Shantibai
Vs. Dinkar Balkrishna Vaidya [1994] INSC 157 (2 March 1994)
Mohan,
S. (J) Mohan, S. (J) Mukherjee M.K. (J)
CITATION:
1994 SCC (4) 85 JT 1994 (2) 187 1994 SCALE (1)836
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
The
Judgment of the Court was delivered by S. MOHAN, J.- The short facts leading to this civil appeal are as under.
2. The
suit property was originally owned by Trimbak Hari Awate. He executed a simple
mortgage on April 28,
1947 to an extent of
11,000 square feet which represented the entire property for a sum of Rs 20,000
in favour of Dinkar S. Vaidya. On or about July 7, 1948, Awate executed a lease deed in favour
of Shankar Godaji Gore. The purpose mentioned in the lease deed was residence
and shops. Under the lease deed, the lessee was authorised to sub-lease. The
period of lease was 25 years. The annual rent was Rs 1500 payable monthly at
the rate of Rs 125. There was no prohibition from the assignment in the said
lease.
3. On
February 17, 1949, Shankar Godaji Gore, the lessee executed a registered
sub-lease in respect of entire land in favour of two persons Sulochanabai Thakur
and Krishnabai Sarde, original defendants 2 and 3. The sub-lease was for a
period of 99 years and 9 months. The monthly rent was fixed at Rs 50.
Defendants 2 and 3 the sub-lessees constructed fourteen shops on a portion of
the land, sublet to them.
These
shops were let out for rent to several persons. They in their turn assigned
their interest to different persons.
On November 7, 1949, an area of 4000 sq. ft. was sublet
by defendants 2 and 3 in favour of Sardar Biwalkar on a rent of Rs 135 p.m. for
a period of 67 years. On the same day of the lease, defendants 2 and 3 sold
seven out of fourteen shops to Biwalkar. On December 6, 1952, defendants 2 and 3 assigned all
their rights, title and interest in respect of the suit land in favour of Bayajabai
Ganpat Gore, Sundarabai Babasaheb Gore and Yashodabai Balasaheb Gore,
defendants 6, 7 and 8 respectively.
4. In
1952, Dinkar Balkrishna Vaidya, the mortgagee filed a suit being Special Civil Suit
No. 89 of 1952 for enforcement of mortgage. In that suit, mortgagor Awate and
defendants 1 to 4 were made party-defendants. Thai suit was decreed. In
execution of the final decree in the auction, the mortgagee Dinkar Balkrishna Vaidya
himself came to purchase the suit land measuring about 1000 sq. ft. The sale
was confirmed on December
19, 1957. Symbolical
possession was granted on March 2, 1960.
It appears that during the pendency of the suit, mortgagee was declared a
lunatic. Therefore, Nazir of the court was appointed as guardian and the
property was taken possession of by the Nazir under the provisions of Court of
Wards Act.
5. The
Nazir filed Regular Civil Suit No. 1142 of 1965 in the Small Cause Court, Poona for recovery of possession and arrears of rent since his
demand for rent from Shankar Godaji Gore was not complied with. Shankar Godaji
Gore assigned his right, title and interest in the shop premises to 87
defendants 19 and 20. Likewise, on August 27, 1963 defendant 5 assigned his right,
title and interest in the shop in favour of defendant 21. Therefore, another
ground of sub-letting was also added. That suit was decreed on November 27, 1968. Aggrieved by the said judgment,
Civil Appeal Nos. 279, 354 and 265 of 1969 were preferred against the same.
Civil Appeal Nos. 279 and 354 of 1969 came to be allowed while Civil Appeal No.
265 of 1969 was dismissed for non-prosecution. Thereupon, the first respondent
moved the High Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.
That
was numbered as Special Civil Application No. 242 of 1973. By the impugned
order dated July 15, 1980, that came to be allowed. Hence, the present civil
appeal.
6. The
learned counsel for the appellants Shri U.R. Lalit after taking us through the
relevant provisions of the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control
Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') submits that the lease deed in
favour of Shankar Godaji Gore specifically enabled him to sublet. Under the
lease deed dated July 7, 1948, Awate the original owner permitted the lessee Shankar
Godaji Gore to construct therein and give the said building or any portion
thereof to any person on lease rent and he could take the income derived therefrom.
Therefore, there was clear enablement to sub-lease.
7. Under
the Transfer of Property Act, there is no bar for a lessee to sublease. In such
a case that right or interest could be assigned in favour of third party. That
was what was done by the lease-deed dated February 17, 1949. The sub-lessees
constructed the building and let out a few and assigned their rights in favour
of other defendants. If the sub-lessees continued in possession prior to May
21, 1959, they would be entitled to the statutary protection because prior to
1959, if there was subletting, the landlord could not proceed to evict. Section
15 of the Act barring sub- leases came into force only by amendment Act 49 of
1959, that too, subject to the contract to the contrary. Here is a case of a
contrary contract. Under these circumstances the ruling reported in Sardar Tota
Singh v. Gold Field Leather Works, Bombay, would squarely apply. No eviction
was possible under Section 13(1)(e) of the Act because it must be an unlawful
subletting. Therefore, there is total protection both under 1959 Act and 1973 Act.
8.
There is no warrant to hold that first defendant has unlawfully sublet. In any
event, if defendants 2 and 3 are sub-tenants in accordance with Section 14 of
the Act, unless special sub-tenancy is determined, no eviction is possible.
9. Mr
S.K. Dholakia, learned counsel for the respondents 24, 26 and 27 supporting
this argument submits that there is privity of contract between the original lessor
and the occupant. The predecessor of the original lessor had authorised
defendant 1 to build the superstructure.
Defendant
1 had absolute right to transfer his interest and having transferred his right
of construction to defendants 2 and 3, the construction was made by defendants
2 and 3 1 (1985) 1 SCC 414: (1985) 2 SCR 563 88 lawfully and binding on the original
lessee as he had not made any contract to the contrary. The occupants were
inducted lawfully as tenants of the superstructure before 1959 or 1973 and
therefore are eligible to the protection available under Sections 14 and 15 of
the Act. Even on equity, they are entitled to a decision in their favour. It
has been noted by the High Court that some of the occupants are tailors,
laundrymen etc. and their livelihood is dependant on these premises. The
eviction will entail severe hardship.
10. Mr
V.A. Bobde, learned counsel for the respondents submits, no doubt under the
original lease dated July
7, 1948, a permission
had been given to Gore to construct but he never constructed. He created a
sub-lease in favour of defendants 2 and 3. It was the sub-lessees who had put
up this building. In relation to the demised property there was no privity of
contract between the original lessor and the contesting defendants. Defendants
2 and 3 constructed 14 shops and assigned their rights in favour of defendants
6, 7 and 8. How can these occupants claim the right as sub- tenancy? Jai Singh Morarji
v. Sovani P. Ltd.2 clearly lays down that no further sub-lease is possible.
That would squarely apply to the facts of the present case. The reliance placed
on Tota Singh case' is not correct. In any event, Section 14 does not take
within it assignments and transfers.
11.
The short question that arises for our consideration in this case is, whether
the occupants, the present appellants who are the assignees from defendants 2
and 3 can claim the protection of the Act as sub-lessees.
12.
The original lease deed dated July 7, 1948
between Awate and Gore states in clause 2 sub-clauses (1) and (3) as follows :
"2.
(1) I have taken the said land on rent for the period of 25 years from the date
July 7, 1948 and have taken the same in my
possession this day.
2. (3)
The land is vacant and I shall construct buildings therein as per my wishes and
I shall give the said building or any portion thereof to any person on lease
rent and I shall take the income derived therefrom." 13. Admittedly Gore
did not put up any construction.
However,
reliance is placed on clause 2 sub-clause (3) extracted above to urge that he
had a right of sub-lease because he could build and let it out in favour of any
one he liked. In our considered opinion the permission to construct means
nothing more than an emphasis of the manner of enjoyment of the property. Even
then as stated above, Gore never constructed. He leased out the property in favour
of defendants 2 and 3 by lease deed dated February 17, 1949. Under clause 2 sub-clause (D), it
is stated as follows:
"The
said land is vacant. We shall construct structures thereon as per our wishes
and we shall give the said building or any portion thereof on sub-lease to any
person and we shall take the income derived therefrom.
2
(1973) 1 SCC 197 (1973) 2 SCR 603 89 We shall obtain the permission required
for the said construction. In case your signature or consent is required in
that matter, you are to give the same."
14.
These sub-lessees (defendants 2 and 3) assigned their rights in favour of
defendants 16, 7 and 8 and others who are the appellants. How can they claim
protection as sub- lessees? The important point to note here is that the
original lessor (sic lessee) Gore, defendants 2 and 3 sub- lessees are no
longer before us. They have not filed the appeal. In these circumstances, the
principle applicable to this case is as stated in Jai Singh Morarji case2 that
a sub-tenant cannot create further sub-tenancy. Therefore, we are totally
unable to see any scope for application of Section 15 of the Act. The parties
are afforded liberty to contract out of the section. Even then it is only a
sub- tenant who could claim protection. If in law, they are not sub-tenants of the
original lessor, this-section is totally inapplicable.
15.
Again for the application of Section 14, there must be a lawful sub tenancy.
That is not so here. The occupants were not lawfully inducted into possession
as sub-tenants either prior to 1959 or 1973. Therefore, we are unable to accept
the contention urged by Mr U.R. Lalit and Mr S.K. Dholakia, learned counsel.
Hence, that section is also inapplicable.
16.
Weighing the equitable considerations, the civil appeal was adjourned for effecting
a compromise. But the parties have not done so. Therefore, we are unable to
grant any relief on that score. The civil appeal will stand dismissed. However,
there shall be no order as to costs.
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