SANTOSH KUMARI PASSI Vs. KAMLA WATI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is tenant's revision petition against whom the eviction order has been passed by both the authorities below.

(2.) ACCORDING to the landlady, the premises, in dispute, were leased out on a monthly rent of Rs. 150/-. The lease was for the fixed period of eleven months from October 1, 1968 to August 31, 1969. The tenant had executed the lease deed dated September 19, 1968, Exhibit A.3, in this behalf in favour of the landlady. It was also pleaded that subsequently by an undertaking, dated June 20, 1976, the tenant had agreed to vacate the demised premises on or before June 30, 1977, positively; failing which, she was to be responsible to pay the rent at the rate of Rs. 400/- per month. Her ejectment therefrom was sought on the ground that she was in arrears of rent from November 1, 1977 to June 30, 1978, at the rate of Rs. 400/- per month. The ejectment application was filed on June 12, 1978. On the first date of hearing, the tenant deposited Rs. 1,050/- as rent at the rate of Rs. 150/- per month; Rs. 21/- as interest and Rs. 25/- as costs; total Rs. 1,096/- The only dispute before the Rent Controller was as to whether the tender was short or not. According to him, the tenant was liable to pay the rent in advance and, therefore, the interest calculated by the tenant to the tune of Rs. 21/- was less whereas it should have been Rs. 22.50. As such, it was held that the tender was short. Consequently, the eviction order was passed against the tenant. In appeal, the Appellate Authority affirmed the said finding of the Rent Controller and, thus, maintained the eviction order passed against her.

(3.) ACCORDING to the landlady, in the rent note, Exhibit A.3, the tenant was liable to pay the rent in advance on the first of each month but not later then the fourth of every month and even after the expiry of the lease period when the tenant had become a statutory tenant, she was liable to pay the rent on the same terms i.e., in advance. Therefore, the interest paid by the tenant on the first date of hearing was less by Rs. 12.50. The learned counsel for the tenant submitted that in the rent note Exhibit A.3, the rent was fixed at Rs. 120/- per month. It was increased to Rs. 150/- per month in October, 1974. Therefore, a new tenancy came into existence in the year 1974. That being so, the question of paying the rent, in advance did not arise. In support of the contention, the learned counsel relied upon Ramesh Chand v. Radha Kishan, 1980 Punjab Law Reporter 351; Kailash Chander v. Mool Raj 1982(2) R.C.R. 273 1982 (2) Rent Law Reporter 274 and Smt. Darshan Devi v. Smt. Kaushalaya Devi, 1976 Revenue Law Reporter 463. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the landlady submitted that even after the expiry of the lease period, the tenant was liable to pay rent, in advance, as per the terms of the lease deed Exhibit A.3. In support of the contention, the learned counsel relied upon Ujagar Singh v. Prem Kumar, 1986 (2) R.C.R. 27 1986 (1) Rent Law Reporter 387) M/s Uttam Singh Inderjit Singh v. Ram Gopal 1982 (1) R.C.R. 485 (1982 (1) Rent Law Reporter 114)and Retanlal v. Raniram 1986 (1) RCR 449 (1986 (2) Rent Law Reporter 272).