(1.) By way of this petition, brought under proviso to Sec. 25B(8) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, the petitioners/tenants have assailed order dtd. 18/12/2021 of the learned Additional Rent Controller, Central District, Delhi, whereby the application of the present petitioners no.2-4 for leave to contest the proceedings under Sec. 14(1)(e) of the Act was dismissed; and since there was no application of the present petitioner no.1 for leave to contest, eviction order against all the present petitioners was passed. On service of notice of these proceedings, respondent/landlord entered appearance through counsel. I heard learned counsel for both sides.
(2.) Briefly stated, circumstances relevant for present purposes are as follows.
(3.) In the backdrop of the above peculiar factual matrix, it was considered appropriate, so the arguments advanced on behalf of both sides were recorded in order sheet dtd. 17/5/2024 and relevant extract thereof is as under: