LAWS(BOM)-1971-4-10

NAGNATH TATYA HALGE Vs. KISHAN TATYA KALE

Decided On April 13, 1971
NAGNATH TATYA HALGE Appellant
V/S
KISHAN TATYA KALE Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THERE is no substance in this revisional application on behalf of the original plaintiff from the order dated September 8, 1969, made by the trial Court, whereby findings were made in favour of the plaintiff on issues 1, 2 and 6 and directions were given that the trial of the issues 4 and 5 should be proceeded with after the decision of the Rent Controller in the application made by the original defendant for fixation of reasonable and / or standard rent.

(2.) PRIOR to the present suit No. 127 of 1968, the plaintiff had instituted a previous Suit No. 258 of 1967. The suit was for recovery of rent at the rate of Rs. 125/- per month for a period of one year from November 13, 1966, to November 12, 1967. In that suit the defendant made three contentions as follows:-

(3.) PRIOR to the lease in suit, an agreement was made between the parties that the plaintiff would construct two rooms and a latrine and a bath room and the rent of Rs. 125/- was agreed on the promise made by the plaintiff to make the above further constructions. The parties had agreed that in default of the plaintiff making the further constructions the rent was to be Rs. 50/- per month. The third contention was that until the question of reasonable and / or standard rent was decided by the Rent Controller the further hearing of the suit for rent should be stayed. Issues were framed on the above contentions made by the defendant. These issues were answered against him and decree as prayed in the previous suit was passed. The plaintiff thereafter filed the present suit No. 127 of 1968 for recovering rent of 7 months at the rate of Rs. 125/- per month. The defendant made self same and / or similar contentions by his written statement in the present suit. The plaintiff by his application Ex. 17 submitted that additional issue be framed as follows :-"whether the defendant is barred by principles of res judicata to raise the contentions decided in the previous suit ?" the plaintiff further applied that a finding be made on the above additional issue in his favour and accordingly without recording any further evidence a decree as prayed be passed in the present suit. The learned Judge below by the above order dated September 8, 1969, held that the questions of merits raised by the defendant had been adjudicated upon in the previous suit and were res judicata. He, then referred to the plaintiff's application before the Rent Controller for fixation of standard and / or reasonable rent. He held that the decision of Court in the previous s suit that the hearing should not be stayed till the Rent Controller decided the defendant's application was not res judicata. That decision was not disposal of any question on merits. He, therefore, held that the suit should be stayed till the disposal by the Rent Controller of the defendant's application for fixation of the standard and / or reasonable rent. He accordingly held that issues 4 and 5, viz. " (4) Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the relief claimed ?" and " (5) What decree and order ?", should be decided after the Rent Controller disposed of the defendant's application for fixation of standard rent.