RUSTOMJI DINSHAW BILLIMORIA Vs. DOSIBAI RUSTOMJI MASTER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The plaintiff in these three companion suits carried on the business of a furniture maker, having his business premises in Narayan Dhuru Street. He himself and his family occupied rented premises in Girgaon Road. About a year ago he purchased certain premises in Grant Road Low Level. Part of the ground floor of these premises was occupied by a printing press, the other rooms were used for various purposes, while the upper floor was occupied by a tenant for purpose of a School for Girls. After he had purchased these premises, the plaintiff did not show any intention to occupy any part of them for his own purposes. But thereafter he was served with a notice to quit by his landlord with regard to a portion of the premises occupied by him in Narayan Dhuru Street, Madeod o. J. and he had to find other quarters for his business. So he decided that he would use part of the Gi ant Road property for that purpose. At the same time it occurred to him that it would be more convenient if he occupied the top floor of the Grant Koad property for residential purposes instead of continuing to live at Girgaon, as he would have his show rooms in one direction, his workshops in another; consequently he gave notice to quit to the tenants of the printing press, of the Girls School, and of a particular room which was used as a garage.

(2.) The defendants resisted the notices and the plaintiff had to file these suits. They have been dismissed in the trial Court on the issue whether the plaintiff required the premises in the suits reasonably and bona fide for his own use and occupation. The plaintiff no longer wishes to turn out the defendants in the third suit, and, therefore, the appeal, so far as they are concerned, will be dismissed.

(3.) With regard to the 1 defendant Dosibai, no doubt from her point of view it is a hard case that a lady who has been carrying on for several years a Girls School on these premises, attended by a large number of girls, should be compelled in these days to seek for other quarters for the School. However, the Court is not concerned with hard cases, and the only question is whether the plaint tiff requires the premises in suit reasonably and bona fide for his use and occupation. Ordinarily speaking, an owner of premises, if he says he wishes to use them for his own purposes, is entitled to do so. What the Rent Act endeavours to provide for is the case of a landlord who evicts the existing1, tenants in order that he may let them to another tenant at a higher rent, or exact a higher rent from the tenant on a threat S of eviction. It seems to me that the question in this case when the plaintiff was reasonably dissatisfied with the premises which he rented in Girgautn is irrelevant, because in any event the plaintiff was entitled to live in his own premises. He was not bound to continue in rented premises with all the uncertain- ties of that tenure. So that a great deal of irrelevant matter , has been introduced into these suits, because the plaintiff is obviously entitled to live in any portion of his own house which he chooses, provided he does not seek to occupy more space than is reasonably required for himself and his family. It can not therefore, be said that the plaintiff is acting unreasonably in saying that he wishes to occupy the upper storey for himself and his wife and his three children.