, J., observed as follows :- "In this case, the tenancy was determined on September 21, 1946, the notice to quit having been given, a new tenancy can be created only by an express or implied agreement. A subsequent notice to quite is of no effect unless other circumstances form the basis for inferring a new tenancy having been created after the expiry of the first notice. Applying that test in the present case, it is plain that there was no agreement, express or implied or to be inferred for any new tenancy. The tenancy expired on September 21. On September 23, the tenants offered rent. It was refused. That showed plainly that the landlord was to going to create a new tenancy, and the mere fact that a solicitor, in order not get possession, gave another notice to quit, is not, in my judgment, any reason for inferring any agreement for a new tenancy." The abovesaid observations are on all fours with the present case and this judgment was expressly relied upon by the Division Bench of this Court in Basheshar Nath v. Delhi Improvement Trust, 1953 Punjab 243, in holding that merely because a second notice was given the first notice cannot be deemed to have been waived. However, it must in fairness to the appellant be noticed that this judgment does not expressly mention Section 113 of the Transfer of Property Act though the allusion in the judgment is apparently to the said provision. Also there is an observation in the case on facts that the second notice was not really a notice to quit but a reply to a request of the lessee, for the grant of one year's grace which was refused. 17. Though their Lordships had left the matter open in Tayabali Jaferbhai Tankiwala v. Messrs Ashan and Co. and others, AIR 1971 SC 102, nevertheless the tenor of observations therein tends to lend massive support to the contention on behalf of the respondent and there appears to be a tacit approval of the reasoning in Loweenthal's case (supra). After referring expressly to illustration (b) to Section 113, it was observed as follows :- "If only the language of the illustration were to be considered as soon as the second notice was given, the first notice would stand waived. Counsel for the appellant has relied on the observations of Denning, J., (as he then was) in Loewenthal v. Vanhoute, 1947(1) KB 342, that where a tenancy is determined by a notice to quit, it is not revived by anything short of a new tenancy and in order to create a new tenancy there must be an express or implied agreement to that effect and further that a subsequent notice to quit is of no effect unless, with other circumstances, it is the basis for inferring an intention to create a new tenancy after the expiration of the first." The observations of Bachawat, J. in Muralidhar Kulthia v. Smt. Tara Dye, AIR 1953 Cal. 349, repelling a similar if not identical argument, as is being raised on behalf of the appellant, are in these terms :- "The notice to quit by the end of October, 1944 was served on the defendant on the 4th October, 1944. I have no doubt that this notice is a valid notice to quit. It is contended by the defendant that the notice to quit has been waived by service of the notice dated 2.11.1944 whereby the plaintiff demanded possession. In my judgment, this contention is unsound. Under Section 113, Transfer of Property Act, there can be waiver of notice to quit with the express or implied consent of the tenant by any act on the part of the landlord showing an intention to treat the lease as subsisting. The letter dated 2.11.1944 does not show any intention to treat the lease as subsisting. It is a demand for possession. It is not a notice to quit in terms of Section 106, Transfer of Property Act. It does not show that the defendant could remain rightfully in possession after the expiry of October, 1944." Similar view has been expressed by Barman, J. in the authority already referred to in Bhagabat Patnaik's case, which is in the following terms :- "The law is down well settled that where a tenancy is determined by a notice to quit, it is not revived by anything short of a new tenancy and in order to create a new tenancy there must be an express or implied agreement to that effect. A subsequent notice to quit is of no effect unless, with other circumstances, it is the basis for inferring an intention to create a new tenancy after the expiration of the first. The mere facts that the tenant continues in possession and a suit is not instituted are insufficient. The relevant passage in Woodfall on Landlord and Tenant (26th Edition) at page 1004 is also in the same line as stated thus :- "Generally speaking, giving a second notice to quit does not amount to a waiver of a notice previously given unless, with other circumstances, it is the basis for inferring an intention to create a new tenancy after the expiration of the first." The only authority, on which some reliance was placed on behalf of the appellant by Mr. Malook Singh, learned Counsel for the appellant, is the Single Bench judgment in Mohanlal v. Vijai Narain and another, AIR 1961 Raj 136. Reliance was placed on the following brief observation of Modi, J., who after quoting illustration (b) to Section 113 says :- "There is no doubt that the giving of a second notice to quit is a waiver to the first notice so far as the person giving notice is concerned. The only question which then arises is as to the consent express or implied of the person to whom the notice is given." That case, however, is first distinguishable on facts. In fact, the learned Judge, came to the finding that the first notice was bad in law and, therefore, no issue of the waiver thereof arose. Further on a close reading of the authority, I find myself unable to hold that the brief observation above quoted, on which reliance is placed by the learned Counsel, is indeed the ratio of the said case. In view of the clear finding that the first notice was bad in law and consequently no issue of waiver arose, these observations would appear to be obitor. Further these brief observations cannot be construed to mean as laying down that the mere giving of a second notice without more would necessarily amount to waiver of the first notice. No reasons have been sated nor any authority has been cited in this judgment for the observations abovesaid. However, if this judgment is construed as laying down any such inflexible proposition, then, with great respect, the view taken seems to run counter to the weight of the authority and I would, therefore, regretfully dissent from the same. 18. Summing up, therefore, on the construction of the language of section 113, on principle as well as on authority, the answer to the legal question posed at the very beginning of this judgment must be returned in the negative. 19. Once the legal issue abovesaid is resolved in favour of the respondent, the matter in this case is essentially simple. It is well settled that the intention to treat the lease as subsisting is, in the ultimate analysis, a question of fact to be inferred from the totality of circumstances in each case. In the present case, far from there being any such intention to treat the lease as subsisting, everything in fact points to the contrary. It first deserves notice that there is no other circumstances apart from the giving of subsequent notices Exhibits P.2 and P.3, from which any inference in favour of the tenant could possibly be taken. Now a reference to the contents of these two notices would show that the landlord categorically took the position that the lease stood determined with effect from December 31, 1967, which was the date mentioned in the first notice Exhibit P.1. Exhibit P.2 subsequently was a demand for possession within a week coupled with the claim that the tenant would be liable to pay a sum of Rs. 100/- per month over and above the pre-existing charge of Rs. 92/- for the use and occupation of the said house. The clear inference therefrom is that the landlord stood by his position that the tenancy had been determined and thereafter a heavily enhanced amount would be claimed as damages for use and occupation. 20. In this context that followed is of equal significance. The defendant tenant then sent a Money Order for Rs. 184/- in January, 1968 purporting to be the rent for the month of December, 1967 and January, 1968. This was refused by the plaintiff-landlord. Another attempt was made by the defendant-tenant who sent a Money Order for Rs. 633.40 p. as rent for the period of December, 1967 to June, 1968, which was also refused. Similarly the tenor of Exhibit P.3 is even more firm and categorical on the point of the previous determination of the tenancy. Expressly therein it is mentioned that the landlord had refused to accept the rent tendered by the tenant by Money Orders basically on the ground that the tenancy stood terminated and the claim was to be for damages for use and occupation thereof. The offer of the rent through Money Orders was characterised in the notice both as misconceived and as clever device on the part of the tenant. In terms the landlord stated that he stood by the first and second notices served by him on the defendant and that if the defendant did not vacate forthwith, the same would be entirely at his risk as to the costs and consequences thereof. It is evident, therefore, that the landlord was relentless in his resolve to stick to the determination of the tenancy made by his first notice, Exhibit P.1. 21. An argument half-heartedly pressed by Mr. Malook Singh, learned Counsel for the appellant, was that the use of the word `rent' alongwith damages for use and occupation by the landlord in Exhibits P.2 and P.3 may be taken as suggestive of the continuation of the tenancy. I am wholly unable to agree. There is no magic in the use of the word `rent' when the clearest intention of the landlord was to claim compensation for the wrongful use and occupation of the property after the determination of the tenancy. When the landlord was claiming as much as a sum of Rs. 192/- only for use and occupation instead of the earlier agreed rent of Rs. 92/-, it was evident that he was not visualising the continuation of the tenancy. What in fact was being claimed was damages for wrongful use and occupation. It must, therefore, be held that on the facts of the present case there was no intention on the part of the landlord to treat the tenancy as subsisting. The same, therefore, must be held to have been determined validly on December 31, 1967. 22. Consequently the judgment and decree of the first appellate Court must be affirmed and this appeal be dismissed with costs. Appeal dismissed.

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