In Prime
Industries & Ors. (supra) tenant was served notice for payment through UPC
and as regards registered post it was held that because tenant was avoiding
service by registered post, since notice sent by UPC was correct address of
the tenant and the same was not received back, it was presumed that tenant
was served with the notice of demand.
Even otherwise, the "tenant" has
avoided receiving of the notice by registered AD post despite several
visits of the postman which is deemed to have been served upon him
and in this regard, the judgment of our Hon'ble High Court of Delhi
in Prime Industries vs. Rafeeq Ahmad 1997 (1) RCR 661 can be
referred to. The witness PW1 ("landlord") was cross examined by the
"tenant" on 23.11.2010 and on 23.09.2011 but there is no cross
examination by the "tenant" either on the point of rate of rent of Rs.
2,500/ per month or on the point of arrears of rent since June 2006
and this testimony of the "landlord" went unrebutted and
unchallenged. The "tenant" has also not put his defence in the cross
examination of PW1 that rate of rent has been Rs.1,000/ per month
or Rs.500/ per month or he has paid the rent upto December 2007 or
advancing of loan of Rs.75,000/ to the "landlord". Similarly, the
"tenant" has not cross examined PW2 Sh. Ramesh on these points and
the "tenant" has also not put his case in cross examination of PW2.
6. I am in complete agreement with the approach
adopted by Ld. ARC. UPC carries a presumption u/s 114
Evidence Act. This was so held by our own Hon'ble High
Court in Prime Industries Vs Rafiq Ahmed 1997 Rajdhani
Law Reporter 432.
If notice is not received back (in the case of Madan Lal Sethi v.
Amar Singh Bhalla, 1980 (2) RCJ 543 (Delhi) = 1980 Raj. LR 693 = 18 (1980 DLT 427,
Usha Mehra, J.; Prime Industries & others v. Rafeeq Ahmad, 1997(1) RCR (Rent) 661
(Delhi) : 67 (1997) DLT 121; Vinod Nagpal v. Bakshi S. Kuljas Rai, 1989 (2) RCR 154
= 1989 (2) RCR 298, (Delhi), Santosh Duggal, J) or received back with recipient's
signature (in the case of M/s Green View Radio Service v. Laxmibai Ramji, AIR 1990
SC 2156 = 1990 (4) SCC 497 = JT 1990 (4) SC 54 = 1990(2) RCJ 459 = 1991 (1) RCR
54 = 1990 (2) Scale 533, P.B. Sawant & N.M. Kasiwal, JJ., D.O.D. 11-09-1990) then the
presumption of service arises. This law is followed till date by the various Hon'ble High
Courts.
The petitioner to prove the service of the Ex.PW1/2
has filed on record the documents Ex.PW1/3 to Ex.PW1/5 and has
also examined himself as well as PW2 and PW3 who have deposed
that the concerned record pertaining to the service of the Ex.PW1/2
was weeded out by their department in due course. PW1 has
deposed in his examinationinchief that the Ex.PW1/5 bears the
signature/initial of the respondent no.1. There is no question or
suggestion put on behalf of the respondent no.1 to the PW1 in his
cross examination to deny or suggest that the signature or initial at
Ex.PW1/5 does not pertains to the respondent no.1. Therefore the
said signature is deemed to be admitted by the respondent no.1.
The petitioner has relied on a case titled as Prime Industries Vs.
Rafiq Ahmed 1997. Rajdhani Law Reporter 432 wherein the Hon'ble
High Court of Delhi has held that if a notice of demand is sent by
Registered Post as well as under postal certificate which is correctly
addressed and report on Registered notice is avoiding service then
notice sent under Postal Certificate should be deemed to be duly
served vide presumption under section 114 of the Indian Evidence
Act.
In Prime Industries & Ors. Vs. Faeeq Ahmed 67 (1997) DLT
M/s Ishwin Packaging Vs. M/s Samman Lal Sher Singh Jain & Others (Suit no.80/09) Page No. 8 of pages 12
1212, it was held that the notice sent by registered A.D post as well as UPC,
the appellants avoided service of notice by registered post, the notice sent
under the UPC, presumption could be drawn under Section 114 of Evidence
Act. The notice sent at correct address of the firm. It was held by the Hon'ble
High Court of Delhi that notice of demand properly served and it was sufficient
compliance of provisions of law.
In Prime Industries & Ors. Vs. Faeeq Ahmed 67 (1997) DLT
1212, it was held that the notice sent by registered A.D post as well as UPC,
the appellants avoided service of notice by registered post, the notice sent
under the UPC, presumption could be drawn under Section 114 of Evidence
Act. The notice sent at correct address of the firm. It was held by the
Hon'ble High Court of Delhi that notice of demand properly served and it
was sufficient compliance of provisions of law.
The court in judgment Prime Industries vs Rafeeq Ahmed
reported as , '67 (1997) DLT 121' observed
(5) Turning to the question whether notice of demand was served on the
tenant or not, it is established on record that notice sent by registered
Ad post dated 16th April,1980 Exhibit AW.I/2 was avoided by lhe
appellant. Copies of that notice were also sent to appellants No.2 arid 3.
They too avoided receipt of the same. As per Postal Authority's remark
Suit No. 950/27 Page 10
on the envelope despite repeated visits and informations being given to
the addressee they did not make themselves available to receive the
notice. Hence the notices were returned as undelivered. The notice of
demand was simultaneously sent under Certificate of posting because
respondent found that the appellants were intentionally avoiding
service. This was done in order to ensure that appellants are served
with the notice of demand. The notice sent under Upc was proved on
record as Exhibit AW.I/9. However, the name of appellants No.2 and 3's
father was wrongly mentioned in the Upc as Mushtaq Ahmed. The real
name of their father is Shaukat Ali Khan.