92 In support of the above argument Mr.Madon relies upon a
judgment of the learned Single Judge of this Court in the case of
C.J.Ghadiali and others v/s Z.B.Wadiwalla reported in 1981 Mh.L.J. 876 :
In the case of C.J. Ghadiali and others v. Z.B. Wadiawalla, reported in 1981 Mh.L.J. 876 - 1981 Bombay Cases Reporter, 956, Modi, J., took the view that the provisions of section 5(11)(c) of the Rent Act provided for a right of succession different from the one under the ordinary law, and it must, therefore, follow that the right of possession also will be of the person who is a tenant under section 5(11)(c) of the Rent Act. It was observed that the Bombay Rent Act was a statute which was supposed to be enacted as a temporary measure and so it was not enacted to last till repealed but for a limited period which was being extended from time to time. It would, therefore, follow that the special mode of succession provided by the Rent Act was not a permanent mode and the right of the heirs or legal representatives under the normal law as suspended and eclipsed till the preferential right conferred by section 5(11)(c) of the Rent Act continued. In the light of this decision also it would follow that as far as the present controversy is concerned, for the limited purpose of section 5(11)(c) of the Rent Act, it would be respondent Keikobad alone who would be entitled to be regarded as a tenant by virtue of the provisions of section 5(11)(c) of the Rent Act,
39. This judgment need not detain us long in view of the change in law thereafter in the case of C.J. Ghadiali and Ors. v. Z.B. Wadiwalla 1981 M.L.J. 876. The change in the law pursuant to the amendment in 1978 in Section 5(11)(c) of the Bombay Rent Act has resulted in an observation that the right of the heir is eclipsed by the provisions of Section 5(11)(c) in cases where the tenancy continues. Consequently, a member of the tenant's family residing with the deceased tenant at the time of the death of the deceased tenant becomes a tenant. If there is more than one such member, the determination of the tenancy would be, by agreement between the parties, and failing it by an order of the Court.
In the context of the
amended provisions, the learned Single Judge of this Court
in the case of C.J. Ghadiali & Ors. vs. Z.B. Wadiwalla, 1981
Mh. L.J. 876 held that there was complete change in law
46 2016 (1) Mh LJ 461.
In the context
of the amended provisions, the learned Single Judge of this Court in
the case of C. J. Ghadiali & Ors. vs. Z. B. Wadiwalla 4 held that
there was complete change in law since the decision in the case of
Rajaram (supra) and after the 1978 Amendment, it is only in the
absence of member of the tenant's family residing with the tenant at
the time of the death of the original tenant, that any heir of the
deceased tenant acquires tenancy rights under the Rent Act. From
this, it follows that under the unamended 1947 Act, the Division
Bench of this Court had recognised that the provisions of 1947 Act
were not made to supersede the rights to inheritance of tenancy
vesting in the heirs on the death of the original tenant. Further, after
3 1977 Mh. L. J. 792
4 1981 Mh. L. J. 876
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the amendment, such rights shall accrue to the legal heirs of the
deceased tenant, only in the absence of member of the tenant's
family residing with the tenant at the time of his demise. In both
situations, therefore, devolution of the tenancy upon the heirs was
contemplated, except that after the 1978 amendment, the
devolution upon the heirs in accordance with law of inheritance was
made subject to absence of any member of the tenant's family using
the tenanted premises for the purposes for which they were let out
along with the original tenant, at the time of the demise of such
original tenant.
In the context
of the amended provisions, the learned Single Judge of this Court in
the case of C. J. Ghadiali & Ors. vs. Z. B. Wadiwalla 6 held that
there was complete change in law since the decision in the case of
Rajaram (supra) and after the 1978 Amendment, it is only in the
absence of member of the tenant's family residing with the tenant at
the time of the death of the original tenant, that any heir of the
deceased tenant acquires tenancy rights under the Rent Act. From
this, it follows that under the unamended 1947 Act, the Division
Bench of this Court had recognised that the provisions of 1947 Act
were not made to supersede the rights to inheritance of tenancy
vesting in the heirs on the death of the original tenant. Further, after
the amendment, such rights shall accrue to the legal heirs of the
deceased tenant, only in the absence of member of the tenant's
family residing with the tenant at the time of his demise. In both
5 1977 Mh. L. J. 792
6 1981 Mh. L. J. 876
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skc JUDGMENT-CRA-330-2015
situations, therefore, devolution of the tenancy upon the heirs was
contemplated, except that after the 1978 amendment, the
devolution upon the heirs in accordance with law of inheritance was
made subject to absence of any member of the tenant's family using
the tenanted premises for the purposes for which they were let out
along with the original tenant, at the time of the demise of such
original tenant. Accordingly, it is not possible to accept Mr. Datar's
contention that tenancy in respect of the commercial premises can
devolve only upon such member of the deceased tenant's family,
who was using the premises along with the original tenant at the
time of such original tenant's demise. Such restrictive interpretation,
as noted earlier, is neither supported by the very text of the statutory
provisions, nor by the authorities upon which reliance was placed
for the purpose.