Calcutta High Court (Appellete Side)
The West Bengal Handloom Weavers ... vs Jayanta Saha on 14 May, 2024
Author: Hiranmay Bhattacharyya
Bench: Hiranmay Bhattacharyya
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
CIVIL REVISIONAL JURISDICTION
APPELLATE SIDE
Before:
The Hon'ble Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya
CO 3452 of 2023
The West Bengal Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Limited
Vs.
Jayanta Saha
For the Petitioner : Mr. Aniruddha Chatterjee,
Mr. Chayan Gupta
Mr. Soumyajyoti Nandy
Mr. Sayantan Chatterjee
Mr. Deepankar Thakur
...advocates
For the Opposite Party : Mr. Debjit Mukherjee
Mrs. Susmita Chatterjee
Mr. Kaustav Bhattacharyya
Ms. S. Chakraborty
Ms. Priyanka Jana
Ms. S. Das
... advocates
Reserved on : 06.05.2024
Judgment on : 14.05.2024
Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, J.:-
1. This application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India is at the
instance of the defendant and is directed against an order dated 2nd
September, 2023 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division) 1st
Court at Howrah in Title Suit no. 433 of 2022.
2. By the order impugned, the application under Section 5 of the Limitation
Act, 1963 stood rejected. Consequently, the applications under Sections
7(1) and 7(2) of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997 was rejected
on the ground that the same were not filed within the stipulated period.
3. Opposite party herein filed a suit for eviction inter alia on the ground of
reasonable requirement. Petitioner filed the applications under Section
Page 1 of 14
7(1) and 7(2) of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997 (hereinafter
referred to as the "W.B.P.T. Act, 1997"). Petitioner also filed application
under Section 5 of the Limitation Act praying for condonation of delay in
filing the aforesaid application.
4. Opposite party contested the said application by filing written objection
raising the point of maintainability of an application under Section 5 of
the Limitation Act in connection with an application under Section 7(1)
and 7(2) of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997.
5. The learned Trial Judge rejected the application under Section 5 of the
Limitation Act. Consequently, the application under Section 7(1) and 7(2)
of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997 was rejected.
6. Being aggrieved by the said order, the defendant has filed this Civil
Revision Application.
7. Mr. Chatterjee, learned advocate for the petitioner contended that if the
tenant disputes the amount of rent payable by him upon the suit being
instituted under Section 6 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997, the tenant has a
right to get such dispute adjudicated by filing an application under
Section 7(2) of the said Act. He further submitted that by virtue of
Section 40 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997, the Limitation Act 1963 had been
made applicable to the proceedings under the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997. He
also submitted that since the provisions of Section 7(2) of the said Act
contemplates filing of an application, the provisions of Section 5 of the
Limitation Act, 1963 shall be applicable to condone any delay in filing
such application in view of Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act. He
contended that in the absence of any express exclusion of applicability of
the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act at the stage of filing of
application under Section 7(2) of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997, the Court has
the power to condone the delay in filing the application under Section
7(2) of the said Act. Mr. Chatterjee submitted that the decision of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Bijay Kumar Singh and ors. vs.
Amit Kumar Chamariya and another reported at (2019) 10 SCC 660
was passed in ignorance of the provisions of Section 40 of the W.B.P.T.
Act, 1997 and Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act. He contended that the
Page 2 of 14
aforesaid decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court cannot be said to be a
binding precedent as the same was passed in ignorance of the aforesaid
statutory provision. He submitted that even the High Court can declare a
decision rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court to be per incuriam. In
support of the contention that the decision in Bijay Kumar Singh
(supra) is per incuriam, he placed reliance upon the decisions of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of A.R. Antulay vs. R.S. Nayak and
Another reported at (1988) 2 SCC 602, National Insurance Company
Ltd. vs. Pranay Sethi and Others reported at (2017) 16 SCC 680, Dr.
Shah Faesal and Others vs. Union of India and Another reported in
(2020) 4 SCC 1, Secretary to Government of Kerala, Irrigation
Department and Others vs. James Varghese and Others reported at
(2022) 9 SCC 593. Mr. Chatterjee also placed reliance upon the decision
of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Mukri Gopalan vs.
Cheppilat Puthanpurayil Aboobacker reported at (1995) 5 SCC 5 in
support of his contention as to applicability of Section 5 of the Limitation
Act to a proceeding under the Rent Control Legislation.
8. Mr. Chatterjee also referred to a decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High
Court in the case of Jaydeo s/o Mahadeo Parate vs. State of
Maharashtra & Other reported at 2005 SCC Online Bom 1283 in
support of his contention that the High Court is not necessarily bound to
follow the decision later in point of time, but must follow the one which in
its view is better in point of law.
9. Mr. Mukherjee, learned Advocate for the opposite party seriously
disputed the submissions of Mr. Chatterjee. He contended that it is now
well settled that Section 5 of the Limitation Act cannot be resorted to for
condonation of delay in filing the application under Section 7(1) and 7(2)
of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act. In support of such contention
he placed reliance upon the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in
Bijay Kumar Singh (supra). He also placed reliance upon the coordinate
bench decisions in the case of in the case of Smt. Papiya Sengupta and
Ors vs. Shri Suvasis Ghosh reported at 2020(1) Indian Civil Cases
980 (Cal.) and Seuli Saha and Another vs. Sita Das and Ors.
Page 3 of 14
reported at 2023 (4) Indian Civil Cases 77 (Cal.), Mr. Mukherjee placed
reliance upon a decision of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in
the case of Binika Thapa (nee Rai) and Another vs. Damber Kumari
Mukhia and Another reported at 2023 SCC OnLine Cal 5478 and also
referred to Article 141 of the Constitution of India in support of his
contention that the Law declared by the Hon'ble Supreme Court shall be
binding on all Courts within the territory of India.
10. Heard the learned advocates for the parties and perused the materials
placed.
11. Record reveals that the summons was served upon the tenant/ petitioner
herein on September 3, 2022. The tenant/petitioner herein appeared
before the learned Trial Judge on November 23, 2022. The petitioner filed
the applications under Section 7(1) and 7(2) of the W.B.P.T. Act 1997 on
December 16, 2022. An application for condonation of delay in filing the
aforesaid application was also filed in connection with the said
application.
12. The issue that arises for consideration in this civil revision application is
whether Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 can be resorted to at the
stage of filing the application under Section 7(2) of the WBPT Act 1997.
13. For the purpose of deciding the aforesaid issue it will be profitable to
refer to Sections 7 and 40 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997 which are extracted
hereinafter.
"7. When a tenant can get the benefit of protection against eviction. -
(1)(a) On a suit being instituted by the landlord for eviction
on any of the grounds referred to in section 6, the tenant
shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) of this
section, pay to the landlord or deposit with the Civil Judge
all arrears of rent, calculated at the rate at which it was
last paid and up to the end of the month previous to that in
which the payment is made together with interest at the
rate of ten per cent per annum.
(b) Such payment or deposit shall be made within one
month of the service of summons on the tenant or, where
he appears in the suit without the summons being served
upon him, within one month of his appearance.
Page 4 of 14
(c) The tenant shall thereafter continue to pay to the
landlord or deposit with the Civil Judge month by month by
the 15th of each succeeding month, a sum equivalent to the
rent at that rate.
(2) If in any suit referred to in sub-section (1), there is any
dispute as to the amount of the rent payable by the tenant, the
tenant shall, within the time specified in that sub-section, deposit
with the Civil Judge the amount admitted by him to be due from
him together with an application for determination of the rent
payable. No such deposit shall be accepted unless it is
accompanied by an application for determination of the rent
payable. On receipt of the application, the Civil Judge shall,
having regard to the rate at which rent was last paid and the
period for which default may have been made by the tenant,
make, as soon as possible within a period not exceeding one
year, an order specifying the amount, if any, due from the tenant
and, thereupon, the tenant shall, within one month of the date of
such order, pay to the landlord the amount so specified in the
order.
Provided that having regard to the circumstances of the case, an
extension of time may be granted by the Civil Judge only once
and the period of such extension shall not exceed two months.
(3) If the tenant fails to deposit or pay any amount referred to in
sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) within the time specified therein
or within such extended time as may be granted, the Civil Judge
shall order the defence against delivery of possession to be
struck out and shall proceed with the hearing of the suit.
(4) If the tenant makes deposit or payment as required by sub-
section (1) or sub-section (2), no order for delivery of possession of
the premises to the landlord on the ground of default in payment
of rent by the tenant, shall be made by the Civil Judge, but he
may allow such cost as he may deem fit to the landlord:
Provided that the tenant shall not be entitled to any relief under
this subsection if, having obtained such relief once in respect of
the premises, he again Page 6 of 14 makes default in payment of
rent for four months within a period of twelve months or for three
successive rental periods where rent is not payable monthly.
"40. Application of the Limitation Act, 1963 to proceedings and
appeals-
Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to limitation, the
provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), shall apply to
proceedings and appeals under this Act."
Page 5 of 14
14. After reading Section 7 of the WBPT Act, 1997, this Court finds that on a
suit being instituted by the landlord for eviction under Section 6 of the
said Act, the tenant can get the benefit of protection against eviction
upon compliance of the requirements under Section 7. Clause (a) of
Section 7(1) comes into operation if there is no dispute as to the amount
of rent payable and states that the tenant shall pay to the landlord all
arrears of rent calculated at the rate at which it was last paid together
with interest. Clause (b) provides the time limit within which such
amount has to be paid. In terms of Clause (c), the tenant shall thereafter
continue to pay to the landlord month by month by the 15th of each
succeeding month a sum equivalent to the rent at that rate.
15. Subsection (2) of Section 7 comes into play where there is a dispute as
to the amount of rent payable. In such a case, the tenant is obliged to
deposit the amount admitted by him to be due from him together with
an application for determination of the rent payable. Upon such
application being made, the Civil Judge shall, having regard to the rate
at which rent was last paid and the period for which the tenant may
have defaulted, pass an order specifying the amount, if any due from the
tenant and the tenant shall deposit the amount specified in the order
within one month of the date of such order.
16. As per the proviso, an extension of time can be granted by the Civil
Judge and such extension shall not exceed two months.
17. Section 7 prescribes the steps to be taken by the tenant as well as the
time limit within which such compliance is to be made for the tenant to
avail of the benefit of protection from eviction.
18. An issue that fell for consideration in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) was
whether the provisions of Section 7(2) are mandatory. While considering
such issue, the Hon'ble Supreme Court reiterated the proposition of law
laid down in Nasiruddin vs. Sita Ram Agarwal reported at (2003) 2
SCC 577, wherein it was held that if an act is required to be performed
by a private person within a specified time, the same would ordinarily be
mandatory but when a public functionary is required to perform a public
Page 6 of 14
function within a time frame, the same will be held to be directory,
unless the consequences thereof are provided.
19. The Hon'ble Supreme Court further observed that sub-sections (2A) and
(2B) of Section 17 of the West Bengal Premises Act, 1956 confers
unfettered power on the Court to extend the period of deposit of rent,
which is circumscribed by the proviso to Section 7(2) and Section 7(3) of
the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997. The Hon'ble Supreme Court held that the
provisions of sub-section (2) are mandatory and required to be
scrupulously followed by the tenant.
20. Mr. Chatterjee would contend that in view of Section 29(2) of the
Limitation Act, 1963, the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act
can be resorted to for condonation of delay in filing an application under
Section 7(2). In order to decide such contention it would be beneficial to
recapitulate the provision of Section 29 (2) of the Limitation Act, 1963
for which the same is extracted hereinafter.
"29. Savings.--
(1) *****
(2) Where any special or local law prescribes for any suit, appeal or
application a period of limitation different from the period prescribed by
the Schedule, the provisions of section 3 shall apply as if such period
were the period prescribed by the Schedule and for the purpose of
determining any period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or
application by any special or local law, the provisions contained in
sections 4 to 24 (inclusive) shall apply only in so far as, and to the
extent to which, they are not expressly excluded by such special or local
law."
21. In Mukri Gopalan (supra), the Hon'ble Supreme Court after noting the
provisions of Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act, 1963 laid down the
conditions to be satisfied for invoking the said provision and the
consequences of the application of Section 29(2).
The Hon'ble Supreme Court held thus -
"8. *******
A mere look at the aforesaid provision shows for its applicability to the
facts of a given case and for importing the machinery of the provisions
containing Sections 4 to 24 of the Limitation Act the following two
Page 7 of 14
requirements have to be satisfied by the authority invoking the said
provision
(i)There must be a provision for period of limitation under any special or
local law in connection with any suit, appeal or application.
(ii) The said prescription of period of limitation under such special or
local law should be different from the period prescribed by the schedule
to the Limitation Act.
9. If the aforesaid two requirements are satisfied the consequences
contemplated by Section 29(2) would automatically follow. These
consequences are as under:
(i)In such a case Section 3 of the Limitation Act would apply as if the
period prescribed by the special or local law was the period prescribed
by the schedule.
(ii) For determining any period of limitation prescribed by such special
or local law for a suit, appeal or application all the provisions
containing Sections 4 to 24 (inclusive) would apply insofar as and to
the extent to which they are not expressly excluded by such special or
local law."
22. Mr. Chatterjee would contend that Section 7(2) of the W.B.P.T Act, 1997
satisfies the aforesaid twin conditions laid down in Mukri Gopalan
(supra) for applicability of Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act, 1973 and,
therefore, Section 5 automatically gets attracted.
23. Even if the argument of Mr. Chatterjee is accepted that there is no
express exclusion for applicability of Section 5 of the Limitation Act,
1963 at the stage of filing of an application under Section 7(2) of the
W.B.P.T. Act, 1997, the question would be whether the steps to be taken
by the tenant as contemplated under Section 7(2) of the W.B.P.T. Act,
1997 would qualify for invoking the provisions of Section 5 of the
Limitation Act.
24. The issue that fell for consideration before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in
Mukri Gopalan (supra) was whether the appellate authority constituted
under Section 18 of the relevant Rent Act has power to condone the
delay in filing of appeal before it under the said section. In other words,
the issue was whether delay in filing an appeal can be condoned by
invoking Section 5 of the Limitation Act. The said issue was answered by
the Hon'ble Supreme Court by holding that the appellate authority
constituted under Section 18 of the said Act functions as a Court and
Page 8 of 14
the period of Limitation prescribed therein will be computed keeping in
view the provisions of Section 4 to 24 of the Limitation Act. It was
further held that such proceedings will attract Section 29(2) of the
Limitation Act and consequently Section 5 of the Limitation Act would
also be applicable to such proceedings.
25. Mr. Chatterjee would contend that the decision in Bijay Kumar Singh
(supra) was passed in ignorance of Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act,
1963 and the decision in Mukri Gopalan (supra). He, therefore,
submitted that the decision in the case Bijay Kumar Singh (supra)
should be declared as per incuriam by this Court.
26. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Dr. Shah Faesal (supra) held that the
rule of per incuriam has been developed as an exception to the doctrine
of judicial precedent. The said rule literally means a judgment passed in
ignorance of a relevant statute or any other binding authority.
27. On the context of precedential value of a judgment rendered per
incuriam, it would be relevant to refer to the observations of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court in A.R. Antulay (supra). In paragraph 183 of the said
reports it was held thus-
"But the point is that the circumstance that a decision is reached per
incuriam, merely serves to denude the decision of its precedent value.
Such a decision would not be binding as a judicial precedent. A co-
ordinate bench can disagree with it and decline to follow it. A larger
bench can overrule such decision. When a previous decision is so
overruled it does not happen-nor has the overruling bench any
jurisdiction so to do-that the finality of the operative order, inter-parties,
in the previous decision is overturned. In this context the word 'decision'
means only the reason for the previous order and not the operative
order in the previous decision, binding inter-parties. Even if a previous
decision is overruled by a larger-bench, the efficacy and binding nature,
of the adjudication expressed in the operative order remains
undisturbed inter-parties. Even if the earlier decision of the five Judge
bench is per incuriam the operative part of the order cannot be
interfered within the manner now sought to be done. That apart the five
Judge bench gave its reason. The reason, in our opinion, may or may
not be sufficient. There is advertence to Section 7(1) of the 1952 Act and
to the exclusive jurisdiction created thereunder. There is also reference
to Section 407 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Can such a decision be
characterised as one reached per incurium? Indeed, Ranganath Misra,
J. says this on the point: (para 105)
Page 9 of 14
Overruling when made by a larger bench of an earlier decision of
a smaller one is Intended to take away the precedent value of the
decision without affecting the binding effect of the decision in the
particular case. Antulay, therefore, is not entitled to take
advantage of the matter being before a larger bench."
28. In Pranay Sethi (supra), the Hon'ble Supreme Court reiterated the
proposition of law that a decision or judgment can also be per incumiam
if it is not possible to reconcile its ratio with that of a previously
pronounced judgment of co-equal or larger Bench; or if the decision of a
High Court is not in consonance with the views of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court. It was also clarified that the per incuriam rule is strictly and
correctly applicable to the ratio decidendi and not to obiter dicta. The
aforesaid proposition was also reiterated in James Varghese (supra).
29. In Dr. Shah Faesal (supra), the Hon'ble Supreme Court also reiterated
the view of five Hon'ble Judges of the Supreme Court in Punjab Land
Development & Reclamation Corporation Ltd. vs. Labour Court
reported at (1990) 3 SCC 682 wherein it was held that as regards the
judgments of the Supreme Court allegedly rendered in ignorance of a
relevant constitutional provision or other statutory provisions on the
subjects covered by them, it is true that the Supreme Court may not be
said to "declare the law" on those subjects if the relevant provisions were
not really present to its mind.
30. This court has to now consider whether the decision in Bijay Kumar
Singh (supra) was delivered in ignorance of the statutory provisions or
any binding authority.
31. In Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) the Hon'ble Supreme Court felt the
necessity to decide the scope of Section 7 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997 to
bring certainty. Before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the learned Counsel
for the appellant argued that the Limitation Act would be applicable to
seek condonation of delay in filing an application under Section 7(2) of
the said Act. The learned Counsel for the respondent argued that the
Limitation Act is not applicable to seek condonation of delay in filing an application under Section 7(2) of the Act.
Page 10 of 1432. The Hon'ble Supreme Court after noting the provisions of Section 7 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997 held that Section 7 of the Act provides for a complete mechanism for avoiding eviction on the ground of arrears of rent, provided that the tenant takes steps as contemplated under sub- section (2) of Section 7 of the Act and deposits the arrears of rent on determination of the disputed amount. It was further held that the deposit of rent along with an application for determination of dispute is a precondition to avoid eviction on the ground of arrears of rent. In view thereof it was held that the tenant will not be able to take recourse to Section 5 of the Limitation Act as it is not an application alone which is required to be filed by the tenant but the tenant has to deposit admitted arrears of rent as well.
33. The Hon'ble Supreme Court held thus:
"21. Sub section (3) provides for consequences of non-payment of rent i.e. striking off the defence against the delivery of the possession and to proceed with the hearing of the suit. Such provision is materially different from sub sections (2A) and (2B) which was being examined by this Court in B.P. Khemka. Sub sections (2A) and (2B) of Section 17 of 1956 Act confer unfettered power on the court to extend the period of deposit of rent, which is circumscribed by the proviso of sub sections (2) and (3) of Section 7 of the Act. Therefore, the provisions of sub section (2) are mandatory and required to be scrupulously followed by the tenant, if the tenant has to avoid the eviction on account of non-
payment of arrears of rent under Section 6 of the Act. There is an outer limit for extension of time to deposit of arrears of rent in terms of the proviso to sub section (2) of Section 7of the Act. The consequences flowing from non-deposit of rent are contemplated under sub section (3) of Section 7 of the Act. Therefore, if the tenant fails to deposit admitted arrears of rent within one month of receipt of summons or within one month of appearance without summons and also fails to make an application for determination of the disputed amount of rate of rent and the period of arrears and the subsequent non-payment on determining of the arrears of rent, will entail the eviction of the tenant. Section 7 of the Act provides for a complete mechanism for avoiding eviction on the ground of arrears of rent, provided that the tenant takes steps as contemplated under sub section (2) of Section 7 of the Act and deposits the arrears of rent on determination of the disputed amount. The deposit of rent along with an application for determination of dispute is a pre-condition to avoid eviction on the ground of non-payment of arrears of rent. In view thereof, tenant will not be able to take recourse to Section 5 of the Limitation Act as it is not an application alone which is required to be filed by the tenant but the tenant has to deposit admitted arrears of rent as well."
Page 11 of 1434. Section 5 of the Limitation Act states that any appeal or any application, other than an application under any of the provision of Order XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure may be admitted after the prescribed period if appellant or the applicant satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal or making the application within such period.
35. In Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) the Hon'ble Supreme Court was of the view that the tenant will not be able to take recourse to Section 5 of the Limitation Act as it is not an application alone which is required to be filed by the tenant but the tenant has to deposit admitted arrear of rent as well.
36. The fact that the relevant provision of the Limitation Act, more particularly section 29(2) were really present in the mind of the Hon'ble Judges would be evident from the fact that the Hon'ble Supreme Court considered the effect of applicability of Section 5 of the Limitation Act to WBPT Act, 1997 wherein a period of limitation has been prescribed under Section 7(2).
37. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Debasish Paul & Anr. vs. Amal Boral reported at (2024) 2 SCC 169 after noting the provisions of Section 40 of the W.B.P.T, Act 1997 observed that though generally the Limitation Act is applicable to the provisions of the said Act in view of Section 40 of the said Act, if a lesser time period is specified as limitation in the said Act, then the provisions of the Limitation Act cannot be used to expand the same. It was held that the reasoning in Bijay Kumar Singh case cannot be doubted more so as the requirement for a tenant is not only to file an application but he has to deposit admitted arrears as well.
38. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Debasish Paul (supra) after considering the effect of Section 40 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997 specifically observed that the reasoning in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) cannot be doubted. In view thereof, this Court is not inclined to accept the contention that the decision in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) was delivered in ignorance of Section 40 of the W.B.P.T. Act, 1997.
Page 12 of 1439. In Mukri Gopalan (supra), the issue was whether the appellate authority had the power to condone the delay in filing the appeal. The issue involved in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) is completely different. It is well settled that a decision is only an authority for what it actually decides and it is only the principle laid down in the judgment that is binding law under Article 141 of the Constitution of India.
40. To the mind of this court, the decision in the case of Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) cannot be said to be per incuriam the provisions of any statute or a binding authority.
41. The coordinate bench decisions in the case of Papiya Sengupta (supra) and Seuli Saha (supra) were delivered by placing reliance on Bijay Kumar Singh (supra). As rightly argued by Mr. Mukherjee, the principle laid down in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) is binding law under Article 141 of the Constitution of India. The Hon'ble Division Bench in Binika Thapa (nee Rai) (supra) held that the decision in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) is binding upon all courts, be it the trial Court as well the High Court.
42. The decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in Jaydeo (supra) does not have any manner of application to the case on hand as this Court has not been confronted with any decision contrary to Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) on the issue involved in this Civil Revision Application.
43. In view of the aforesaid discussion, this court holds that the provision of Section 5 of the Limitation Act cannot come to the aid of the tenant for condonation of the delay in filing an application under Section 7(2) of the said Act.
44. Section 7(1) does not contemplate filing of any application. Therefore, the tenant cannot take recourse to Section 5 of the Limitation Act for condonation of delay in making deposits contemplated therein.
45. For the reasons as aforesaid, this court is not inclined to accept the contention of Mr. Chatterjee that the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Bijay Kumar Singh (supra) was delivered in ignorance of the provisions of Section 29(2) of Limitation Act, 1963 or any binding authority.
Page 13 of 1446. The learned trial judge was right in rejecting the applications under Sections 7(1) and 7(2) of the W.B.P.T. Act 1997 as the said applications were not filed within the stipulated period. This Court is, therefore, of the considered view that the impugned order does not suffer from any infirmity warranting interference under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. C.O. 3452 of 2023 stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.
47. Urgent photostat certified copies, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon the compliance of all formalities.
(Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, J.) Page 14 of 14