SWADESHI COMMERCIAL CO LTD Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Our task has become easier in view of the recent Apex Court decision in the case of Union of India v. Raja Mohammad Amir Md. Khan reported in 2005 Volume VIII. Supreme Court Cases, Page 696 : (AIR 2005 SC 4383) which the learned Judge did not have as the said judgment came after the disposal of the writ application.

(2.) The appellants were the owners of premises No. 14, Netaji Subhas Road, Ground Floor, Kolkata. The predecessor in interest of the appellants by a deed of indenture dated May 19, 1953 gave on lease approximately 3000 sq. ft. on ground floor of the said premises to National Bank of Pakistan for a term of 16 years commencing from April 1, 1951. The area was subsequently increased and ultimately the said bank came in possession of 6235 sq. ft. on the ground floor of the said premises in question at a monthly rent of Rs. 1610.00 per month. In 1965 due to hostilities between the two countries being India and Pakistan due to Indo-Pak war the said branch of National Bank of Pakistan was declared as an enemy firm and the respondent authority became the custodian of the enemy property under the provision of the Enemy Property Act, 1968 (hereinafter referred to as the "said Act of 1968") and continued to be in possession since then. The lease expired by efflux of time on March 31, 1967. The Controller, Enemy Property sought renewal of the said lease. The predecessor in interest of the appellants initially did not agree to such renewal and asked for vacating of the said property. Series of discussions was held. Correspondence was exchanged but that yielded no result. Initially the owners impliedly permitted them to continue for a temporary period on the basis of their representations by not taking any positive step for their eviction. Authority, however, did not come to a final solution in the meantime the present appellants became the transferee owner from their predecessor in interest. They moved the writ petition before this Court, inter alia, praying for direction upon the respondent to vacate the said premises and hand over possession to the appellants.

(3.) On perusal of the correspondence exchanged between the parties at the material time it appears that by a letter dated April 4, 1967 the authority expressed their desire to release the excess portion in favour of the owners provided they were allowed to retain 2000 sq. ft. on the southern portion for the purpose of maintenance of their records. They also prayed for proportionate decrease of rent.