Further, in another case titled as H.M. Doyal Co. vs
Ram Nath Chitkara And Ors. decided on 25 February, 1985,
AIR 1986 Delhi 101, it was observed by Hon'ble High Court of
Delhi as under:-
(12) This Court in H.M. Dayal Co. v. Ram Nath Chitkara and Others (supra) considered the concept of arrears of rent and held that the words "in arrears of rent" referred to an outstanding liability in respect of rent. and it is plain that if rent fore more than three months has not in fact been paid, it must be held that this rent is in arrears.
Logical
reference in the same context can also be laid to the ratio in 'H. M. Doyal
Company Vs. Ram Nath Chitkara, 28 (1985) DLT 212'. The legal import of
the letter was fully clarified in notice dated 17.11.2008 sent through courier
and registered post exactly at the same address at which termination notice
dated 11.06.2009 was posted. The natural presumption of delivery thereof to
the addressee is raised under Section 27 of The General Clauses Act in view of
absolutely vague and evasive denial of receipt thereof by the defendant. It is
interesting to note that the defendant has purportedly even without receiving
said notice, could comment upon its validity. The least impact of letter dated
25.07.2005 was to prompt the tenant to enhance the rent as is legally
permissible if not to the extent of demand. The plaintiff was entitled to further
enhance the last applicable rent by 10% after a period of three years which
right was exercised through notice dated 17.11.2008. The rent of Rs. 3,000/
for each tenancy stood enhanced to Rs. 3,300/ per month on the basis of
demand letter dated 25.07.2005 w.e.f. 01.09.2005 or at least from 01.11.2005
on the basis of letter dated 12.09.2005. On subsequent enhancement w.e.f.
01.01.2009 vide notice dated 17.11.2008, the rents went beyond Rs. 3,500/
per month i.e. became Rs. 3,630/ for each floor. The semblance of defence of
the defendant thus is found not to hold water.
26. The respondent, however, attacked the aforesaid notice on the ground
that it was no notice in the eyes of law. I fail to see as to how the aforesaid notice
is not a notice in the eyes of law. The law does not prescribe any particular format
for the notice for demand of arrears of rent. The law does not anywhere mandate
that a person desirous of getting such a notice issued must get the same done
through a legal practitioner on his behalf. There is nothing in the statute that a
notice issued strictly by a legal practitioner only will have legal sanctity. A person
can very well pen down and send such a notice under his own signatures. That
apart, the fact that the notice was in vernacular Hindi would not mean that it is no
notice in the eyes of law. Judgments reported as Smt. Raj Rani (supra) and M/s
H M Doyal & Sons & Ors. (supra) clearly lay down that it is not necessary for
the landlord to state the total amount of legally recoverable arrears of rent due
from the tenant in his notice.
24- Further, although the respondent was sending
various bankers' cheques from time to time @ Rs.400/- per
month to the petitioner, but it is not his case that the same
were got encashed by the petitioner, meaning thereby that
when the legal notice of demand was sent, he was in
arrears of rent. Therefore, it was incumbent upon the
respondent to have paid/ tendered the rent at least @
Rs.400/- per month to the petitioner. It is not the case of
respondent that after the service of legal notice of demand,
the arrears were either tendered to the petitioner or he
refused to receive the same. Learned Counsel for the
(RCT Appeal No.10/2012 & 11/2012) (Page 17 of 19)
Appellant, relied upon H.M. Doyal & Co. v. Ram Nath
1985, RLR 414 for contending that after service of notice,
it is the duty of tenant to pay the arrears of rent which he
thinks, is due.
14. The counsel for the respondent has accordingly argued that
the evidence of PW1 is not admissible in evidence, as he is only a power of
attorney and in view of the said judgment, he cannot depose on behalf of
the principal about the facts which are in personal knowledge of the
principal. I have perused the said judgment. The proposition of law laid
down inthe said judgment is not in dispute. However, the said judgment is
not applicable to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, as PW1
is none other than the son of the petitioner, and it is even otherwise the
9
case of the respondent as pleaded in the written statement that the sons of
the petitioner including PW1 had been collecting the rent from the
respondent. Accordingly, it cannot be said that PW1 is not conversant with
the facts of the present case in afore circumstances. Accordingly, this
contention of the counsel for the respondent is without any substance.
In case H.M. Dayal and
Co. vs. Ram Nath, AIR 1986 101, Hon'ble High Court
hold that the only duty cast upon the landlord is to send
the notice demanding arrears of rent. Act does not
require that the notice of demand shall state the amount
due from the tenant. A notice of demand may not
mention the amount at all. It may simply ask the tenant
to pay the arrears, which he has not paid. As soon as a
notice of demand is served, it is the duty of the tenant to
pay such amount as he thinks is due from him and if
ultimately it is found that the amount paid by the tenant
was the correct amount, the landlord's petition for
eviction will be dismissed.