NAROTA RAM SALIG RAM Vs. BHAGWAT KRISHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This execution second appeal has been preferred from the judgment of the learned District Judge, Sangrur, allowing the appeal of the decree-holders and dismissing the objections raised by Narota Ram, the present appellant.

(2.) Chowdhry Kesho Ram of Sangrur (since deceased) filed an application under S. 13 of the Pepsu Urban Rent Restriction Ordinance, 2006 Bk., for eviction of the tenants from two shops situated at Sangrur. The Rent Contoller allowed the application on 29-3-1956 and directed the tenants to hand over the possession to the landlord on or before 30-4-1956. Narota Ram preferred an appeal to the District Judge, as Appellate Authority, against the order of eviction, but the same was dismissed on 10-5-1956 and the tenants were directed to hand over possession of the disputed shops of the landlord within two months of the order of the Appellate Authority. It appears that Chowdhry Kesho Ram did not live long and on his death Bhagwat Krishan and others sued out execution on 10-5-1957 in the Court of Subordinate Judge, Second Class and asked for possession of the disputed shops by evicting Narota Ram and his son Hari Ram. Narota Ram raised objections under S. 47, Code of Civil Procedure, challenging the jurisdiction of the Subordinate Judge to execute the order of the Rent Controller, disputing the competence of the minor sons of Chowdhry Kesho Ram to execute the eviction order and pleading a new contract of lease after the date of the eviction order. The learned Subordinate Judge overruled the objections regarding jurisdiction and competency of Bhagwat Krishan and others to sue out execution. An appeal against this order was also dismissed by the learned District Judge on 30-9-1957 and a second appeal to this Court met with no better fate on 2-51958. With respect to the plea of a new tenancy the learned Subordinate Judge upheld the contention, in view of certain receipts showing payment of rent by the tenants, and on this ground dismissed the execution petition. On appeal the learned District Judge set aside the order of the first Court and relying on Jai Lal v. Bhu Dev Bhola Singh, 1956-58 Pun LR 267: (AIR 1956 Punj 256), came to the conclusion that there was no new lease intended to be created by the heirs of Chowdhry Kesho Ram. It seems that on the death of Chowdhry Kesho Ram his heirs were not in a position immediately to start reconstruction of the building and therefore they merely postponed eviction proceedings for about a year.

(3.) Mr. Shamir Chand has very strongly urged that the acceptance of rent by the landlord after the order of eviction establishes a new lease with the result that the order of eviction is no longer executable. He submits that there are no less than six receipts which, according to him, establish the intention on the part of the landlords to create a new lease. He has also in this connection placed reliance on Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act which lays down the effect of holding over. The decision of the Federal Court in Kai Khushroo Bezonjee Capadia v. Bai Jerbai Hirjibhoy Warden, AIR 1949 FC 124, as also the decision of the Supreme Court in Karnani Industrial Bank Ltd., v. Province of Bengal, AIR 1951 SC 285; in both of which the scope and effect of Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act have been considered, have also been relied upon. The counsel contends that as soon as rent is accepted by the landlord, a fresh tenancy would automatically come into being, superseding the previous order of eviction. I regret I do not find it possible to agree with this contention. It is true that according to the majority view of the Federal Court in Kai Khushroo Bazonjee Capadia's case, AIR 1949 FC 124, the tenancy which is created by the holding over of a lessee or under-lessee is a new tenancy in law, but, as it has been held in this very case, to bring a new tenancy into existence, there must be a bilateral Act. What is contemplated by Section 116 of the Transfer of Property Act is that on one side there should be an offer of taking a renewed or fresh demise, evidenced by the lessee's continuing in occupation of the property after his interest has ceased, and on the other side there must be a definite assent, to this continuance of possession by the landlord, expressed by acceptance of rent or otherwise. The assent of the landlord which is to be founded on acceptance of rent must be acceptance of rent as such and in clear recognition of the tenancy right asserted by the person who pays it. Patanjali Sastri, J. of course went a little further and observed that there must be consensus between the parties and not an option exercisable by the lessor alone. In the later Supreme Court judgment in Karnani Industrial Bank's case, AIR 1951 SC 285, to which also Fazl Ali and Mukherjea, JJ. were parties (they were also parties to the Federal Court case), two things were held to be necessary for the application of Section 116, Transfer of Property Act: (1) the lessee should be in possession after the termination of the lease; and (2) the lessor or his representative should accept rent or otherwise assent to his continuing in possession. Mr. Shamair Chand contends that in the instant case rent having been accepted after the expiry of the lease shows that the landlord consented to the tenant continuing in possession. The counsel has also in support of his argument relied on Hari Singh v. Narain Das, AIR 1945 Lah 175; Madhavji Virji v. Lakshmidas Mulji and Co., AIR 1924 Bom 99; Gooderhan and Works ltd., v. Canadian Broad casting Corporation, AIR 1949 PC 90; Har Nath v. Mohar Singh, 1931-32 Pun LR 469: (AIR 1931 Lah 675 (1); and 1956-58 Pun lR 267: (AIR 1956 Punj 256).