Khalil
Ahmed Bashir Ahmed Vs. Tufelhussein Samasbhai Sarangpurwala [1987] INSC 334 (13
November 1987)
MUKHARJI,
SABYASACHI (J) MUKHARJI, SABYASACHI (J) OZA, G.L. (J)
CITATION:
1988 AIR 184 1988 SCR (1)1057 1988 SCC (1) 155 JT 1987 (4) 342 1987 SCALE
(2)1034
CITATOR
INFO : D 1988 SC1845 (21) RF 1989 SC1642 (36)
ACT:
Presidency
Small Causes Courts Act, 1882: Section 41- Suit for ejectment-Question whether
occupant a licensee/tenant-Intention of the parties to the agreement decisive
consideration-Lease and license-Distinction between.
Transfer
of Property Act, 1882: Sections 105 and 108- Lease and license-Distinction
between-Interest in immovable property entitling transferee to enjoyment
created-Effect of-Whether agreement creates relationship of landlord/tenant or
licensor/licensee-Intention of parties-Decisive consideration.
Practice
& Procedure: High Court-Jurisdiction of- Whether entitled to interfere with
view of Trial Court which is a possible and plausible one merely because
another view is attractive.
HEADNOTE:
%
The appellant, who was stated to be a monthly tenant of the suit premises,
entered into an agreement, which was described as an agreement of 'leave and
licence', with the respondent on 9th February, 1965 and the respondent and the
appellant were described therein as licensor and licensee respectively. It was
stated in the agreement that the licensor was seized of the premises in dispute
as a monthly tenant and gave and granted 'leave and license' to the licensee to
use and occupy the said premises for a period of five years, merely for the
purpose of workshop business, at a monthly compensation of Rs.225 that the
licensor shall be entitled to terminate the agreement and cancel and revoke and
withdraw the leave and licence granted earlier and to take possession forthwith
of the said premises if the licensee committed any default of any terms and
conditions or failed to pay the compensation for two months or if the licensee
at any time put up false or adverse claim of tenancy or sub-tenancy, that the
licensee shall pay the electric charges in respect of consumption of
electricity and the rent of the said premises should be paid by the licensor
only, and that the licensor shall have the full right to enter upon the
premises and inspect the same at any time.
1058
In November 1970, the respondent filed an ejectment proceedings against the
appellant under section 41 of the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882. It
was contended by the appellant that there was sub-tenancy by the respondent in
his favour as monthly tenant.
The
trial court passed a decree and ordered the appellant to vacate the premises
holding that the agreement was for leave and licence and that the appellant was
a licensee and not a subtenant.
On
the case being remanded by the Supreme Court in a Special Leave Petition filed
by the respondent against the earlier decision of the High Court, allowing the
appellant's special civil application, the High Court upheld the order of the
Court of Small Causes, and ordered eviction of the appellant.
In
the Special Leave Petition against the aforesaid decision, it was contended
that the document in question read as a whole was a lease and not a license.
Dismissing
the appeal by special leave, ^
HELD:
1.1 If a interest in immovable property entitling the transferee to enjoyment
was created, it was lease; if permission to use land without exclusive
possession was alone granted, a licence was the legal result. [1067D-E]
1.2
In determining whether an agreement creates between the parties the
relationship of landlord and tenant or merely that of licensor and licensee,
decisive consideration is the intention of the parties. [1068B-C] In view of
the intention of the parties in the document and the facts and circumstances of
the instant case, it was a licence and not a lease. This is clear from the
language used and the restrictions put upon the use of the premises in question
by the appellant. In the document in question the expression
"licence" was introduced and clause (2) said that it was only for the
business purposes. The licence fee was fixed. It permitted user only for 20
hours. Restriction in the hours of work negates the case for lease. Clause (12)
gives to the licensor right to enter upon the premises and inspect the same at
any time. [1067E-F] 1059
1.3
Where two views are possible and the trial court has taken one view which is a
possible and plausible view merely because another view is attractive, the High
Court should not interfere and would be in error in interfering with the
finding of the trial court or interfering under Article 227 of the Constitution
over such decision. [1068E- F] H. Maniar and others v. Woman Laxman Kudav,
[1977] 1 S.C.R. 403; Miss Mani J. Desai v. M/s. Gayson & Co. Pvt. Ltd. 73
Bombay Law Reporter 394; Associated Hotels of India Ltd. v. R.N. Kapoor, [1960]
1 S.C.R. 368; Mrs. M.N. Clubwala and another v. Fida Hussain Saheb and others,
[1964] 6 S.C.R. 642 at page 653; Sohanlal Naraindas v. Laxmidas Raghunath
Gadit, 68 Bombay Law Reporter 400; Sohan Lal Naraindas v. Laximdas Raghunath
Gadit, [1971] 3 S.C.R. 319;
Qudrat
Ullah v. Municipal Board, Bareilly, [1974] 2 S.C.R. 530; Booker v. Palmer,
[1942] 2 All ER 674 at 676, 677;
Venkatlal
G. Pittie & Anr. v. M/s. Bright Bros. (Pvt) Ltd., [1987] 2 scale 115; M/s.
Beopar Sahayak (P) Ltd. & others v. Shri Vishwa Nath & 5 others,
[1987]2 scale 27; Satyanaryan Laxminarayan Hegde and others v. Mallikarjun
Bhavanappa Tirumale, A.I.R. 1960 S.C. 137 and Halsbury's Laws of England.,
Fourth Edition, Volume 27 page 13, referred to.
Civil
Appellate Jurisdiction: Civil Appeal No. 1377 of 1982.
From
the Judgment and Order dated 17.11.1980 of the Bombay High Court in Special
Civil Appeal No. 251 of 1977.
F.R.
Nariman, E.K. Jose, P.H. Parekh and Miss Sunita Sharma for the Appellant. Y.H.
Muchhala, B.R. Aggarwala and Miss. S. Manchanda for the Respondent. The
Judgment of the Court was delivered by SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, J. This appeal by
special leave arises from the judgment and order of the High Court of Bombay
dated 17th of November, 1980. The main question involved in this appeal is
whether the appellant was a licensee or a tenant and also incidentally the
question whether the Court of Small Causes, Bombay had jurisdiction to deal
with the eviction petition in this case. The premises in question belong to the
Bombay City Weavers Cooperative Limited. They filed ejectment proceedings
against one 1060 Sugrabhai Mohammed Husain, their tenant and obtained a decree.
It is stated that the appellant was a monthly tenant of the suit premises since
about 2nd February, 1965. On or about 9th of February, 1965 a fresh document of
that date, was executed and it is alleged that the appellant continued by
virtue of that agreement. It is alleged that this agreement was entered into
between the parties since the respondent wanted to charge more rent or mesne
profits. This agreement is in writing and this was for a period of five years,
i.e., from 1st September, 1965 to 31st of August, 1970. The main contention
involved in this appeal is whether the appellant was a tenant or a licensee?
The answer would be dependent upon the construction of the aforesaid document.
It is necessary, therefore, to refer to the said agreement in little detail.
The agreement is described as an agreement of 'leave and licence' entered into
between the respondent on the one hand and the appellant on the other wherein
the respondent had been described as the 'licensor and the appellant had been described
as the licensee' and the recitals therein recite that the licensor was seized
and possessed of and was otherwise well entitled as the monthly tenant of the
workshop premises situated at 231, Ripon Road, Cooperative Building, Bombay,
being the premises in dispute, and whereas the licensee had approached the
licensor to allow him to occupy and use the said premises for the purpose of
carrying out his business of workshop for a period of five years and whereas
the licensor had agreed to allow the licensee to use the premises under the
said leave and licence of the licensor for a period of five years from 1st of
September, 1965 till 31st of August, 1970, that agreement was being executed.
it was stated that the licensor gave and granted his 'leave and licence' to the
licensee to use and occupy the said premises for the period of five years.
Clause 2 of the said agreement recites that the licensee had agreed to use the
premises as above and merely for the purpose of workshop business. It further
goes on to state that the "licensee shall not under any circumstances be
allowed to use the premises for the residential purposes or any other purpose
save and except specified therein". The period of leave and licence was to
commence from 1st of September, 1965 to 31st of August, 1970 and it was further
submitted that the licensee and the licensor shall not terminate the said
agreement earlier save and except on the ground of breach of any of the terms
and conditions written therein. The licensor was entitled to terminate the
agreement earlier notwithstanding the fact that the period of the agreement
might not have expired. It further stipulated that the licensee should deposit
a sum of Rs.2,500 for the due performance of the terms and conditions of the
agreement. The said deposit was to be kept free of interest and the same was to
be refunded to the 1061 licensee on the licensee surrendering possession of the
said premises by removing himself and his belongings on the expiry of the
period of the agreement or sooner termination or determination thereof after
deducting all the dues if any for payment of compensation. It further
stipulated that the licensee shall pay to the licensor a monthly compensation
of Rs.225 per month. It is further stipulated that the licensee would be
entitled to keep the keys of the said premises with him and shall be at liberty
to work in the said premises for twenty hours subject to restriction of rules
and regulations imposed by the Municipal or any other local authority or
authorities. It is further provided that the licensee shall be alone
responsible and liable for any breach or contravention of any rule or
regulation of the said authorities and he shall indemnify the licensor there for.
The
document further stipulated that the licensee shall be at liberty to construct
loft and electric fittings and apparatus and tools and shall be entitled to the
ownership thereof and shall be free to carry away such articles and the
licensor agreed and undertook that he shall not obstruct the removing of such
articles at the time of the delivery of the possession of the said workshop. It
is further mentioned in the said agreement that it was agreed by the licensee
that if he commits any default of any terms and conditions or fails to pay the
compensation for two months or if the licensee at any time puts up false or
adverse claim of tenancy or sub-tenancy the licensor shall be entitled to
terminate the agreement and cancel and revoke and withdraw the leave and
licence granted earlier and shall be entitled to take possession forthwith of
the said premises. It is further stipulated that the licensee shall pay the
electric charges in respect of consumption of electricity and the rent of the
said premises should be paid by the licensor only. The agreement recited that
the licensee shall not allow any other person to use and occupy the said
premises and shall not do any unlawful or illegal business therein.
The
agreement further recited that the licensor shall have the full right to enter
upon the premises and inspect the same at any time. In setting out the terms of
the agreement the emphasis has been supplied to the relevant clauses to
highlight the points in controversy.
On
or about 9th November, 1970, the respondent herein filed an ejectment
proceeding against the appellant under section 41 of the Presidency Small Cause
Courts Act, 1882.
It
is well to refer to section 41 of the said Act which is in Chapter VII and
deals with summons against person occupying property without leave and provides
that when any person has had possession of any immovable property situate
within the local limits of the Small Cause Court's jurisdiction and of which
the annual value at rack-rent did not exceed two 1062 thousand rupees, as the
tenant, or by permission, of another person, or of some person through whom
such other person claims, and such tenancy or permission has been determined or
withdrawn then a suit can be filed by a summons against the occupant calling
upon him to show cause therein. It was only when the person was in occupation
by permission of the grantor that after the recovery of the permission a suit
for possession could have been instituted under section 41 of the said Act.
On
or about 9th of November, 1970 the owner of the premises filed an ejectment
proceeding against one Sugrabhai Mohammed Husain and obtained a decree. The
trial Judge in the instant case passed a decree in ejectment petition filed by
the respondent and ordered the appellant to vacate the premises before 31st of
January, 1975. Before the Judge, Court of Small Causes the points of defences
were filed in which the appellant had stated that the application was not
maintainable and the plaintiff was himself occupying the premises under one
Sugrabhai Mohammed Husain who himself had adopted ejectment proceedings against
the respondent. The appellant was contending that he was a direct tenant of the
respondent. Without prejudice to the above contention it was contended by the
appellant that the respondent was not the owner of the workshop and also denied
that he had given the workshop to respondent for conducting business. The submission
was that there was sub-tenancy by the respondent in favour of the appellant as
a monthly tenant of the business with the articles and machinery belonging to
the appellant and not to the respondent. On those grounds it was contended that
ejectment proceedings was liable to be rejected.
It
was recorded by the court with the expression "B.C", a term of some
ambiguity as explained later, that the appellant was not claiming protection as
a sub-tenant under the Rent Act but only the subtenancy as such and therefore,
it was recorded that as agreed 'B.C'. no preliminary issue was to be framed.
The learned Judge, noted that the only point that arose for consideration was
whether the appellant proved that he was a sub-tenant as such or not. It is
interesting to note that in the judgment of the Small Cause Court and also of
the High Court at several places the expression "B.C." was used; this
is intriguing as we find that it intrigued Vaidya, J. because he stated in his
judgment dated 9th of December, 1975 what the expression "B.C." was
meant by Court. He recorded further that he thought that "B.C." meant
'by consent'. The learned Judge recorded further that it was practice in the
Court of Small Causes, Bombay of using the expression 1063 "B.C.".
The said learned Judge, however, observed that the use of the words in the
paragraph which we have stated hereinbefore made the entire paragraph
meaningless. We could not agree more.
In
order to go back to the findings of the learned Judge of the Court of Small
Cause and the learned High Court Judge found that the appellant had failed to
prove that he was a sub-tenant of the respondent and the learned Judge found
him to be a licensee. On an analysis and examination of evidence recorded and
in the background of the documents in question the learned Judge came to the
conclusion factually that it was an agreement for leave and licence and the
appellant was a licensee and not a sub-tenant. It was an agreed position as the
learned Judge noted that the respondent therein was a tenant of the entire suit
premises and had produced a rent receipt for the month of April, 1971 for a
monthly rent of Rs.56.25 p.m. inclusive of municipal taxes and had also
produced light bill for the period 20.10.65 and 19.11.65. The learned Judge
observed that from the evidence it would be seen that it was not the case of
the appellant even that he had gone to occupy the suit premises any time before
that date and the dispute started only from the date of the agreement. In the
light of the legal position and also the fact that the rent, light bill stood
in the name of the respondent showed that there was no desire to create any
lease by the document mentioned hereinbefore and the appellant regarded him as
a mere licensee. There was no error of fact as such on that. To this finding
our attention was drawn and great reliance was placed. To go back to the
narration of events, the appellant filed special civil application in the High
Court of Bombay under Article 227 of the Constitution. The High Court of Bombay
allowed the special civil application on 9th December, 1975. Thereafter in 1977
a special leave petition to this Court under Article 136 of the Constitution
was filed being S.L.P. No. 274/77 and an order was passed in Civil Appeal No.
2181 of 1977 by which the case was sent back to the High Court for a fresh
decision, keeping in view the decision of this Court in D.H. Maniar and others
v. Waman Laxman Kudav, [1977] 1 S.C.R. 403. Thereafter the High Court
disallowed the special civil application by its order dated 17th of November,
1980.
That
decision was a case where the appellants therein had granted a licence in
respect of certain shop premises in Bombay to the respondent under a Leave and
Licence Agreement which expired on 31st March, 1966. Thereafter the appellants
had served a notice upon the respondent calling upon him to remove himself from
the said premises. The respondent refused to do so. In July, 1967 the
appellants 1064 filed an application for eviction under section 41 of the
Presidency Small Cause Courts Act. The contention of the respondent that he was
a tenant was negative by the Small Cause Court, Bombay. The respondent
approached the High Court under Article 227 of the Constitution. The High Court
refused to interfere with the finding of the Small Cause Court that the
respondent was a licensee and not a tenant.
The
Bombay Rent Act was amended by Maharashtra Act 17 of 1973. By the amending Act,
sections 5(4A) and 15A were introduced in the parent Act to confer on the
licensee, who had a subsisting agreement on February 1, 1973, the status and
protection of a tenant under the Bombay Rent Act.
The
respondent in that case by an amendment had taken the plea of protection under
the Maharashtra Amendment Act 17 of 1973 on the ground that he was in occupation
of the premises on 1st February, 1973 under a subsisting agreement for licence.
The Small Cause Court, Bombay negative the plea on the ground that there was no
subsisting agreement for licence on the 1st of February, 1973 as there was
nothing on record to show that after 31st March, 1966 the leave and licence
agreement between the parties was renewed or any fresh agreement was entered
into. The respondent had filed a revision petition under section 115 of C.P.C.
in the High Court. The High Court allowed the revision on the ground that the
licence was not put an end to by the appellants and that in any event by filing
the application for eviction the appellant licensor had granted an implied
licence to the respondent licensee to continue in possession till a decree of
eviction was passed in his favour. This Court allowing the appeal held that in
order to get the advantage of section 15A of the Bombay Rent Act, the occupant
must be in occupation of the premises as a licensee as defined in section 5(4A)
on the 1st of February, 1973. If he was such a licensee, the non-obstante
clause of section 15A(1) give him the status and protection of a tenant in
spite of there being anything to the contrary in any other law or in contract.
But if he was not a licensee under a subsisting agreement on the 1st of
February, 1973, then he did not get the advantage of the amended provision of
the Bombay Rent Act. It was further held that a person continuing in possession
of the premises after termination, withdrawal or revocation of the licence
continued to occupy it was a trespasser or a person who had no semblance of any
right to continue in occupation of the premises. Such a person could not be
called a licensee at all. It was futher held that a person continuing in occupation
of such premises after revocation of the licence was still liable to pay
compensation or damages for its use and occupation. It was further held that
filing an application under section 41 of the 1065 Presidency Small Cause
Courts Act might in certain circumstances have the effect of putting an end to
the licence if it was subsisting on the date of its filing. But that cannot
possibly have the effect of reviving the licence as opined by the learned
Judges. Such a proposition of law, it was further concluded by this Court, was
both novel and incomprehensible. It was further held that it was right that the
Court should act in consonance with the spirit of the Maharashtra Amending Act
17 of 1973, but the Court cannot and should not cast the law to the winds or
twist or stretch it to a breaking point amounting to almost an absurdity. It
was observed that the finding of the High Court that the respondent was in
occupation of the premises under a subsisting licence was wholly wrong and
suffered from serious infirmities of law and fact and deserved to be set aside.
The
High Court disallowed the special civil application under Article 227 of the
Constitution on 17th of November, 1980 and that is the judgment impugned in
this appeal. The High Court in the judgment under appeal noted that if it was
held that the document created a lease rather than a licence than the tenant
would be entitled to protection. The Bombay High Court in Miss Mani J. Desai v.
M/s. Gayson & Co. Pvt. Ltd., 73 Bombay Law Reporter 394 had held that the
Court of Small Causes would have no jurisdiction to proceed with the
application filed under section 41 of the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act.
The learned Judge rejected the contention of the appellant that he was a tenant
and having found that the period of licence had come to an end, he passed an
order of eviction against the appellant. The High Court in the judgment under
appeal noted the facts mentioned hereinbefore by this Court in the decision of
D.H. Maniar and allowed the appeal. This decision was remanded back to the High
Court and it was directed that the appellant should be heard afresh in
accordance with law because in a previous decision Vaidya, J. by the judgment
dated 9th of December, 1975 as mentioned hereinbefore had allowed the
appellant's appeal.
The
learned Judge referred to the several decisions and background of the facts and
affirmed the decision of the learned trial judge that the payment to be made to
the respondent for the use and occupation was compensation and not rent. The
High Court affirmed the decision of this Court and upheld the order of the
Court of Small Causes and ordered eviction.
In
support of this appeal Sree R.F. Nariman very laboriously took us through the
documents. He submitted that the document in question in the instant case read
as a whole was lease and not a licence. He referred us to the decision of this
Court in the case of Associated 1066 Hotels of India Ltd. v. R.N. Kapoor,
[1960] 1 S.C.R. 368 where at page 383 this Court noted that there was a marked
distinction between a lease and a licence. Section 105 of the Transfer of
Property Act, 1882 defined a lease of immovable property as a transfer of a
right to enjoy such property made for a certain time in consideration of a
price paid or promised. Under section 108 of the said Act, the lessee is
entitled to be put in possession of the property.
A
lease involves a transfer of an interest in land, Subba Rao, J. as the learned
Chief Justice then was, observed in that case. This Court referred to the
well-known decision in the case of Errington v. Errington, [1952] 1 All E.R.
149 where Lord Denning reviewing the case law on the subject summarized the
position as follows:
"The
result of all these cases is that, although a person who is let into exclusive
possession is, prima facie, to be considered to be tenant, nevertheless he will
not be held to be so if the circumstances negative any intention to create a
tenancy." The Court of Appeal in England again in Cobb v. Lane, [1952] 1
All E.R. 1199 considered the legal position and laid down that the intention of
the parties was the real test for ascertaining the character of a document.
Somervell, L.J., had observed:
"...
The solution that would seem to have been found is, as one would expect, that
it must depend on the intention of the parties." Denning, L.J. also
reiterated the same decision. Reviewing these decisions Denning, L.J. had
observed at page 384 of the report (1) that to ascertain whether a document
created a licence or lease, the substance of the document must be preferred to
the form; (2) the real test was the intention of the parties-whether they
intended to create a lease or a licence; (3) if the document created an
interest in the property, it is a lease; but if it only permitted another to
make use of the property, of which the legal possession continued with the
owner, it was a licence; and (4) if under the document a party got exclusive
possession of the property, prima facie, he was considered to be a tenant; but
circumstances might be established which negative the intention to create a
lease.
Mr.
R.F. Nariman very strenuously relied on the decision of this Court in Mrs. M.N.
Clubwala and another v. Fida Hussain Saheb and 1067 others, [1964] 6 S.C.R. 642
at page 653. This Court emphasised the if the exclusive possession to which a
person was entitled under an agreement with a landlord was coupled with an
interest in the property, the agreement would be construed not as a mere
licence but as a lease. Mr. Nariman's point was that the facts of the case were
identical to the facts of the present case. Our attention was drawn to a
decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of Sohanlal Naraindas v. Laxmidas
Raghunath Gadit, (68 Bombay Law Reporter 400) where Tarkunde, J. Observed that
the intention of the parties and exclusive possession were important elements.
This decision was approved in appeal by this Court in Sohan Lal Naraindas v.
Laxmidas Raghunath Gadit, [1971] 3 S.C.R. 319 where this Court reiterated that
the test of exclusive possession was important point. He drew our attention to
the observations of Shah, C.J. at page 321 of the Report. Reliance was also
placed on the observations of Krishna Iyer, J. in the decision of Qudrat Ullah
v. Municipal Board, Bareilly, [1974] 2 S.C.R. 530 where at page 533 of the
report Krishna Iyer, J. Observed that there is no simple litmus test to
distinguish a lease as defined in section 105, Transfer of Property Act from
licence as defined in section 52 of the Easements Act, but the character of the
transaction turns on the operative intent of the parties. To put precisely if
an interest in immovable property entitling the transferee to enjoyment was
created, it was a lease; if permission to use land without exclusive possession
was alone granted, a licence was the legal result. we are of the opinion that
this was a licence and not a lease as we discover the intent. For this purpose
reference may be made to the language used and the restrictions put upon the
use of the premises in question by the appellant. In the document in question
the expression "licence" was introduced and clause (2) said that it
was only for the business purposes. The licence fee was fixed.
It
permitted user only for 20 hours. Restriction in the hours of work negates the
case for a lease. Clause (12) is significant which gave to the licensor the
right to enter upon the premises and inspect the same at any time. In our
opinion the background of the facts of this case and the background of the
entire document negate the contention of the appellant that it was a lease and
not a licence.
good
deal of submission was made before us that if it was a lease and not a licence,
then this point could be taken in aid of the submission that the Court had to
jurisdiction, and there was no estoppel. It was contended that estoppel was a
plea in equity and that there was no equity in favour of the respondent. We
were invited to embark upon the traded field of estoppel and equity and very
many learned passages from judgments of eminent Judges of Calcutta, Bombay and
1068 of this Court were cited. But in this case we had not been tempted. Our
attention was drawn to several decisions but in the view we have taken we
cannot say that the view taken by the High Court or the Court of Small Causes
was incorrect.
It
was a possible view. That is sufficient for us.
The
distinction between leave and licence has been well summarised in Halsbury's
Laws of England, Fourth Edition, Volume 27 page 13. In determining whether an
agreement creates between the parties the relationship of landlord and tenant
or merely that of licensor and licensee the decisive consideration is the
intention of the parties. Lord Greene MR had observed this in Booker v. Palmer,
[1942] 2 All ER 674 at 676,677. This is a salutary test.
The
intention here is manifest. In any event this is a possible view that could be
taken. This Court in Venkatlal G. Pittie & Anr. v. M/s. Bright Bros. (Pvt).
Ltd., [1987] 2 Scale 115 and M/s. Beopar Sahayak (P) Ltd. & others v. Shri
Vishwa Nath & 5 others, [1987] 2 scale 27, held that where it cannot be
said that there was no error apparent on the face of the record, the error if
any has to be discovered by long process of reasoning, and the High Court
should not exercise jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution.
See
in this connection the observations of this Court in Satyanarayan Laxaminarayan
Hegde and others v. Mallikarjun Bhavanappa Tirumale, A.I.R. 1960 S.C. 137.
Where two views are possible and the trial court has taken one view which is a
possible and plausible view merely because another view is attractive, the High
Court should not interfere and would be in error in interfering with the
finding of the trial court or interfering under Article 227 of the Constitution
over such decision.
In
the aforesaid view of the matter, we are clearly of the opinion that in view of
the intention of the parties in the document and the facts and circumstances of
this case, it was a licence and not a lease. We need not detain ourselves with
the question of estoppel upon which very interesting arguments were advanced
before us by Mr. Nariman is noted above.
In
the aforesaid view of the matter this appeal must fail as we find no ground to
interfere with the decision of the High Court. The appeal fails and is dismissed.
In the facts and circumstances, there will be no order as to costs.
1069
In view of the fact that the appellant has been carrying on business for some
time, we give the appellant time upto 31st March, 1988 to give up and deliver
vacant possession provided the appellant files the usual undertaking with the
Registrar of the Court of Small Causes, Bombay within three weeks from this
date.
N.P.V.
Appeal dismissed.
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