Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur
Manish vs Smt.Shanti Devi on 20 March, 2014
Author: Arun Bhansali
Bench: Arun Bhansali
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
AT JODHPUR
:JUDGMENT:
S.B. CIVIL FIRST APPEAL NO.308/2011
Manish
vs.
Smt. Shanti Devi
Date of Judgment :: 20th March,2014
PRESENT
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN BHANSALI
Mr. O.P. Mehta, for the appellant.
Mr. R.R. Nagori, Senior Advocate assisted by
Mr. Alkesh Agarwal, for the respondent.
----
BY THE COURT:
REPORTABLE This appeal under Section 96 CPC by the appellant-tenant is directed against judgment and decree dated 30.03.2011 passed by Additional District Judge (Fast Track), Abu Road (Sirohi), whereby, the suit filed by the plaintiff-respondent for eviction of the appellant from the suit shop has been decreed.
The facts in brief may be noticed thus : the plaintiff Smt. Shanti Devi filed a suit for eviction, recovery of rent and damages against the defendant-appellant with the averments that a shop situated at Sadar Bazar, Mount Abu has been in tenancy of the defendant with rent @ Rs.5,500/- per month under registered lease agreement dated 29.08.2002; the tenancy is monthly and starts from 09th of the month and terminates on 08th of the next month; the lease dated 29.08.2002 came to an end on 09.08.2007 and as per lease agreement the defendant was required to hand over vacant possession of the suit shop, however, despite requests the suit 2 shop has not been vacated and, therefore, the suit was being filed; though as the period of lease has come to an end, there is no requirement to give legal notice, however, keeping in view the convenience of the defendant a notice dated 19.12.2007 through counsel by registered A.D. was sent to the defendant terminating tenancy w.e.f. 08.02.2008, which was returned with the remark 'refused' and despite the period of notice coming to an end on 08.02.2008, the suit shop has not been vacated; the tenant has paid rent upto 08.10.2007; plaintiff is entitled for outstanding rent for four months @ Rs.5,500/- i.e. Rs.22,000/- and thereafter for unauthorized occupation the plaintiff is entitled for damages @ Rs.5,500/- per month. It was prayed that the possession of the suit shop be handed over to the plaintiff and a decree for a sum of Rs.22,000/- be passed in her favour alongwith future damages @ Rs.5,500/- per month.
A written statement was filed by the appellant-defendant, inter alia, submitting that the defendant by depositing a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- took the suit shop on lease w.e.f. 09.08.1996 under lease agreement dated 09.08.1996; the tenancy was yearly, the annual rent was Rs.66,000/-; at the time of letting out the shop, it was agreed that the suit shop will not be got vacated; the lease agreement dated 29.08.2002 was executed under pressure from the plaintiff, which is not binding on the defendant, but the plaintiff is bound by the said agreement; the plaintiff has extended the lease period by five years w.e.f. 10.08.2007; the refusal of notice was denied; rent upto 08.07.2008 has been paid; the suit was premature; the notice 3 dated 09.12.2007 has been waived as the rent has been received; in additional pleas it was, inter alia, claimed that the State Government had imposed restriction on registration of any document as declaration of Mount Abu as Wild Life Sanctuary was in contemplation and, therefore, the plaintiff had on 10.08.2007 executed a slip extending the tenancy for five years and had received rent till 08.10.2007 personally and on 09.10.2007 as per instructions of the plaintiff, the rent was deposited till 08.07.2008; it was claimed that as per lease agreements dated 09.08.1996, 07.09.1999 and 29.08.2002 the plaintiff was required to give a six months' notice and as the six months' notice was not given, the notice dated 19.12.2007 was void and the suit was liable to be dismissed. Ultimately, it was prayed that the suit be dismissed.
A replication was filed by the plaintiff, inter alia, indicating that the plea regarding extension of tenancy for a period of five years on 10.08.2007 was incorrect and false; the defendant has prepared a fraudulent document; the rent upto 08.07.2008 has not been paid as per instructions of the plaintiff and the amount in her bank account has been deposited without her instructions.
After the pleadings were complete, the trial court framed six issues, which read as under:-
"1.आय व द य न द . 19/12/07 क न द स म पत व क ककर य र सम प कर ह इसल ए व द य व गस पररसर क ख कब$ प प करन क अध'क र ह।
......व द य
2.आय व द य पत व स व गस पररसर क उपय ग व
उपभ ग क द . 9/2/08 स ख कब$ प प ह न क ह$ ,न क
5500 र मह व र स प प करन क अध'क र ण/ ह।
.......व द य
4
3.आय $व ब व क प स1० 13 म वरण, क रण4 स व
ख रर$ ककय $ न य गय ह।
......पत व
4.आय $व ब व क प स1० 14 व 15 म वरण, क रण4 स व
ख रर$ ककय $ न य गय ह।
.......पत व
5.आय व द य न पत व क हर न व परश न करन ह 7 यह व
पश ककय ह इसल य पत व 100000 र० ह$ ,न क प प करन
क अध'क र ह।
........पत व
6.अन7 ष"
On behalf of the plaintiff affidavits under Order XVIII CPC were filed on 04.03.2010, wherein, an assertion was made that the defendant has prepared fraudulent document; she was not in Mount Abu on 10.08.2007 as she was in America and produced copy of her passport as Exhibit-5.
An application under Order VI, Rule 17 CPC was filed by defendant seeking amendment in the written statement on 16.04.2010, inter alia, with the averments that the sale deed extending the tenancy for a period of five years w.e.f.
10.08.2007 was executed on 10.09.2007, however, due to inadvertence, it was indicated that the same was executed on 10.08.2007 and, therefore, the averments made in para 3 of the written statement and para 2 of the additional pleas be permitted to be amended, which application was allowed by the trial court.
On behalf of the plaintiff, she was herself examined and on behalf of the defendant, defendant himself and one Ashok Kumar were examined.
After hearing the parties, the trial court came to the conclusion that the tenancy of the defendant has been 5 terminated by notice Exhibit-1, the tenant has not vacated the suit premises and, therefore, the plaintiff was entitled to possession of the suit premises; the plaintiff was entitled to damages @ Rs.5,500/- per month w.e.f. 09.02.2008. There was no requirement to give a six months' notice and ultimately passed the decree as noticed hereinbefore.
During pendency of this appeal, the appellant has filed application under Order XLI, Rule 27 CPC seeking to place on record a communication dated 17.04.2010 from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited obtained by the appellant under the Right to Information Act indicating that at Mount Abu the telephone numbers in five figures were till February, 2002 and were converted to six figures in March, 2002 and the STD code 02974 started w.e.f. 01.04.1991.
A reply to the said application has been filed by the respondent opposing the application, inter alia, on the ground that the document was in possession of the appellant during pendency of the suit and the same has belatedly been filed.
Another application under Section 45 read with Section 73 of the Evidence Act, 1872 ('the Evidence Act') has been filed by the appellant seeking referring of the document Exhibit-A/8 - receipt to the hand writing expert or to the FSL for comparison of signatures of the plaintiff alongwith her admitted signatures.
On the said application under Section 45 read with Section 73 of the Evidence Act by order dated 19.12.2013 it was directed that the application shall be considered at the time of final disposal of the appeal.
6
It was contended by learned counsel for the appellant that the trial court clearly fell in error in coming to the conclusion that the document Exhibit-A/8 was a fraudulent document only because the plaintiff was in U.S. on 10.08.2007. It was submitted that the facts and circumstances clearly reveal that the document was in fact executed on 10.09.2007, in pursuance whereof, the plaintiff received the arrears of rent and rent of the suit shop till after the date when the receipt was executed. It was further submitted that the appellant was in possession of the suit shop, the landlord had accepted the rent for the period subsequent to the end of period of the lease deed dated 29.08.2002 and had further assented to his continuing in possession and, therefore, the appellant being a tenant holding over was entitled to a notice of six months in terms of Clause-9 of the lease deed dated 29.08.2002 (Exhibit-4) and, in absence whereof, the notice for a shorter period issued by the plaintiff being invalid, the suit for eviction was not maintainable. It was further submitted that in the cross-examination of the defendant it was clearly suggested to him that the document Exhibit-A/8 was fabricated by cutting the paper from a receipt given by Shanti Devi and utilizing the blank space, which not only amount to admitting the signature on Exhibit-A/8 but shifts the burden on the plaintiff to prove that either the document did not contain her signatures or under what circumstances the same was executed and, therefore, the finding deserves to be set aside. It was submitted that the document produced alongwith application under Order XLI, Rule 27 CPC can very well be utilized by this 7 Hon'ble Court for pronouncing the judgment.
Reliance was placed on G.M. Ali v. Mrs. M. Rosary Ammal :
1971 MLJR 156, Chiranjit Lal v. Narain Singh : AIR 1972 Punjab 432, Dayal Chand v. The Union of India & Ors. : AIR 1971 Punjab 23, Suiti Devi & Anr. v. Banarsidas Bhagwandas : AIR 1949 Allahabad 703, K. Anjanakumari v. Bhavani : (2006) 4 MLJ 982, Himatram Hargovandas Vachhiyat v. Durlabhram Narbheram Ghariwala : 1973 Gujarat Law Reporter 340, Bhawanji Lakshamshi & Ors. v. Himatlal Jamnadas Dani & Ors. :
(1972) 1 SCC 388, Kai Khushroo Bezonjee Capadia v. Bai Jerbai Hirjibhoy Warden & Anr. : AIR 1949 Federal Court 124, Grasim Industries Ltd. & Anr. v. Agarwal Steel : 2009 (4) Civil Court Cases 598 (SC), Dalchand Mulchand & Ors. v. Hasanbi : AIR 1938 Nagpur 152, Govardhan P. Thakare v. Janardhan G. Thakare & Anr. : 2005 AIHC 1276, Kuppusamy Gounder & Anr.
v. Palaniappan : 2012(3) CCC 136 (Mad.), Gowri Shankar v. J.L. Babu & Anr. : AIR 2012 Andhra Pradesh 118, Pratap Singh & Ors. v. Smt. Zimmi & Ors. : 2011 WLC (Raj.) UC 668, Ram Lochan Baid & Anr. v. Kumar Kamakhya Narain Singh : AIR 1923 Patna 201, Manathanath Kunhahammed v. Kizhakke Theruvathakath Cherammal Thodiyil Unnimoideenkutty & Ors. :
AIR 2009 Kerala 143, Madhav Rao Balwantrao Daphale v.
Bhagwandas Surajmal : AIR 1961 Madhya Pradesh 138, Smt. A.L. Bose v. Syed Nayyar Abbas : AIR 1967 Allahabad 209, Shiv Nath minor under guardian Sahu Girdhar Lal v. Shri Ram Bharosey Lal : AIR 1969 Allahabad 333, Gooderham & Worts, Ltd. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation : AIR (36) 1949 Privy 8 Council 90, M/s. Burma Shell Oil Storage & Distributing Co. of India Ltd., New Delhi v. State of Uttar Pradesh : AIR 1984 Allahabad 89, Nandalal Das v. Monmatha Nath Ghose & Ors. :
AIR 1962 Calcutta 597, O.P. Verma v. Lala Gehrilal & Anr. : AIR 1962 Rajasthan 231, Mt. Nur Nishan & Ors. v. Fazal Dad & Ors. :
AIR 1949 Lahore 198, Ganda Ram v. Rehana & Ors. : AIR 1921 Lahore 166, Rewachand Ladharam Ramchandani v. Naraindas B. Kanuga & Anr. : AIR 1992 Bombay 434, Sarwan Singh v. State of Punjab : 2002 AIR SCW 4295, A.E.G. Carapiet v. A.Y. Derderian : AIR 1961 Calcutta 359, Traders Syndicate v. Union of India : AIR 1983 Calcutta 337, Babulall Choukhani v. Caltex (India) Ltd. : AIR 1967 Calcutta 205, Mishri Bai v. Krishna Lal Chaddha : 1997 DNJ (Raj.) 714, Smt. Sarada & Ors. v.
Manikkoth Kombra Rajendran : 1996 (3) CCC 3 (SC) and Rajesh Namdeo Mhatre & Others v. State of Maharashtra & Others :
(2002) BomCR (Cri) 708.
Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent submitted that the conduct of the appellant clearly reveals that the document Exhibit-A/8 is a forged and fabricated document. From the bare perusal of the said document and the plea as originally raised in the written statement, wherein, it was claimed that the document was executed on 10.08.2007; by replication a specific plea was taken by the plaintiff that the document was a forged document and thereafter when affidavit in evidence was filed and documentary evidence was produced on 10.08.2007 indicating that the plaintiff was in U.S.; whereafter, the entire story was changed and amendment was 9 made in the written statement to claim that vide Exhibit-A/8 the tenancy was extended w.e.f. 10.08.2007 and the same was executed on 10.09.2007, for which, there is no warrant in the facts. The amendment itself was wrongly allowed by the trial court in contravention of proviso to Order VI, Rule 17 CPC. It was further submitted that the story of the appellant being tenant holding over is based on the document Exhibit-A/8, which on face of it is fraudulent and, therefore, in absence of any assent on part of the plaintiff, the appellant would remain a tenant at sufferance and cannot claim status of a tenant holding over. In the alternative, it was submitted that even if the appellant is treated as a tenant holding over, he cannot claim a notice beyond 15 days by relying on a condition in the lease deed Exhibit-4 requiring a six months' notice. A further alternative argument was also made that the condition No.9 in the lease deed dated 29.08.2002 (Exhibit-4) cannot be construed requiring a six months' notice and, therefore, the termination of tenancy by the plaintiff vide Exhibit-1 by giving a 15 days' notice was sufficient and legal to terminate the tenancy of the appellant, which otherwise, had expired by efflux of time limited in the lease deed Exhibit-14. It was submitted that the conduct of the appellant in fabricating document Exhibit-A/5 i.e. a receipt of Rs.5,00,000/- clearly disentitles him to seek any relief from this Court.
On the plea raised by the appellant regarding the document Exhibit-A/8, it was further submitted that mere giving a suggestion in the cross-examination by itself cannot be taken 10 as an admission on part of the plaintiff.
Opposing the application under Order XLI, Rule 27 CPC, it was submitted that no case for allowing the application has been made out, on the other hand, the document produced forwards the case of the plaintiff that the document Exhibit-A/5 is a fraudulent document. The application under Sections 45 and 73 of the Evidence Act has been filed only with a view to delay the decision on the present appeal and the same is wholly mala fide and the same deserves to be rejected. It was prayed that the appeal be dismissed with costs.
Reliance was placed on Smt. Shanti Devi v. Amal Kumar Banerjee : AIR 1981 SC 1550, Bhawanji Lakhamshi & Ors. v. Himatlal Jamnadas Dani & Ors. : AIR 1972 SC 819, Badrilal v. Municipal Corporation of Indore : AIR 1973 SC 508, Shanti Prasad Devi & Anr. v. Shankar Mahto & Ors. : 2005 AIR SCW 3359, Sarup Singh Gupta v. S. Jagdish Singh & Ors. : 2006 AIR SCW 1966, U.P. Handloom Corporation Ltd. & Anr. v. Smt. Savitri Uniyal & Anr. : 2013(4) CCC 149 (Uttarakhand), Sarju Pershad Ramdeo Sahu v. Jwaleshwari Pratap narain Singh & Ors. : AIR 1951 SC 120, Har Charan Singh v. Shiv Rani & Ors. : AIR 1981 SC 1284, S.P. Chengalvaraya Naidu v. Jagannath & Ors. :
AIR 1994 SC 853, Dasarathi Kumar v. Sarat Chandra Ghose & Anr. : AIR 1934 Calcutta 135, Burmah Shell Oil Distributing now known as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. v. Khaja Midhat Noor & Ors. : AIR 1988 SC 1470, Badrilal v. Municipal Corporation of Indore : AIR 1973 SC 508, The Metal Press Works Ltd. Calcutta v. Guntur Merchants Cotton Press Co. Ltd. : AIR 11 1976 Andhra Pradesh 205, Kulkarni Patterns Pvt. Ltd. & Ors. v.
Vasant Baburao Ashtekar & Ors. : AIR 1992 SC 1097, Thulasibalan & Anr. v. Rajesh : (2001) 1 MLJ 777 and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. v. Smt. Alka Agarwal : 2007(3) CCC 73 (Bombay).
I have considered the rival submissions.
The issues which arise for determination in the present case are :-
i) whether the claim made by the appellant regarding Exhibit-A/8 can be sustained?
ii) whether the appellant can be termed as a tenant holding over?
iii) if answer to any of the above question is in favour of the appellant, whether the notice Exhibit-1 for a period of 30 days issued by the plaintiff can be said to be valid and legal?
i) Whether the claim made by the appellant regarding Exhibit-A/8 can be sustained?
At the outset it would be appropriate to quote Exhibit-A/8, which reads as under:-
"आ$ द न 1क 10/8/07 स क 7 न स1. 90III A कक ककर य र प 1च वष, ह : बढ ई गई ह रज$स> ख7 न पर $ ड/ड आप ककर य र श/ मन/ष क रज$स ड, करव न/ ह ग/। ककर य र रपय 5500/- प 1च ह$ र प 1च सA पत म ह ।
श जB व/ गप 7 "
A bare look at and reading of the said document indicates that it has been executed on a 3"x3.75" slip and reads that from today dated 10.08.2007 tenancy of shop No.90 III A has been extended for five years; on opening of Registry, lease deed would be required to be registered by the tenant Shri Manish; tenancy Rs.5,500/- per month and it allegedly bears signatures of Shanti Devi - the landlady.
A plain reading of the contents indicate that the document 12 (slip) was executed on 10.08.2007, from which date, the tenancy was extended for five years. The use of the word 'आ$' i.e. 'today' refers to the date 10.08.2007, from which date, the tenancy was extended and the same, therefore, necessarily refers to the date when the slip was executed.
In the written statement the defendant referred to the said document Exhibit-A/8 at three places, which reads as under:-
"3(त न) ..........व य न द नCक 10-8-2007 ( स अगस ह$ र स ) क ककर य र क अवध' 5(प च 1 ) वष, ह 7 बढ ई ह।
पण7 , $व ब ववशष कथन म द य गय ह।
8(आठ) कक व पत क प स1खय 8(आठ) क $व ब ह कक
व य न द नCक 10-8-2007 ( स अगस ह$ र स )
क पत व क ककर य र 5(प 1च) वष, ह 7 बढ कर
द नCक 8-7-2008 (आठ $7 ई ह$ र आठ) क क
ककर य प प कर ल य ह अ : व य क यह व पश
करन ह 7 अध'क र उतपBन नह 1 ह7आ ह। अ : यह व
Premature ह न स ख रर$ य गय ह।
12(ब रह)कक उपर क क रण स व य न द नCक 10-8-2007
( स अगस ह$ र स ) स 5(प 1च) वष, क अवध'
ह 7 ककर य र बढ न क एक स प पर ल खकर पत व
क द नCक 10-8-2007 ( स अगस ह$ र स ) क
द य थ ज$स जस प क फ स नक सथ म
स1 गन ह।"
From reading of the said paragraphs in the written statement, it is evident that it was a specific case of the defendant that the said slip Exhibit-A/8 was executed on 10.08.2007, whereby, the tenancy was extended for a period of five years.
The plaintiff-respondent filed replication and raised the following contention:-
"2. यह कक $व ब व क प स1खय 3 वरण, कथन कक व द य द र द न 1क 10.8.07 क ककर य र क अवध' 5 वष, ह 7 बढ ई, कथन ग एवम असतय ह। व द य न द न 1क 10.8.07 क ककर य र क अवध' 5 वष, नह बढ ई ह। पत व न क7 रधच स व$ य र ककय ह।"13
Whereafter, the plaintiff, on issues being framed by the trial court, filed her affidavit in evidence under Order XVIII, Rule 4 CPC and submitted as under:-
"5. मN शपथ प:वक, बय न कर / ह:O कक, ककर य र व वष,क नह ह ककर य र. 66000/-व वष,क नह ह। मन द न 1क 10.8.2007 क ककर य र 5 वष, ह 7 नह बढ ई ह पत व न फ$P स व$ ल ख ह म द न 1क 10.8.2007 क आब: म नह थ/। म द न 1क 10.8.2007 क अमररक म थ/। ज$सक इBQ $ प सप , म ककय ह7आ ह, प सप , प श, 5 ह ज$सक फ पत प श, 5 ए ह।"
From the replication and the statement, the plaintiff contended that the document said to have been executed by her on 10.08.2007 was a concocted document and in her evidence affidavit she stated that she did not extend the tenancy for a period of five years; the document was fraudulently prepared as on 10.08.2007 she was not in Abu and that on 10.08.2007 she was in America and in support thereof produced Exhibit-5 - a copy of her passport containing entry in this regard.
Whereafter, the appellant filed application under Order VI, Rule 17 CPC seeking to amend para 3 and para 12 of the written statement, which amendment was allowed on 16.04.2010 by the trial court. The amended para 3 and para 12 read as under:-
"3(त न)..........व य न द नCक 10-8-2007 ( स अगस ह$ र स ) स ककर य र क अवध' 5(प 1च) वष, ह 7 बढ ई ह।
प7ण, $व ब ववशष कथन म द य गय ह।"
12(ब रह) कक उपर क क रण स व य न द नCक 10-8-2007 ( स अगस ह$ र स ) स 5(प 1च) वष, क अवध' ह 7 ककर य र बढ न क एक स प पर ल खकर पत व क द नCक 10-9-2007 ( स लस मबर ह$ र स ) क द य थ ज$स जस प क फ स नक स थ म स1 गन ह।"
By the said amendment the initial plea that the slip Exhibit-
A/8 was executed on 10.08.2007 was altered and it was sought 14 to be pleaded that the tenancy was extended w.e.f. 10.08.2007 and the slip was executed on 10.09.2007. However, interestingly para 8 of the written statement (supra), which also contained similar averments was not amended. The conduct of the plaintiff in amending the written statement and taking away specific plea, which essentially was in accord with the document Exhibit-A/8, has apparently been forced on account of specific plea by the plaintiff alongwith the documentary proof that on 10.08.2007 she was not in India and, therefore, the document was concocted.
The entire emphasis of learned counsel for the appellant has been to explain the conduct and to sustain the said slip and contention appears to be wholly baseless. The contention in this regard that there was essentially no cross-examination on the said document and in the cross-examination it was suggested that the defendant had utilized the slip after cutting the same from some receipt from Shanti Devi and utilizing the blank space. The suggestion in cross-examination in this regard reads as under:-
"यह कहन ग ह कक प श, ए.8 मन श 1त व/ क ककस/ रस/
स क कर ख सथ न पर ईब र ल ख/ ह।"
It was contended that as soon as the suggestion was given in the cross-examination, the burden shifted on the plaintiff to substantiate such plea regarding the slip and in absence of such substantiation, the document Exhibit-A/8 stands proved.
Reliance was placed on judgment of Bombay High Court in the case of Rajesh Namdeo Mhatre (supra) and Traders 15 Syndicate (supra).
While in the case of Rajesh Namdeo Mhatre (supra) the Bombay High Court dealing with a criminal case observed that suggestion made in the cross-examination is not evidence, but they may be called into aid to lend assurance to the prosecution case and in the case of Traders Syndicate (supra) it was held that in absence of cross-examination and suggestion the plaintiff's case was required to be accepted.
While the observations made by Bombay High Court and Calcutta High Court do not admit any different opinion.
However, this Court is unable to agree that a mere suggestion in cross-examination of a witness can be taken to be an evidence or an admission on the part of the cross-examiner. Even as per the judgment in the case of Rajesh Namdeo Mhatre (supra), the suggestion can be called in aid only and cannot form the foundation for the person relying on the suggestion. In the present case, when the language of the slip does not entertain any other interpretation that the same was executed on 10.08.2007, the mere suggestion in the cross-examination cannot lead to any other inference.
Interestingly, when the defendant based on the averments contained in the replication and the affidavit filed under Order XVIII sought amendment in the written statement, it did not deem it appropriate to explain the circumstance, under which, the so called document was allegedly executed. Merely changing the version from 'on' to 'from' and the date from 10.08.2007 to 20.09.2007 cannot by itself change the version and lend 16 credence to the claim, which is apparently contrary to the contents of the document.
In support of the application filed under Sections 45 and 73 of the Evidence Act, it was submitted by learned counsel for the appellant that the appellant was under impression that as suggestion as indicated above made in his cross examination, the appellant was not required to prove the signature and as such Hand Writing Expert was not examined. However, in the interest of justice the document Exhibit-A/8 must be now sent to Hand Writing Expert/FSL for comparison with admitted signatures of the plaintiff.
The prayer was opposed by learned counsel for the respondent as belated and baseless.
The plea sought to be raised by learned counsel for the appellant that as the appellant was sure about the shifting of burden on account of suggestion made in the cross-examination, similar prayer was not made before the trial court is preposterous. A party if decides to hold back production of evidence on assumptions must thank itself. It would be seen that neither the name of any Hand Writing Expert was given in the list of witnesses nor any opinion was produced on record and as such the claim to the contrary is baseless. The application being highly belated and a mere after thought cannot be allowed and the same is dismissed.
In that view of the matter, the finding recorded by the trial court regarding Exhibit-A/8 does not call for any interference.17
ii) Whether the appellant can be termed as a tenant holding over?
Vide Exhibit-4 a lease deed dated 29.08.2002 executed by Smt. Shanti Devi plaintiff in favour of defendant Manish, the suit property was let out for a period of five years at a monthly rent of Rs.5,500/-. The conditions relevant for the present case read as under:-
"2. पट क अवध' सम तप पर य पय ,वस,ण ह न क 7रB ब उक समपत क कब$ पट क सप 7 , कर ग ।
9. पट व पटगदह न क अध'क र ह कक यह न4 छ: म ह क ल रख न द स द र पट क रद कर सक ह।
उक पट क श V न4 पकक र4 क व उनक उतर ध'क र उक पट क श Y क प न करन क ब धय ह।
10. कक प:व, म न पकक र न क मधय /न वष, क ल य $ मन/ क श V पर र. 48,000/- व वष,क ककर य ज$सम 10 पत श पत वष, क र स वव[ \ क श , क स थ /न वष, क अथ , ] द न 1क 9-8-1999 क क ल य उप प1$/यक क य , य, आब:र ड म कम 1क 1677/96 द न 1क 9-8-96 क प1$/क[ करव ई गई थ/। तपश ] इसक /न वष, क अवध' द . 9-8-2002 क क ल य बढ कर नव/न $ ऐग/मB पन 7 : म लसक ककर य रपय 5325/-करक द न 1क 7-9-1999 क तनषप द कर उसक प1$/यन उप प1$/यक क य , य आब:र ड म कम 1क 913 द न 1क 7-9-1999 क प1$/क[ करव य थ । ज$स $ ऐग/मB क अBय श c प:वव , रख ह7य यह नव/न $ ऐग/मB द न 1क 9-8-2007 क क ल य म लसक रपय 5500/- अकर र. प 1च ह$ र प 1च स म त स तनषप द ककय $ रह ह।"
The said lease deed, which was executed on 29.08.2002 apparently sought to renew the lease of the premises, which was initially granted on 09.08.1996, renewed on 07.09.1999 and come to an end on 09.08.2007. The deed, inter alia, provided for handing over the possession on the end of the lease period and a six months' written notice for cancellation of the lease.
The plaintiff in her notice under Section 106 of the Act dated 19.12.2007 (Exhibit-1) made the following averments:-18
"5. कक आपक द र द . 8-10-2007 क ककर य मर अस/ क अ ककय $ च7क ह व इसक ब क अवध' क ककर य मर अस/ क आपस न बक य तनक ह।"
In the plaint para 5 again it was stated as under:-
"कक पत व न द . 8-10-2007 (आठ अक : बर सन ह$ र स )
क क ककर य व य क अ कर द य ह।"
In the examination in chief again it was stated as under:-
"4. मN शपथ पव : क , बय न कर / ह:O कक, पत व न द न 1क 8.10.2007 क क ककर य मझ 7 अ कर द य ह।"
From the above, it is apparent that in terms of the lease deed Exhibit-4 the period of lease had come to an end on 09.08.2007 and as per the contents of the notice Exhibit-1, plaint and affidavit under Order XVIII, the plaintiff accepted having 'received the rent till 08.10.2007' i.e. after the expiry of the period of the lease Exhibit-4.
Section 116 of the Act reads thus:-
"116. Effect of holding over. - If a lessee or under-lessee of property remains in possession thereof after the determination of the lease granted to the lessee, and the lessor or his legal representative accepts rent from the lessee or under-lessee, or otherwise assents to his continuing in possession, the lease is, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, renewed from year to year, or from month to month, according to the purpose for which the property is leased, as specified in section 106."
A bare reading of the said provision reveals that if a lessee remains in possession after the determination of the lease granted to him and lessor accepts rent from the lessee or otherwise assents to his continuing in possession, the lease is in the absence of an agreement to the contrary renewed from year to year or from month to month according to the purpose, for which, the property is leased as specified in Section 106 of the Act.
19
Hon'ble Supreme Court in Karnani Industrial Bank Ltd. v. Province of Bengal & Ors. : AIR 1951 SC 285 dealing with Section 116 of the Act laid down the requirements, which read as under:-
"A reference to S.116, T.P. Act, will show that for the application of that section, two things are necessary : (1) the lessee should be in possession after the termination of the lease; & (2) the lessor or his representative should accept rent or otherwise assent to his continuing in possession. The use of the word 'otherwise' suggests that acceptance of rent by the landlord has been treated as a form of his giving assent to the tenant's continuance of possession."
It was contended by learned counsel for the respondent with reference to the law laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Shanti Prasad Devi v. Shankar Mahto (supra) that mere acceptance of rent by lessor on expiry of period of lease would not amount to assent for continuance of lease and that no plea of holding over has been raised in the written statement and, therefore, in view of the law laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Smt. Shanti Devi v. Amal Kumar Banerjee (supra), the plea cannot be examined.
So far as the judgment in the case of Shanti Prasad Devi v. Shankar Mahto (2005 AIR SCW 3359) is concerned, Hon'ble Supreme Court, while considering the effect of acceptance of rent in a case where the lease deed required exercise of option of renewal by the lessee before the expiry of the original period of lease and fixation of terms and conditions for the renewed period of lease by mutual consent, held the said conditions in the lease deed as 'agreement to the contrary' in terms of Section 116 of the Act and, therefore, held that in face of specific Clauses 7 and 9 for seeking renewal, their could be no implied 20 renewal by 'holding over' on mere acceptance of the rent offered by the lessee. The plea of holding over in the said case was declined on coming to the conclusion that there was an agreement to the contrary. In the present case, there is no such agreement to the contrary in the lease deed requiring renewal etc. and, therefore, the judgment in the case of Shanti Prasad Devi & Anr. v. Shankar Mahto & Ors. (supra) has no application.
The judgment in the case of Sarup Singh Gupta (supra) dealt with waiver of notice, which is not the issue involved in the present case.
So far as the case of the respondent that no plea regarding holding over has been raised in the written statement is concerned, a bare look at the written statement reveals that repeated reliance has been placed on the lease agreement dated 29.08.2002 (Exhibit-4) and the earlier lease agreements questioning the validity of notice on account of the period and it has been claimed that plaintiff was required to give a six months' notice under section 106 of the Act, which plea essentially is based on the plea of holding over. As such, the argument regarding absence of plea of holding over also has no basis.
Besides the above categorical admission of plaintiff in her notice, pleadings and statement regarding acceptance of rent after determination of the lease, the most outstanding feature of the respondent-plaintiff's conduct is that a notice Exhibit-1 terminating the tenancy w.e.f. 08.02.2008 i.e. six months after the period of lease Exhibit-4 had come to an end was issued on 19.12.2007. If the plaintiff was relying on provisions of Section 21 111(a) of the Act on account of expiry of the period of lease for determination thereof, there was no requirement to issue notice Exhibit-1 and specifically indicating termination w.e.f. 08.02.2008. The said conduct essentially is an admission on part of the plaintiff of treating the defendant as tenant holding over.
In view of the above discussion, it is apparent that on account of the plain language of Section 116 of the Act, the principle laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Karnani Industrial Bank Ltd. (supra), averments contained in notice terminating the tenancy and plaintiff's plaint and affidavit, whereby, the plaintiff has admitted acceptance of the rent after the determination of lease by efflux of time for the period 09.08.2007 to 08.10.2007 and the conduct as noticed hereinbefore, the status of appellant-defendant is nothing but that of a 'tenant holding over'.
iii) if answer to any of the above question is in favour of the appellant, whether the notice Exhibit-1 for a period of 30 days issued by the plaintiff can be said to be valid and legal?
It is submitted that the plaintiff has given 30 days' notice expiring with the end of tenancy month i.e. 08.02.2008 and six months notice as claimed in the aforesaid Clause-9 of lease deed dated 29.08.2002 (Exhibit-4) is not given; provisions of 15 days notice would apply only in the absence of a contract or law or uses to the contrary as stipulated in the opening words of Section 106 of the Act; in the present case, as there is a specific contract between the parties in the form of lease deed dated 22 29.08.2002 and it contains a Clause of six months' notice for termination of tenancy, such notice had to be necessarily given and thus notice dated 19.12.2007 is invalid; even if the period of lease had expired, the Clause relating to six months notice will be operating in view of the provisions of Section 116 of the Act as the defendant had become tenant holding over.
A bare look at Exhibit-1 would reveal that the same was dated 19.12.2007 and the tenant was given time till 08.02.2008 or 30 days from the date of receipt of notice to vacate the suit premises. The suit was filed on 27.02.2008. The plea raised by the appellant is that as in the lease deed dated 29.08.2002 Exhibit-4 the requirement was to give a six months' notice, in terms of Section 106, the said term contained in lease deed Exhibit-4 would be 'a contract to the contrary' and, therefore, the notice Exhibit-1 was invalid.
On the other hand as noticed hereinbefore, the contention on behalf of the respondent is that looking to the nature of tenancy the notice issued is for a sufficient period in terms of Section 106, which is 15 days' and no reference can be made to a lease, which stands expired and the term contained therein cannot be said to be a contract to the contrary.
The said issue has from time to time attracted attention of several courts. The first such view has been reported in the case of Dasarathi Kumar v. Sarat Chandra Ghose : AIR 1934 Calcutta 135, wherein, it was held that the words in Section 116 'in the absence of an agreement to the contrary' refer to an agreement as to the terms of holding over and not to the terms of notice 23 and the contention raised therein that the holding over must be taken to be on the same terms as the original lease was negated.
The above view in Dasarathi Kumar was not accepted by Allahabad High Court in the case of Suiti Devi (AIR 1949 Allahabad 703) (supra), wherein, it was held that the words 'in the absence of an agreement to the contrary' occurring in Section 116 cannot be taken as referring only to the existence of an agreement as to the terms of the holding over and the term in the original lease of the period of notice contrary to Section 106 of the Act was held to be applicable.
Whereafter, in the case of Nandalal Das (AIR 1962 Calcutta
597), though without referring to the judgment of the said Court in the case of Dasarathi Kumar, it was held that under Section 116 of the Act, the lease is renewed with all the terms and conditions contained in the document of the lease, which are not inconsistent with an annual tenancy.
Whereafter, in AIR 1969 Allahabad 333 a Full Bench of Allahabad High Court in the case of Shiv Nath came to the conclusion that the effect of holding over is that the special term in the original lease has to be read in the renewed lease.
Whereafter, Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Dayal Chand (supra) and Chiranjit Lal (supra) followed the law laid down in AIR 1962 Calcutta 597.
The Madras High Court in the case of G.M. Ali (supra) held that a tenant "holds over" the terms of the quondam lease are imported into the fresh tenancy created by law under Section 24 116 of the Transfer of Property Act. The view taken in AIR 1962 Calcutta 597 was followed by Gujarat High Court in the case of Himatram Hargovandas Vachhiyat (supra).
However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court in the case of Metal Press Works Ltd. (supra) after considering the law on the subject, while taking into consideration the judgment of Dasarathi Kumar (supra) (AIR 1934 Calcutta 135) and G.M. Ali (supra) (1971 (1) Madras Law Journal Reports 156) came to the conclusion that the expression 'agreement to the contrary' used in Section 116 is referable to the terms of the tenancy created by the tenant holding over but not to the terms of the original lease.
In AIR 1984 Allahabad 89 on a reference being made, the Full Bench of the said Court came to the conclusion that it is not necessary that there may be a contract subsequent to the termination of the original lease regarding the period of notice required under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act. The contract would be either in the original lease or may be arrived at between the parties after the determination of the original lease. The relevant part of the judgment reads as under:-
"10. In our opinion, therefore, there is no conflict in so far as the law laid down by the two Division Bench decisions of this Court in the cases of Radha Ballabh v. Bahore Ram Chand, (AIR 1955 All 679) (supra) and Zahoor Ahmad Abdul Sattar v. State of U.P., (AIR 1965 All 326) (supra) is concerned. The answer to the question referred therefore is that it is not necessary that there may be a contract subsequent to the termination of the original lease regarding the period of notice required under S. 106 of the Transfer of Property Act. The contract could be either in the original lease or may be arrived at between the parties after the determination of the original lease."
In 2006 (4) MLJ 982 again similar view was reiterated that 25 the notice in terms of the original lease was required to be issued. The relevant part reads as under:-
"18. Repelling the above submissions, the learned counsel for the appellant would submit that the appellant/defendant continues to be a tenant even now, he being a 'tenant holding over', falling within the ambit of Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act and this being the position, he is entitled to a notice of 3 months, as per the contract entered into between the parties on 1.8.1994. Therefore, we have to see, whether the appellant/defendant is a 'tenant holding over' or he is a 'tenant by sufferance'. If he is a tenant by sufferance, he may not be entitled to a notice, whereas if he is a tenant holding over, he would have the benefit of the original conditions, which was agreed between the parties."
(emphasis supplied) From the above analysis of the various judgments of different High Courts, it is apparent that the Courts are not ad idem on the issue whether the term 'in the absence of an agreement to the contrary' under Section 116 applied to any fresh contract between the parties or the term of the original lease can be looked into for the said purpose.
The nature of tenancy created under Section 116 of the Act was considered by Federal Court in the case of Kai Khushroo Bezonjee Capadia (supra), wherein, it was held as under:-
"It is perfectly right that the tenancy which is created by the "holding over" of a lessee or under-lessee is new tenancy in law even though many of the terms of the old lease might be continued in it, by implication; and it cannot be disputed that to bring new tenancy into existence, there must be a bilateral act. What S. 116, T.P. Act, contemplates is that on one side there should be an offer of taking a renewed or fresh demise evidenced by the lessee's or sub lessee's continuing in occupation of the property after his interest has ceased and on the other side there must be a definite assent to this continuance of possession by the landlord expressed by acceptance of rent or otherwise. It can scarcely be disputed that the assent of the landlord which is founded on acceptance of rent must be acceptance of rent as such and in clear recognition of the tenancy right asserted by the person who pays it."
(emphasis supplied) The issue was again considered by Hon'ble Supreme Court in Bhawanji Lakhamshi (supra), wherein, relying on the 26 judgment in the case of Kai Khushroo Bezonjee Capadia (supra) and explaining the same, it was held as under:-
"9. The act of holding over after the expiration of the term does not create a tenancy of any kind. If a tenant remains in possession after the determination of the lease, the common law rule is that he is a tenant on sufferance. A distinction should be drawn between a tenant continuing in possession after the determination of the term with the consent of the landlord and a tenant doing so without his consent. The former is a tenant at sufferance in English Law and the latter a tenant holding over a tenant at will. In view of the concluding words of Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act, a lessee holding over is in a better position than a tenant at will. The assent of the landlord to the continuance of possession after the determination of the tenancy will create a new tenancy. What the section contemplates is that on one side there should be an offer of taking a new lease evidenced by the lessee or sub-lessee remaining in possession of the property after his terms was over and on the other side there must be a definite consent to the continuance of possession by the landlord expressed by acceptance of rent or otherwise. In Kai Khushroo Bezonjee Capadia v. Bai Ferbai Hirjibhoy Warden and Another, the Federal Court had occasion to consider the question of the nature of the tenancy created under Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act and Mukharjea, J., speaking for the majority said, that the tenancy which is created by the "holding over" of a lessee or under-lessee is a new tenancy in law even though many of the terms of the old lease might be continued in it, by implication; and that to bring a new tenancy into existence, there must be a bilateral act. It was further held that the assent of the landlord which is founded on acceptance of rent must be acceptance of rent as such and in clear recognition of the tenancy right asserted by the person who pays it. Patanjali Sastri, J., in his dissenting judgment, has substantially agreed with the majority as regards the nature of the tenancy created by Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act, and that is evident from the following observations:
"Turning now to the main point, it will be seen that the section postulates the lessee remaining in possession after the determination of the lease which is conduct indicative, in ordinary circumstances, of his desire to continue as a tenant under the lessor and implies a tacit offer to take a new tenancy from the expiration of the old on the same terms so far as they are applicable to the new situation, and when the lessor assents to the lessee so continuing in possession, he tacitly accepts the latter's offer and a fresh tenancy results by the implied agreement of the parties. When further, the lessee in that situation tenders rent and the lessor accepts it, their conduct raises more readily and clearly the implication of an agreement between the parties to create a fresh tenancy."
(emphasis supplied) A plain reading of provisions of Section 116 reveals that 27 the status of holding over is created on the lessee remaining in possession after the determination of lease granted to the lessee and the lessor accepting the rent from the lessee or otherwise assents to his continuance in possession and the Section thereafter goes on to provide the consequence thereof, wherein, it is indicated that in absence of an agreement to the contrary the lease is renewed from year to year or from month to month according to the purpose, for which, the property is leased as specified in Section 106. The plain language of the provision does not envisage an agreement post the expiry of the original lease deed, for the nature of tenancy holding over to be different than what is specified in Section 106.
In fact, the provision (Section 116) envisage renewal of the lease and as under Section 107 of the Act a lease of immovable property from year to year, or for any term exceeding one year can be made only by a registered instrument, except for the 'period' of the original lease, the other terms also get renewed.
Hon'ble Supreme Court in Biman Krishna Bose v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd. : (2001) 6 SCC 477 while dealing with term 'renewal' held and observed as under:-
"5. A renewal of an insurance policy means repetition of the original policy. When renewed, the policy is extended and renewed policy in the identical terms from a different date of its expiration comes into force. In common parlance, by renewal, the old policy is revived and it is sort of a substitution of obligations under the old policy, unless such policy provides otherwise. It may be that, on renewal, a new contract comes into being, but the said contract is on the same terms and conditions as that of the original policy."
(emphasis supplied) 28 The provisions of Section 106 of the Act read as under:-
"106. Duration of certain leases in absence of written contract or local usage.- (1) In the absence of a contract or local law or usage to the contrary, a lease of immovable property for agricultural or manufacturing purposes shall be deemed to be a lease from year to year, terminable, on the part of either lessor or lessee, by six months' notice; and a lease of immovable property for any other purpose shall be deemed to be a lease from month to month, terminable, on the part of either lessor or lessee, by fifteen days' notice.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the period mentioned in sub-
section (1) shall commence from the date of receipt of notice.
(3) A notice under sub-section (1) shall not be deemed to be invalid merely because the period mentioned therein falls short of the period specified under that sub-section, where a suit or proceeding is filed after the expiry of the period mentioned in that sub-section.
(4) Every notice under sub-section (1) must be in writing, signed by or on behalf of the person giving it, and either be sent by post to the party who is intended to be bound by it or be tendered or delivered personally to such party, or to one of his family or servants at his residence, or (if such tender or delivery is not practicable) affixed to a conspicuous part of the property."
The Section 106 starts with 'in the absence of a contract or local law or uses to the contrary' and goes on to provide the period of length of notice for termination of lease based on its nature.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Case of Burmah Shell Oil Distributing (supra) while considering the provisions of Section 106, 107 and 116 after noticing the issue raised that whether there was a valid termination of the lease and, as such, the sub lessee was bound to deliver vacant possession went on to hold as under:-
"5. In view of the paragraph 1 of S. 107 of the Act, since the lease was for a period exceeding one year, it could only have been extended by a registered instrument executed by both the lessor and the lessee. In the absence of registered instrument, the lease shall be deemed to be "lease from month to month". It is clear from the very language of 29 S.107 of the Act which postulates that a lease of immovable property from year to year, or for any term exceeding one year, or reversing a yearly rent, can be made only by a registered instrument. In the absence of registered instrument, it must be a monthly lease. The lessee and the sub-lessee in the facts of this case continued to remain in possession of the property on payment of rent as a tenant from month to month. The High Court so found. We are of the opinion that the High Court was right."
"7. It was submitted before the High Court that this was not a case of continuing of old tenancy for a period of five years but in view of the clear provisions of S. 107 which we have noted hereinbefore and in the absence of a registered instrument, it must be held that it was holding over and not continuation of old tenancy for a further period of five years. That would be the harmonious construction of S. 107 read with S. 116 in the facts of this case. We are of the opinion that the High Court was right that the tenancy was automatically determined on the expiry of ten years which was stipulated in Ext. 4. Thereafter the lessee continued to hold the property and the lessor accepted the rent. The lease was, therefore, renewed from month to month because it was not the case of any party that it was for agricultural purposes."
(emphasis supplied) The Hon'ble Supreme Court with reference to Section 107 of the Act held that the tenant holding over remains in possession of the property from month to month only and held qua 'period only' that the same is not continuation of old tenancy.
The overwhelming judicial opinion on the issue is the common view of High Courts of Allahabad, Calcutta (later judgment), Punjab & Harayana, Madras and Gujarat that the words 'in the absence of an agreement to the contrary' occurring in Section 116 cannot be taken as referring only to the existence of an agreement as to the terms of holding over and the lease is renewed with all the terms and conditions contained in the document of original/quondam lease, which are not inconsistent with an annual tenancy.
The only dissent has been by the High Courts of Andhra 30 Pradesh and Calcutta (earlier 1934 view), wherein Andhra Pradesh though has followed the earlier 1934 view of Calcutta High Court, but has not referred to the later AIR 1962 Calcutta 597 and Full Bench judgment of Allahabad High Court (AIR 1969 All 333) and though the aspect as considered by Dasarathi Kumar was upheld but the reasoning of later Calcutta view based on the consideration that 'lease is renewed' was not adverted to.
The judgment cited by learned counsel for the respondent in the case of Thulasibalan (supra) and Indian Oil Corporation (supra) does not deal with present issue with regard to Section 116 of the Act.
In view of the above discussion, ratio in Kai Khushroo Bezonjee Capadia (supra) regarding terms of old lease getting contained in new tenancy by implication, approved by Hon'ble Supreme Court in Bhawanji Lakhamshi (supra), provision of renewal of original lease under Section 116 of the Act and concurring with the view taken by the Full Bench of Allahabad High Court in the case of Burmah Shell Oil Distributing (supra), which has reiterated its earlier Full Bench view in the case of Shiv Nath (supra) and AIR 1962 Calcutta 597 it is held that the tenant holding over can rely on the condition of length of notice incorporated in the original lease for the purpose of seeking a 'contract to the contrary' for the purpose of Section 106 of the Act.
The alternative contention raised by learned counsel for the respondent now requires consideration that even if the 31 Clause-9 of Exhibit-4 (supra) was to be operative, as the appellant was tenant holding over, the same would have no application in the present circumstance.
A bare look at the said condition indicates that the same provides that the lessor and lessee on a six months' written notice could terminate the lease.
Section 111(h) of the Act provides as under:-
"111. Determination of lease. - A lease of immovable property determines -
(a) .....
(b) .....
(c) .....
(d) .....
(e) .....
(f) .....
(g) .....
(h) on the expiration of a notice to determine the lease,
or to quite, or of intention to quit, the property leased, duly given by one party to the other."
A tenancy from month to month does not come to an end by efflux of time and the same comes to an end only on expiration of notice to quit as per terms of Section 111(h) of the Act and, therefore, the requirement of a six months' notice as contained in original lease deed Exhibit-4, the appellant being tenant holding over, would apply in the present case.
The notice terminating tenancy Exhibit-1 was issued for a period of shorter than six months and the suit having been filed before expiry of six months from the date of notice and, therefore, in absence of a valid notice the suit was not maintainable.
The trial court in the impugned judgment has treated the appellant as 'tenant at sufferance' and, therefore, held the notice Exhibit-1 as sufficient. The said finding has been arrived at in 32 total ignorance of facts of the case and applicable relevant law. As the appellant has been held to be 'tenant hold over' and the notice Exhibit-1 as invalid the finding recorded by the trial court on the issue cannot be sustained.
So far as the application filed by appellant under Order XLI, Rule 27 CPC is concerned, the same is highly belated, as the appellant was in possession of the letter since 17.04.2010 and no explanation regarding delay has been provided, as such the application has no substance and the same is, therefore, dismissed.
In view of the above discussion, the impugned judgment and decree passed by the trial court cannot be sustained. The appeal is, therefore, allowed, the judgment and decree dated 30.03.2011 is set aside. No costs.
(ARUN BHANSALI), J.
A.K. Chouhan/