Full Judgment Text
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CASE NO.:
Appeal (civil) 7091 of 2001
PETITIONER:
Narayan Chandra Ghosh & Others
RESPONDENT:
Kanailal Ghosh & Others
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 16/11/2005
BENCH:
B.N.AGRAWAL & A.K.MATHUR
JUDGMENT:
J U D G M E N T
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 7092 OF 2001
Narayan Chandra Ghosh \005..Appellant
Versus
Kanailal Ghosh & Others \005.Respondents
B.N.AGRAWAL, J.
These appeals by the defendants arise out of common judgment
rendered by the High Court in second appeals.
The short facts are that the plaintiffs filed two suits, viz., Title Suit
Nos. 125 of 1978 and 146 of 1977 for eviction of defendants. Both the suits
relate to eviction of defendants from different portions of a house. The former
suit related to eviction from three rooms and the latter from one room. In both
the suits, the plaintiffs were thika tenants whereas defendants were Bharatias.
The grounds for eviction disclosed in the suits were default, causing nuisance
by the defendants and bona fide need of the plaintiffs for the premises in
question as number of their family members had substantially increased.
When the suits were filed, The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949 (hereinafter
referred to as ’the 1949 Act’) was in force. During the pendency of the
aforesaid suits, The Calcutta Thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act,
1981 (hereinafter referred to as ’the 1981 Act’) was promulgated and as,
according to the plaintiffs, the said suits abated under Section 19 of the 1981
Act, the plaintiffs filed another suits giving rise to Title Suit Nos. 35 of 1983
and 22 of 1983 for eviction of defendants from the aforesaid four rooms
stating therein the same grounds for eviction.
Defendants contested the claim for eviction on grounds, inter alia, that
the subsequent suits were not maintainable as earlier suits did not abate
under Section 19 of the 1981 Act. They denied all the grounds for eviction.
In support of their respective cases, both the parties led oral and
documentary evidence and upon conclusion of trial, the learned Munsiff held
that the suits were maintainable as the earlier suits abated under Section 19
of the 1981 Act. So far as the grounds for eviction are concerned, the trial
court decreed the suits only on the ground of bona fide necessity as, in its
opinion, the plaintiffs failed to prove the other grounds. Challenging the
decrees of the trial court, when appeals were preferred, the lower appellate
court upheld the decree for eviction in relation to three rooms but reversed the
same in relation to one room and thereby dismissed suit for eviction in relation
to the same. Against the aforesaid decision, two appeals were preferred
before the High Court, one by the plaintiffs and other by the defendants. High
Court upheld decision of the lower appellate court affirming eviction decree in
relation to three rooms. So far as decree of the lower appellate court
dismissing the eviction suit in relation to one room is concerned, the same has
been reversed and the decree for eviction in relation to same passed by the
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trial court has been restored. Hence, these appeals by special leave.
Mr. Bhaskar Prasad Gupta, learned Senior Counsel appearing in
support of the appeals raised various points but for the disposal of the
appeals, only two points are relevant. Firstly, it has been submitted that
earlier two suits filed by the plaintiffs did not abate under Section 19 of the
1981 Act, as such both the suits were liable to be dismissed on the ground
that the same were not maintainable. Secondly, it has been submitted that
the High Court was not justified in interfering with the finding of fact in relation
to one room in a second appeal. On the other hand, Mr. S.B.Sanyal and Mr.
Vijay Hansaria, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondents in their
respective appeals, submitted that present suits were maintainable as earlier
two suits abated under Section 19 of the 1981 Act. Mr. Vijay Hansaria,
appearing in support of the judgment of the High Court in relation to one
room, submitted that the High Court was quite justified in reversing judgment
rendered by lower appellate court and confirming the decree for eviction
passed by the trial court.
Thus, the main question to be considered in the present appeals is as
to whether the earlier suits abated under Section 19 of the 1981 Act? In this
regard, it would be necessary to refer to the history of the legislation. The
1949 Act was enacted for making better provision relating to the law of
landlord and tenant in respect of thika tenancies in Calcutta. The expression
"thika tenant" has been defined under Section 2(5) of the 1949 Act to mean a
person who holds a land under a lease or otherwise under another person on
payment of rent and has erected structure thereon or acquired by purchase or
gift any structure on such land for residential, manufacturing or business
purpose. The expression "Bharatia" has been defined under Section 2(1) of
the 1949 Act to mean any person by whom, or on whose account, rent is
payable for any structure or part of a structure erected by a thika tenant in his
holding. Under Section 3 of 1949 Act, three grounds for eviction of Thika
tenant have been enumerated, namely, (I) using the holding in such a manner
so as to render it unfit; (II) bona fide necessity of the landlord for the holding;
and (III) in a case of lease, other than for residential purpose, expiry of the
period of lease. Under Section 5 of the 1949 Act, procedure has been
provided for eviction of thika tenant by the landlord by filing an application for
ejectment before Controller appointed by the State Government as defined
under Section 2(2) of the 1949 Act. At this stage, it would be useful to refer to
the provisions of Sections 2(1), 2(2), 2(5), 3 and 5 of the 1949 Act which read
thus:
"2(1) "Bharatia" means any person by whom, or on whose
account, rent is payable for any structure or part of a structure
erected by a Thika tenant in his holding.
2(2) "Controller" means an officer appointed as such by the
State Government for an area to which this Act extends and
includes any officer appointed by the State Government to
perform all or any of the duties imposed or to exercise all or any
of the powers conferred by this Act, on the Controller.
2(5) "thika tenant" means any person who holds, whether
under a written lease or otherwise, land under another person,
and is or but for a special contract would be liable to pay rent, at
a monthly or at any other periodical rate, for that land to that
another person and has erected or acquired by purchase or gift
any structure on such land for a residential, manufacturing or
business purpose and includes the successors in interest of
such person, but does not include a person \026
(a) who holds such land under that another person in
perpetuity; or
(b) who holds such land under that another person under a
registered lease, in which the duration of the lease is
expressly stated to be for a period of not less than twelve
years; or
(c) who holds such land under that another person and uses
or occupies such land as a khattal.
3. Grounds on which a thika tenant may be ejected. \026
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for
the time being in force or in any contract, a thika tenant shall,
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subject to the other provisions of this Act, be liable to ejectment
from his holding on one or more of the following grounds and
not otherwise, namely:-
(i) on the ground that he has used the land comprised in his
holding in a manner which renders it unfit for any of the
purposes mentioned in clause (5) of section 2;
(ii) except during any period limited by a registered lease
under which a thika tenant may hold the land comprised
in the holding and subject to the provisions of sub-
sections (2), (3) and (4), on the ground that the land is
required by the landlord for his own occupation;
(iii) when he holds the land comprised in the holding under a
registered lease for a purpose other than a residential
purpose, on the ground that the term of the lease has
expired.
(2) No landlord shall be deemed to require the land
comprised in the thika tenant’s holding for his own occupation
if he has a house of his own in the city in which such land is
situated and the accommodation available in such house is, in
the opinion of the Controller, reasonably sufficient for him and
his family.
(3) Where the landlord requires the land comprised in the
thika tenant’s holding for his own occupation and the
Controller is of opinion that such requirement may be
substantially satisfied by ejecting the thika tenant from a part
only of his holding and allowing him to continue in occupation of
the rest, then, if the thika tenant agrees to such occupation,
the Controller shall make an order accordingly and fix the
proportionate rent for the portion remaining in the occupation of
the thika tenant.
(4) Where the thika tenant has erected or acquired a pucca
structure for a residential purpose on the land comprised in his
holding, no order for ejectment shall be made against him
except in respect of such part, if any, of such land as does not
appertain to the pucca structure.
5. Proceedings for ejectment. \026 (1) Notwithstanding
anything contained in any other law for the time being in force a
landlord wishing to eject a thika tenant on one or more of the
grounds specified in section 3 shall apply in the prescribed
manner to the Controller for an order in that behalf and, on
receipt of such application, the Controller shall, after giving the
thika tenant a notice to show cause within thirty days from the
date of service of the notice why the application shall not be
allowed and after making an inquiry in the prescribed manner
either allow the application or reject it after recording the
reasons for making such order, and, if he allows the application,
shall make an order directing the thika tenant to vacate the
holding and, subject to the provisions of section 10, to put the
landlord in possession thereof.
(2) No order allowing an application under sub-section (1)
shall be made in a case where compensation is payable under
the proviso to section 4 unless and until the amount of
compensation so payable has been either paid to the thika
tenant or deposited with the Controller."
It may be also useful to refer to the provisions of Sections 10 and 10A of
the 1949 Act which read thus:
"10. Consequences of the determination of interests of
thika tenants in certain cases. \026 (1) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in any contract, on the
determination of the interest of a thika tenant in the land
comprised in a holding as a result of ejectment from the holding
of, or of surrender or abandonment of the holding by, the Thika
tenant, or otherwise, any structure standing upon such land and
existing on the date of such determination shall vest in the
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landlord.
(2) When any structure standing on any holding of a Thika
tenant vests in the landlord under sub-section (1) otherwise
than as a result of ejectment of the Thika tenant from the
holding on the ground specified in clause (ii) of sub-section (1)
of section 3, any Bharatia in possession of such structure or any
part thereof, shall without any application being made be
entitled to continue in such possession and shall be deemed to
be a tenant in respect of such structure or part thereof, as the
case may be, within the meaning of the West Bengal Premises
Tenancy Act, 1956, holding under the landlord on the terms and
conditions on which such Bharatia had been holding
immediately before such structure vested in the landlord:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent
either the landlord or such Bharatia so deemed to be a tenant
holding under the landlord, from proceeding under the West
Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956, for fixing the standard rent
payable in respect of such structure or part thereof, as the case
may be.
10A. Right of thika tenant to erect pucca structures. \026 (1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the
time being in force or in any contract, but subject to the
provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3), a thika tenant using the
land comprised in his holding for a residential purpose may
erect a pucca structure on such land for such purpose with the
previous permission of the Controller.
(2) On an application made by a thika tenant in this behalf,
the Controller may grant him permission to erect a pucca
structure, if the Controller is satisfied that the thika tenant \026
(a) is using the structure existing on the land comprised in
his holding for a residential purpose,
(b) intends to use the pucca structure to be erected on such
land for a similar purpose, and
(c) has obtained sanction of a building plan to erect the
pucca structure from the municipal authorities of the
area in which such land is situated.
(3) No thika tenant shall be entitled to eject a Bharatia from
the structure or part thereof in the possession of the Bharatia for
the purpose of erecting a pucca structure :
Provided that the thika tenant may by providing
temporary alternative accommodation to a Bharatia obtain from
him vacant possession of the structure in his possession on
condition that immediately on the completion of the construction
of the pucca structure the thika tenant shall offer the Bharatia
accommodation in the pucca structure at a rent which shall in
no case exceed by more than twenty-five per centum the rent
which the Bharatia was previously paying."
Section 10(1) of the 1949 Act lays down that upon ejectment of a thika
tenant, his interest in the holding shall be determined and the structures
standing thereon shall vest in the landlord. Sub-section (2) of Section 10 of
the 1949 Act lays down that in case the order of eviction is on grounds (i) and
(iii) of Section 3(1) of 1949 Act, in that eventuality, the Bharatia who is in
possession of the structure shall be entitled to continue in such possession
and shall be deemed to be a tenant in respect of such structures within the
meaning of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 ( in short ’the
Premises Tenancy Act’) in which he is residing and shall be holding the same
under the landlord on the terms and conditions on which such Bharatia had
been holding immediately before the structures vested in the landlord. Under
proviso to Section 10(2) of the 1949 Act, the landlord or the Bharatia would be
entitled to make an application for fixation of standard rent in respect of such
structure under the provisions of the Premises Tenancy Act and to that extent
only the provisions of the said Act were made applicable. According to sub-
section (3) of Section 10A of the 1949 Act no thika tenant shall be entitled to
eject a Bharatia from the structure for the purpose of erecting a pucca
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structure but in case he intends to erect pucca structure, in the premises in
which a Bharatia is residing, he is required to provide temporary alternative
accommodation to the Bharatia before obtaining possession for the purposes
of putting pucca structure thereon and after completion thereof, such Bharatia
shall be entitled to be put in possession of the pucca structure on payment of
rent which shall in no case exceed more than 25% of the rent which the
Bharatia was previously paying.
From the aforesaid provisions, it becomes plain that under the 1949 Act,
procedure was specifically provided for ejectment of a thika tenant by making
an application for ejectment before the Controller but not for ejectment of a
Bharatia by a thika tenant. For ejectment of a Bharatia, only a suit for
ejectment could be filed by a thika tenant before a Civil Court in case, he
wanted to evict a Bharatia. As Legislature of the State of West Bengal was
contemplating legislation providing therein for the acquisition of interest of
landlords in respect of lands comprised in thika tenancy and certain other
tenancies, pending its enactment, a further legislation was enacted which was
named The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Stay of Proceedings (Temporary
Provisions) Act, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as ’the 1978 Act’) which came
into force on 19th July, 1978 and continued to remain in force for a period of
three years and six months from the date of its commencement. This
legislation was enacted to provide for temporary stay of proceedings for
ejectment of thika tenants and Bharatias holding under thika tenants. It
would be necessary to refer to the provisions of Sections 3,4 and 5 of the 1978
Act which read thus:-
"3. Stay of proceedings for ejectment of Thika tenants. -
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Calcutta Thika
Tenancy Act, 1949, or in any other law for the time being in
force, -
(a) all applications for ejectment of Thika tenants,
(b) all appeals from orders made on such
applications, and
(c) all proceedings in execution of orders for
ejectment of Thika tenants.
under the provisions of the Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949,
which are pending at the date of commencement of this Act or
which may be made, preferred or commenced after such date
but before the expiry of this Act, in respect of any land which is
not a ’vacant land’ within the meaning of the Urban Land
(Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, shall be stayed for the
period during which this Act continues in force.
4. Stay of suits and proceedings against Bharatias. \026 No
thika tenant shall, while this Act continues in force, commence,
or continue with, any suit, appeal or proceedings in execution of
orders, for ejectment of any Bharatia and all pending suits,
appeals or proceedings in execution of orders, for ejectment of
a Bharatia shall remain stayed.
5. Saving of limitation. \026 In computing the period of limitation
prescribed by any law for the time being in force for an
application for the ejectment of a thika tenant or for such a suit
against a Bharatia or for an appeal from an order or decree
made on such application or suit or for the execution of an order
or decree for ejectment of a Thika tenant or a Bharatia, as the
case may be, the period during which this Act continues in force
shall be excluded."
Under Section 3 of the 1978 Act, all proceedings for ejectment of thika
tenant initiated under the 1949 Act, irrespective of its stage, meaning thereby
whether it was pending before the original authority or in appeal or in
execution, were required to be stayed during the period of enforcement of the
1978 Act and no further proceeding could be initiated after its commencement.
Under Section 4 of the 1978 Act a thika tenant was injuncted to commence
any proceeding or continue such proceeding for ejectment of any Bharatia and
all such proceedings if commenced stood stayed. Section 5 of the 1978 Act
provided that in computing the period of limitation for making an application for
ejectment of a thika tenant or for filing a suit against a Bharatia or for filing an
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appeal or for levying execution of an order or decree for ejectment of a thika
tenant or a Bharatia, as the case may be, the period during which 1978 Act
continued to remain in force had to be excluded.
Immediately after the 1978 Act expired, The Calcutta Thika Tenancy
(Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 1981 (hereinafter referred to as ’the 1981
Act’) was enacted which came into force with effect from 18th January, 1982.
The said Act was enacted for the acquisition of interests of landlords in respect
of lands comprised in thika tenancy and certain other tenancies. According to
Section 5 of the 1981 Act, with effect from the date of commencement of said
Act, interest of the landlords in lands, inter alia, comprised in and appurtenant
to tenancies of thika tenants including open areas, roads, passages, tanks,
pools and drains vested in the State free from all incumbrances but the vesting
did not in any manner affect rights enjoyed by thika tenants and Bharatias. By
virtue of Section 6 of the 1981 Act, in spite of vesting, the thika tenant was
entitled to continue in occupation of the said land, on such terms and
conditions as may be prescribed, directly under the State as if the State had
been the landlord in respect of that land and he would be liable to pay land
revenue directly to the State. Under Section 7 of the 1981 Act, a thika tenant
was not entitled to let out the vacant land to anybody but could create lease in
respect of the structures. The landlords were entitled to compensation for the
lands acquired by the State of West Bengal in the manner provided under
Section 8 of the 1981 Act. Section 9 of the 1981 Act lays down that monthly
and other periodical tenancies of Bharatias in respect of structures occupied
by them on payments of rent to the thika tenants shall, with effect from the
date of coming into force of 1981 Act, i.e., 18th January, 1982, be governed by
the provisions of Premises Tenancy Act and for the said purpose, owners of
the structures shall be deemed to be landlords and Bharatias shall be deemed
to be tenants under the said Act. Section 11 of the 1981 Act lays down that
tenancy of Bharatia as a tenant under thika tenant shall not be extinguished
because of subsequent non-existence of the structure which the Bharatia
previously occupied under the thika tenant and its tenancy shall continue.
According to Section 19 of the 1981 Act, all proceedings for ejectment of thika
tenants and Bharatias shall stand abated with effect from 19th day of July,
1978 as if such proceedings had never been made. It may be useful to refer to
the provisions of Sections 9, 11 and 19 referred to above which read thus:
"9. Thika tenants and Bharatias to be governed by West
Bengal Act 12 of 1956 . \026 (1) The monthly and other periodical
tenancies of Bharatias in respect of structures occupied by
them on payment of rents to Thika tenants shall, with effect
from the date of coming into force of this Act, be governed by
the provisions of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956,
in all matters coming within the purview of the said Act and, for
the said purpose, the owners of the structures shall be deemed
to be landlords and the Bharatias shall be deemed to be
tenants under the said Act.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or
in the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956, a Bharatia
under a Thika tenant shall be entitled to take separate electrical
connection from the electricity supplying agency or separate
water supply connection from the appropriate agency for his
own use.
11. Tenancy of Bharatia to continue. \026 (1) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time
being in force, the tenancy of a Bharatia as a tenant under a
thika tenant shall not be extinguished because of subsequent
non-existence of the structure or a part thereof which the
Bharatia previously occupied under the thika tenant.
(2) If any structure or part thereof which was in the
occupation of a Bharatia as a tenant under a thika tenant
ceases to exist except under an order of a court under section
18A of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956, the thika
tenant shall reconstruct similar accommodation and restore
possession to the Bharatia and put the Bharatia in possession
of such accommodation within one month of such structure
ceasing to exist, failing which the Bharatia may make an
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application to the Controller in the prescribed manner.
(3) On an application made by the Bharatia under
sub-section (2), the Controller shall, after giving the thika tenant
and the Bharatia an opportunity of being heard, direct the thika
tenant to reconstruct similar accommodation and restore
possession to the Bharatia within such time as Controller may
decide.
(4) If the thika tenant fails to comply with the orders
of the Controller under sub-section (3), the Bharatia shall be
entitled to reconstruct the structure and, for that purpose, may
make an application to the Controller who shall, after giving the
Bharatia and the thika tenant an opportunity of being heard,
approve such cost of reconstruction as may appear to him to be
fair and reasonable and, after such reconstruction, allow
adjustment of the cost of such reconstruction from the rent
payable by the Bharatia in such monthly instalments as the
Controller may think fit.
(5) If there is any unlawful resistance by or on behalf
of the thika tenant to the reconstruction by the Bharatia under
sub-section (4), the Officer-in-charge of the local police station
shall, on receipt of any requisition of the Controller in writing in
this behalf, render all necessary and lawful assistance to the
Bharatia .
19. Proceedings including appeals and proceedings in
execution of orders, etc. to abate . \026 All proceedings
including appeals and all proceedings in execution of orders
passed in proceedings including appeals under the Calcutta
Thika Tenancy Act, 1949, pending on the 19th day of July,
1978, for the ejectment of thika tenants and Bharatias shall
stand abated with effect from the 19th day of July, 1978, as if
such proceedings, appeals or execution proceedings had never
been made."
In view of the aforesaid provisions, now the question to be examined is
as to whether in the present case, the earlier suits for ejectment filed by the
thika tenants for ejectment of Bharatias abated under Section 19 of the 1981
Act? Under 1949 Act, procedure was provided for ejectment of a thika tenant
only and no procedure whatsoever was prescribed for ejectment of a Bharatia
by a thika tenant. Therefore, a suit for ejectment could be filed by a thika
tenant for ejectment of a Bharatia before an ordinary civil court and such
Bharatia during the continuance of 1949 Act was not entitled to claim
protection under the Premises Tenancy Act and could be evicted upon
determination of his tenancy by giving a notice under Section 106 of the
Transfer of Property Act. Under 1981 Act, it has been specifically provided
that Bharatias are entitled to claim protection of the Premises Tenancy Act
meaning thereby that now they cannot be evicted unless grounds for eviction
enumerated under the Premises Tenancy Act are proved and they cannot be
ejected merely upon determining their tenancy by giving a notice under
Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act.
Section 9 of the 1981 Act specifically lays down that from the date of
coming into force of 1981 Act, i.e., 18th January, 1982, the tenancies of
Bharatias shall be governed by the Premises Tenancy Act. On that date, both
the suits earlier filed by the thika tenants for ejectment of Bharatias were
pending and when the same were filed, it was not required of the thika tenant
to prove the grounds for eviction enumerated under the Premises Tenancy
Act, but with effect from 18th January, 1982 even in those suits a thika tenant
was required to prove grounds for ejectment under the Premises Tenancy Act
in case it is held that the same did not abate.
Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants has
placed reliance upon three decisions of Calcutta High Court in the case of
Ranjit Kumar Saha v. Sudhir Kumar Dey 91 Calcutta Weekly Notes 1071,
Ranjit Kumar Saha v. Sudhir Kumar Dey 91 Calcutta Weekly Notes 1090
and Mrs. Qaiser Jahan v. Mohammad Yawoob 1982 (2) Calcutta Law
Journal 143. In these three decisions, it has been laid down that the
provisions of Section 19 of the 1981 Act shall apply only in relation to those
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suits for eviction which were filed before the Controller under the provisions of
1949 Act and were pending on the date of commencement of 1981 Act. It was
further laid down therein that the said provisions shall have no application to
the suits for ejectment filed before the civil court by a thika tenant for
ejectment of a Bharatia and pending on the date of commencement of 1981
Act. In none of these three cases, the provisions of Sections 9 and 11 of the
1981 Act have been considered. In case it is held that such suits would not
come within the mischief of Section 19 of the 1981 Act, the provisions of
Section 9 of the 1981 Act would not apply to it although expressly Section 9
provides that from the date of commencement of 1981 Act, i.e., 18th January,
1982, the provisions of the Premises Tenancy Act would apply to Bharatias.
Such suits cannot be effectively disposed of after the commencement of 1981
Act as earlier it was not necessary to prove the grounds for eviction
enumerated under the Premises Tenancy Act and the Bharatia would be
thereby denied the protection granted to him under the Premises Tenancy Act
although he was entitled to such protection even in pending suits. This being
the position, we are clearly of the view that suits for ejectment filed by the thika
tenants for ejectment of Bharatias which were pending before a civil court
abated under Section 19 of the 1981 Act, as such High Court was quite
justified in holding that the present suits were maintainable.
Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants next
submitted that the High Court was not justified in reversing the finding of fact
recorded by the lower appellate court that plaintiffs failed to prove the bona
fide necessity in relation to one room. In this regard, it may be stated that from
the judgment of the High Court, it would appear that the lower appellate court
affirmed finding of the trial court in relation to personal necessity of the
plaintiffs with regard to three rooms which finding was assailed by the
defendants before the High Court. The building is one in which eviction was
sought by the plaintiffs from four rooms and evidence is also common. While
considering correctness of finding of the lower appellate court in relation to
three rooms, High Court came to the conclusion that the plaintiffs were having
only two rooms and they required in all seven rooms, meaning thereby that
they required five more rooms and in those circumstances, it was held that the
plaintiffs succeeded in proving their case in relation to bona fide necessity with
regard to all the four rooms, including one room for which eviction was refused
by the lower appellate court. In view of the aforesaid facts, we are not inclined
to interfere with the impugned judgment rendered by the High Court even with
regard to eviction of the defendants from one room, in the exercise of powers
of this Court under Article 136 of the Constitution of India.
In the result, the appeals fail and the same are dismissed but in the
circumstances of the case, we direct that there shall be no order as to costs.