GHISI BAI Vs. APPELLATE RENT TRIBUNAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE two writ petitions are filed by landlord and tenant against each other both assailing the judgment dt. 26.03.2011 passed by the Appellate Rent Tribunal, Kota. Brief facts giving rise to the petitions are that Ghisi Bai and Kailash Chand (who shall hereinafter be jointly referred as "landlord") filed a suit for eviction against Mohan Lal Maheshwari (who shall hereinafter be referred as "tenant") on the ground of bonafide necessity, change of user without permission, damage to suit shop by making material alteration, nuisance and availability of alternative accommodation in the year 2007. It was alleged that the shop was given on rent in the year 1976. The adjacent shop was given to one Jaffar Mohammad. That Dal Chand, son of landlord Ghisi Bai required the shop for his reasonable bonafide necessity as he wanted to start a readymade garments business in the disputed shop by joining the shop let out to the firm. It was alleged that the shop was let out to tenant Mohan Lal Maheshwari for running the photo studio. He has however without permission from the landlord started readymade garments business from the same shop. He has thus used the shop for the purpose other than the one for which it was let out thereby adversely affecting the interest of the landlord. The tenant for the purpose of setting up the shop of readymade garments has by use of drilling machine put the fixtures and furniture and also put false ceiling for which purpose he has put certain angles. He has thereby caused substantial damage to the let out shop. Tenant used the cut outs and display on the public footpath facing the shop, which tantamount to nuisance.

(2.) THAT the tenant -Mohan Lal Maheshwari opposed the eviction petition and denied that the shop was required for personal bonafide necessity of the landlord. The eviction petition filed by the landlord against Jaffar Mohammad Tailer, tenant in the adjoining shop has been dismissed. Kailash Chand, son of Ghisi Bai, the landlord, is already running the business of sarees and clothes from the shop in the name and style of M/s. Kailash Chand Poonam Saree. In fact, one more shop was available to the landlord, which they let out to Smt. Divya Panjwani by accepting some amount in goodwill. She is running the retail garments business from that shop. Necessity of the landlord therefore cannot be said to be bonafide and reasonable. In para 3 of the written statement, tenant stated that the photo studio was being run regularly in the suit shop since 1976 and even till now, photo studio existed there. The tenant only additionally started the business of garments from the same shop after obtaining oral permission from the landlord for last 4 -5 years because from the business of photo studio, he did not have sufficient income. Therefore, with the consent of the landlord, he started business of readymade garments also. Allegations of nuisance, material alteration etc. were denied.

(3.) I have heard Shri N.K. Maloo, learned senior counsel appearing for tenant -Mohan Lal Maheshwari and Shri Saransh Saini, learned counsel appearing for landlord Smt. Ghisi Bai and Kailash Chand.