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NON-REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.4354 OF 2017 [@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO.33992/2013]

RAM JANKI MANDIR APPELLANT(S)

                               VERSUS

NURUDDIN BHARMAL RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T KURIAN, J.

Leave granted. 2. The  appellant/landlord  filed  a  petition  for eviction of the respondent/tenant on three grounds, i.e. (i)  arrears of rent, (ii) nuisance; and (iii) need for reconstruction.  The Trial Court allowed the eviction on the grounds of arrears of rent and need for  reconstruction.  The same  was affirmed  by the First Appellate Court.  The respondent/tenant  moved the  High  Court.  On  the  ground  of  need  for reconstruction, the High Court took the view that the

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Trial  Court  should  have  ascertained  whether  the respondent/tenant  was  willing   to  reoccupy  the premises  after  reconstruction  and  having  not  done that, the matter was remitted to the Trial Court. 3. No  doubt,  there  is  a  statutory  requirement  of ascertainment  of  willingness  of  the  tenant  as  to whether he would be prepared to reoccupy the premises after reconstruction.  But on the facts of the case, there is a concurrent finding of arrears of rent and that  aspect  is  not  seriously  disputed  also. Therefore, in any case, the eviction on the ground of arrears  of rent  should have  been sustained.   Once that  is  sustained,  there  is  no  question  of ascertainment of the willingness of the tenant after reconstruction.   4. In  that view  of the  matter, we  set aside  the judgment of the High Court and restore the judgment and  decree  passed  by  the  Trial  Court,  which  was affirmed by the First Appellate Court. 5. However, we record the gracious submission made by  the  learned  counsel  for  the  appellant/landlord that  in  the  peculiar  facts  of  this  case,  the appellant/landlord  does  not  intend  to  recover  the arrears of rent from the respondent/tenant. 6. The appeal is allowed.

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7. Pending  applications,  if  any,  shall  stand disposed of. 8. There shall be no orders as to costs.

.......................J.               [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

.......................J.               [R. BANUMATHI]  

NEW DELHI; MARCH 22, 2017.

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