JAGAT PAL DHAWANversusKAHAN SINGH (DEAD) BY LRS. AND ORS.

                         JAGAT PAL DHAWAN                                      A
                                     V.

             KAHAN SINGH (DEAD) IJY LRS. AND ORS.

                         NOVEMBER 21, 2002

               [R.C. LAHOTI AND BRIJESH KUMAR, JJ.]                            B


     Rent Control and Eviction:

      Himachal Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act, 1987-Section 14(3)(c) and
(5)-Eviction on ground of bonafide requirement for reconstruction of C
building-Plea that the building in view of its age and nature of construction
has outlived its utility-Denial of eviction by courts below--On appeal-Held,
section 14(5) protects the interest of the tenant by guarding malafide evictions-
However, in the facts of the case, landlord has made out a case for eviction.

      Appellant-landlord filed suit under Section 14(3)(c) of Himachal D
Pradesh Urban Ren( Control Act, 1987 on the ground of bonafide
requirement for reconstruction of the tenanted building and thereafter
shifting his residence therein. The building was more than 100 years old,
constructed in mud mortar and slate roofing. Tenant-respondent
questioned the bona fide of the landlord.                                 E
      Trial Court dismissed the suit holding that requirement of the
landlord could not be said to be bona fide as the building did not need
reconstruction. First Appellate Court upheld the judgment of Trial Court.
High Court, in revision denied eviction on the grounds that (i) once
building is in good condition, the burden to prove need of reconstruction      p
is on the landlord (ii) the building plans were not approved by Municipal
Committee, (iii) there js no evidence to show that neighbours having
common walls with the building had consented to demolish and reconstruct
the walls, and (iv) availability of funds for reconstruction was not proved.

     In appeal to this Court, appellant brought to the notice of the Court     G
the permission of Municipal Council sanctioning building plan, and filed
documents showing availability of funds.

      Allowing the appeal, the Court

      HELD: I. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the landlord
                                    301                                        H
    302                     SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A   has clearly made out a case for eviction under Section 14(3)(c) of Himachal
    Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act, 1987 and denial of eviction of the
    respondent has occasioned failure of justice to the appellant. Relief of
    eviction as sought for could not have been denied to the appellant. There
    is no material available to hold that the landlord has something else in
B   his mind such as getting rid of the tenant without raising construction.
    Sub-section (5) of Section 14 of the Act protects the interest of the tenant
    by guarding against ma/a fide eviction. The tenant-respondent is directed
    to vacate the tenancy premises as the same are required bona fide by the
    landlord-appellant for carrying out building or rebuilding under Section
    14(l)(c) of the Act which cannot be carried out without the building being
C   vacated. (305-B, C; 307-E, F, G; 308-A)

          2. Section 14(3)(c) provides inter alia that a landlord may apply to
    the Controller for an order directing the tenant to put the landlord in
    possession of tenancy premises in case of any building or rented land being
    required bona fide by him for the purpose of building or rebuilding which
D   cannot be carried out without the building or rented land being vacated.
    The provision does not have as an essential ingredient thereof and as a
    relevant factor the age and condition of the building. The provision also
    does not lay down that the availability of requisite funds and availability
    of building plans duly sanctioned by the local authority must be proved
    by the landlord as an ingredient of the provision or as a condition
E   precedent to his entitlement to eviction of tenant. However, depending on
    the facts and circumstances of a given case, the Court may look into such
    facts as relevant, though not specifically mentioned as ingredient of the
    ground for eviction, for the purpose of determining the bona fides of the
    landlord. (305-C-E)
F          P. Orr. and Sons (P) v. Associated Publishers (Madras) ltd., IJ 991 J 1
    SCC 301; Vijay Singh and Ors. v. Vijayalakshmi Ammal, 11996) 6 SCC 475;
    R. V.E. Venkatachala Gounder v. Venkatesha Gupta and Ors., 12002) 4 SCC
    437 and Harrington House School v. S.M lspahani and Anr., 12002) 5 SCC
    229; referred to.
G         3. The locality where the premises are situated has, with the lapse
    of time, become a busy commercial locality. The structure of the building
    is more than 100 years old. It is in mud mortar and with slates' roofing.
    Instead of outdated two floor space, the landlord proposes to construct a
    modern three-storeyed building which would obviously provide additional
H   space and much better return to the landlord. The landlord has stated that
                   J.P. DHAWAN v. KAHAN SINGH [R.C. LAHOTI. J.]             303

    he had no other residential house of his own available with him and having A
    reconstructed the building he would like to shift his residence too in his
    own newly constructed house. The honajides of such a requirement could
    not have been doubted solely on the ground that the structure of the
    building, though old and outdated, had not gone so weak as was needed
    to be demolished immediately. 1306-E-GI
                                                                                   B
            4. So far as the neighbours art= concerned, none has objected to the
    proposed reconstruction. In any case that is a matter to be settled by the
    landlord with his neighbours. However, the fact that appellant was
    prepared to raise additional walls of his own next to the common walls,
    and rest his entire structure on such walls, obviates the need of proving      C
    consent of the adjoining building owners for the proposed reconstruction.
                                                            1306-G, H; 307-AI

          5. So far as the building plans are concerned, it is not the case of
    the tenant-respondent that the building, as proposed, cannot under the
    local law be permitted to be built. However, this aspect loses all its         D
    significance in view of Municipal Council sanctioning the building plan.
          6. The plaintiff-appellant had deposed that he had the requisite
    financial capacity to undertake the proposed reconstruction and this part
    of the testimony was not challenged in cross-examination by the tenant-
    respondent. However, documents have been filed in this Court showing           E
    availability of funds. Thus, the availability of funds with the appellant to
    cover the cost of proposed construction cannot also be doubted.
                                                                      1307-C-EJ

            CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5023 of
    1998.                                                                          F
         From the Judgment and Order dated 22.8.1997 of the Himachal
    Pradesh High Court in C.R. 1~0. 205 of 1994.

            Pankaj Kalra, for the Appellant.
                                                                                   G
         Jagdeep Dhankhar, Dr. Sushi! Balwada, Devendra Singh and Surya
    Kant, (NP) for the Respondents.

            The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

            R.C. LAHOTI, J. The landlord-plaintiff whose prayer seeking eviction   H




,
    304                     SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A   of his tenant under Clause (c) of sub-Section (3) of Section 14 of the Himachal
    Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act, 1987 (hereinafter 'the act; for short) has
    been refused, is in appeal by special leave.

            The suit premises are non-residential consisting of one room and
    verandah on the ground floor , and one room on the first floor, in building
B   no. I 0/11, situated in Mohalla Tama, Seri Bazar, Mandi. The premises are
    owned by the appellant and held by the respondent on tenancy since 1950s.
    The premises are constructed of mud mortar with cement plaster on the inner
    sides of the walls. The top has a roof of slates. The structure is about 100
    years old.
c          On 28.5.1988, the landlord initiated proceedings under Section 14(3)(c)
    of the Act alleging that the premises are bona fide required by the landlord
    for reconstruction into three storeyed structure which cannot be carried out
    without the demised premises being vacated. According to the landlord, the
    demised premises, looking to their age and nature of construction, had outlived
D   their utility. The requirement and its bona tides were questioned by the tenant-
    respondent who submitted that the structure of the building was safe and
    certainly not dangerous and hence did not stand in need of any reconstruction.

           The Trial Court relied on the decision of this Court in Meta/ware and
    Co. etc. v. Bansilal Sarma & Co. etc., [1979] 3 SCC 398 and held that the
E   condition of the building whether it was good and sound or decrepit or
    dilapidated was of significance and relevant for determining the bona jides
    of the requirement for reconstruction. Inasmuch as the structure of the building   .,
    was not in need of being demolished, the requirement of the landlord for
    reconstruction could not be said to be bona fide. The Appellate Court too
F   agreed with the Trial Court. The High Court has rested its conclusion against
    the landlord-appellate on three factors:-

           (i)   that once the building is found to be in good condition, then the
                 burden is on the landlord to show that he still needs it for
                 reconstruction:
G          (ii) that the building plans produced by the landlord before the Court
                were not shown to have been approved by the Municipal
                Committee ""ithout which the construction could not be carried
                 out.
           (iii) that the side walls were common walls with the adjacent building
H                owners and the iandlord had adduced no evidence to show that
                  .J.P. DHA WAN v. KAHAN SINGH [R.C. LAHOTI. J.]               305

                 he had their consent to demolish and reconstruct the walls; and       A
           (iv) that the availability of funds for carrying out reconstruction \Vas
                 not proved.

          The learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that none of the
    reasons assigned by the High Court or any of the Courts below could have           B
    been relevant to deny the relief prayed for by the landlord. Examined in the
    backdrop of the relevant material available on record including documents of
    undoubted veracity brought to the notice of this Court the landlord has clearly
    made out a case for eviction under Section 14(3)(c) of the Act and denial of
    eviction of the respondent has occasioned failure of justice to the appellant.
                                                                                       c
          Section 14(3)(c) provides inter a/ia that a landlord may apply to the
    Controller for an order directing the tenant to put the landlord in posse'Sion
    uf tenancy premises in case of any building or rented land being required
    bona fide by him for the purpose of building or rebuilding _which cannot be
    carried out without the building or rented land being vacated. The provision       D
    does not have as an essential ingredient thereof and as a relevant factor the
    age and condition of the building. The provision also does not lay down that
    the availability of requisite funds and availability of building plans duly
    sanctioned by the local authonty must be proved by the landlord as an
    ingredient of the provision or as a condition precedent to his entitlement to
    eviction of tenant. However still, suffice it to observe, depending on the facts   E
    and circumstances of a given case, the Court may look into such facts as
    relevant, though not specifically mentioned as ingredient of the ground for
    eviction, for the purpose of determining the bona fides of the landlord. If a
    building, as proposed, cannot be constructed or ifthe landlord does not have
    means for carrying out the construction or reconstruction obviously his
    requirement would remain a mere wish and would not be bona fide.
                                                                                       F

          Meta/ware & Co. 's case deals with Section 14 of Tamil Nadu Building
    (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960 where recovery of possession by landlord
    from the tenant is contemplated if the building is bona fide required for the
    immediate purpose of demolishing it (emphasis supplied). This Court held in G
    Meta/ware & Co. 's case that a building which, looking at its age and nature
    of construction, was not required to be demolished then the necessary
    ingredi<.nt of the provision was not satisfied. Meta/ware & Co's case is a
    two-Judge Bench decision which was considered by a three-Judges Bench in
    P. Orr & Sons (P.) Ltd. v. Associated Publishers (Madras) Ltd., [1991) 1
    SCC 301 wherein this Court clarified that condition of the building cannot H


I
    306                      SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A alone be the determining factor of bona jides of the landlord though it may
    be taken into consideration as one of the various circumstances such as the
    capacity of the landlord, the size of the existing building, the demand for
    additional space, the condition of the place, the economic advantage and
    other factors justifying investment of capital on reconstruction.

B          The Constitution Bench in Vijay Singh and Ors. v. Vijayalaksmi Amma/,
     (1996) 6 sec 475, authoritatively pronounced that for granting permission
    under Section. 14(l)(b) of Tamil Nadu Act the relevant factors are (i) bona
    fide intention of the landlord far from the sole object only to get rid of the
    tenants; (ii) the age and condition of the building; and (iii) financial position
C   of the landlord to demolish and erect a new building. However the Constitution
     Bench cautioned that these are only some of the illustrative factors to be
    taken into consideration alongwith other factors and no Court can fix any
     limit in respect of the age and condition of the building.

          So is the view taken in R. V.E. Venkatachala Gounder v. Venkatesha
D   Gupta and Ors., (2002) 4 sec 437 and in Harringaton House Sr.hoof V. SM
    lspahani and Anr., [2002) 5 SCC 229. The fact that demolition and
    reconstruction would result in modernization, making additional space available
    and/or would augment the earning of the landlord are relevant factors for
    determinipg the bona /ides of the requirement for demolition and
E   reconstruction.

          The locality where the premises are situated has, with the lapse of time,
    become a busy commercial locality. The structure of the building is more
    than 100 years old. It is in mud mortar and with slates' roofing,Jnstead of
    outdated two floor space, the landlord proposes to construct a modem three-
F   storeyed building which would obviously provide additional space and much
    better return to the landlord. The landlord has stated that he had no other
    residential house of his own available with him and having reconstructed the
    building he would like to shift his residence too in his own newly constructed
    house. The bona jides of such a requirement could not have been doubted
G   solely on the ground that the structure of the building, though old and outdated,
    had not gone so weak as was needed to be demolished immediately.

          So far as the neighbours are concerned, none has objected to the proposed
    reconstruction. In any case that is a matter to be settled by the landlord with
    his neighbours. The learned counsel for the appellant submitted. during the
H   course of hearing, and rightly in our opinion, that even if the neighbours
    were not agreeable to have the common wall demolished and replaced by a
                 J.P. DHAWAN v. KAHAN SINGH [R.C. LAHOTI, J.]                 307
    new wall the appellant was prepared to raise additional walls of his own next     A
    to the common walls, if any, and rest his entire structure on such walls. This
    obviates the need of proving consent of the adjoining building owners for the
    proposed reconstruction.

          So far as the building plans are concerned, it is not the case of the
    tenant-respondent that the building, as proposed, cannot under the local law      B
    be permitted to be built. However, this aspect loses all its significance
    inasmuch as on behalf of the appellant permission No. NPAP/Mandi/9711389
    dated 30.6.1998 issued by Municipal Council, Mandi, H.P. has been brought
    to the notice of this Court showing that the building plans proposed by the
    appellant have been sanctioned under Section 203 of the H.P. Municipal            C
    Council Adhiniyam, 1994 during the pendency of these proceedings.

           So far as the funds are concerned, the plaintiff-appellant had deposed
    that he had the requisite financial capacity to undertake the proposed
    reconstruction and this part of the testimony was not challenged in cross
    examination by the tenant-respondent. However, documents have been filed          D
    in this Court showing availability of an amount of Rs. 1,20,000 invested by
    appellant in Indira Vikas Patra of five years duration on 24.9.1988 having a
    value of Rs. 2,40,000 on maturity. So also there are six years National Saving
    Certificates of Rs. 30,000 purchased on 30th March, 1983 with a value Rs.
    60,450 on maturity. The appellant has Rs. 25,000 in FDR and Rs. 6,247 in
    savings bank. The proposed construction, according to the appellant, would        E
    need about r lakh of rupees. Thus, the availability of funds with the appellant

-   to cover the cost of proposed construction cannot also be doubted.

          In the abovesaid circumstances we are clearly of the opinion that relief
    of eviction as sought for could not have been denied to the appellant. There
    is no material available to hold that the landlord has something else in his
                                                                                   F
    mind such as getting rid of the tenant without raising construction. Sub-
    5ection (5) of Section 14 of the Act protects the interest of the tenant by
    guarding against malafide evictions. It provides that where a landlord has
    obtained possession of the building or rented land for the purpose of building
    or rebuilding and puts the building to any other use or lets it out to any G
    tenant other than the tenant evicted from it, the tenant who has been evicted
    may apply to the Controller for an order directing that he shall be restored
    to po5"ession of such building or rented land and the Controller shall make
    an order accordingly. This provision wou!d not permit the building from
    which the tenant is being evicted being subjected to any other user or misuse. H
    308                     SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A           The appeal deserves to be allowed. The orders of the High Court and
    the Courts below are set aside. Instead the tenant-respondent is directed to
    vacate the tenancy premises as the same are required bona fide by the landlord-
    appellant for carrying out building or rebuilding under Section 14 (l)(c) of
    the Act which cannot be carried out without the building being vacated. The
    tenant is allowed four months time for vacating the premises subject to his
B   fili11g the usual undertaking within a period of three weeks from today before
    the executing Court undertaking to deliver vacant and peaceful possession
    over the suit premises to the landlord-appellant on the expiry of the time
    granted and in between clearing and continuing to clear all the arrears of rent
    and not creating any third party interest. Costs as incurred
c
    K.K.T.                                                       Appeal allowed.