{"id":47553,"date":"2009-12-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-12-08T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/kottayam-public-library-vs-john-mani-on-9-december-2009"},"modified":"2014-10-24T11:03:12","modified_gmt":"2014-10-24T05:33:12","slug":"kottayam-public-library-vs-john-mani-on-9-december-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/kottayam-public-library-vs-john-mani-on-9-december-2009","title":{"rendered":"Kottayam Public Library vs John Mani on 9 December, 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Kerala High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Kottayam Public Library vs John Mani on 9 December, 2009<\/div>\n<pre>       \n\n  \n\n  \n\n \n \n  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM\n\nRCRev..No. 99 of 2009()\n\n\n1. KOTTAYAM PUBLIC LIBRARY,\n                      ...  Petitioner\n\n                        Vs\n\n\n\n1. JOHN MANI, AGED 56,\n                       ...       Respondent\n\n                For Petitioner  :SRI.BECHU KURIAN THOMAS\n\n                For Respondent  :SRI.S.SREEKUMAR\n\nThe Hon'ble MR. Justice PIUS C.KURIAKOSE\nThe Hon'ble MR. Justice K.SURENDRA MOHAN\n\n Dated :09\/12\/2009\n\n O R D E R\n   PIUS C. KURIAKOSE &amp; K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JJ.\n           ------------------------------------------\n                     RCR. No. 99 of 2009\n           -------------------------------------------\n         Dated this the 9th day of December, 2009\n\n                          O R D E R\n<\/pre>\n<p>Pius C. Kuriakose, J.\n<\/p>\n<p>     The landlord, Kottayam Public Library is in revision,<\/p>\n<p>being aggrieved by the judgment of the Rent Control<\/p>\n<p>Appellate Authority dismissing the RCP filed by them on the<\/p>\n<p>ground under Sub Section (7) of Section 11 of Act 2 of<\/p>\n<p>1965. The parties will be referred to as landlord and tenant<\/p>\n<p>respectively. The case of the landlord as set out in the RCP<\/p>\n<p>was that the landlord is a charitable and educational society<\/p>\n<p>registered under Act 12 of 1955 and that for implementing<\/p>\n<p>the aims and objects of the society the subject building is<\/p>\n<p>required for the purpose of starting a computer centre.<\/p>\n<p>According to the landlord the petition schedule building<\/p>\n<p>possessed by the respondent as tenant is very convenient<\/p>\n<p>and suitable for starting the proposed computer centre. The<\/p>\n<p>executive committee of the petitioner society has taken a<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 2 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\ndecision to locate the computer centre in the building. In<\/p>\n<p>anticipation of a claim by the respondent for a protection of<\/p>\n<p>the second proviso to Sub Section (3) of Act 2 of 1965, the<\/p>\n<p>landlord also stated that the respondent-tenant does not<\/p>\n<p>depend on the income that he derives from the business<\/p>\n<p>carried on from the petition schedule building for his<\/p>\n<p>livelihood. The respondent objected to the RCP contending<\/p>\n<p>that the petition is actuated by malafides. It was contended<\/p>\n<p>that the landlord Library has absolutely no intention to start<\/p>\n<p>a computer centre in the building.   It was alleged that the<\/p>\n<p>RCP has been instituted out of the personal spite of the<\/p>\n<p>present president and secretary of the library towards the<\/p>\n<p>tenant for not having yielded to their demand for<\/p>\n<p>unconscionable enhancement of rent. It was also contended<\/p>\n<p>that the signatory to the RCP is not competent to represent<\/p>\n<p>the   library.  It was alleged that previously in 1984 the<\/p>\n<p>landlord attempted to evict the tenant unsuccessfully      to<\/p>\n<p>evict the tenant by launching a petition on the ground of<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                                &#8211; 3 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nsubletting.    It was stated that the tenant is being treated<\/p>\n<p>very badly by the landlord, though previously without any<\/p>\n<p>demur the tenant had obliged to the request of the landlord<\/p>\n<p>to shift from the present premises so as to pave way of the<\/p>\n<p>reconstruction of the building. Refuting the bonafides of<\/p>\n<p>the claim it is pointed out in the statement of objections that<\/p>\n<p>the entire third floor of the building is currently being used<\/p>\n<p>for the purpose of computer centre.     The space available in<\/p>\n<p>the third floor is more than sufficient.      It is pointed out<\/p>\n<p>that the instant petition is for extortion of unconscionable<\/p>\n<p>rent. Starting of computer centre is not one of the aims<\/p>\n<p>and objects of the library.      The subject   building is not<\/p>\n<p>convenient or suitable for the proposed purpose. Recently<\/p>\n<p>about 1600 sq. ft. of space in the ground floor fell vacant<\/p>\n<p>but the landlord let out the same to private individuals.<\/p>\n<p>This action demonstrates the absence of benefits for the<\/p>\n<p>claim now raised by the landlord. It is also pointed out that<\/p>\n<p>in a portion of the main building where the Kottayam Public<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 4 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nLibrary is functioning, previously the local First Class<\/p>\n<p>Magistrate&#8217;s Court    was functioning and apart from the<\/p>\n<p>building vacated by the First Class Magistrate&#8217;s Court the<\/p>\n<p>library has got number of buildings in the Kottayam<\/p>\n<p>Municipal Town in their possession.     It is contended that<\/p>\n<p>the main object of the library is to let out buildings and<\/p>\n<p>derive rental income.       The decision of the landlord to<\/p>\n<p>choose the petition schedule room for the purpose stated in<\/p>\n<p>the RCP is described in the statement of objection as<\/p>\n<p>irrational and a ruse for evicting the tenant out of personal<\/p>\n<p>grudge which the present secretary and library harbours<\/p>\n<p>against the tenant.\n<\/p>\n<p>      2. The rent control court enquired into the RCP and at<\/p>\n<p>trial before that Court the evidence consisted of documents<\/p>\n<p>Exts. A1 to A5, B1 to B4, Commission report Ext.C1, Ext.X1<\/p>\n<p>vacancy register produced by the Accommodation Controller<\/p>\n<p>and oral testimonies of P.W.1 Vasudevan Nair (the<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of the Library at the time of the institution of the<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 5 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nRCP) and CPW1 the tenant and CPW2 the Accommodation<\/p>\n<p>Controller.  The Rent Control Court rightly noticed that the<\/p>\n<p>only point which arises for consideration is whether eviction<\/p>\n<p>was grantable under Sub Section (7) of Section 11 of Act 2<\/p>\n<p>of 1965.\n<\/p>\n<p>     3. On appreciating the evidence which came on record<\/p>\n<p>that court came to the conclusion that no reasons have been<\/p>\n<p>brought out by the tenant for holding that the need<\/p>\n<p>projected by the landlord is not a genuine and bonafide one.<\/p>\n<p>It was accordingly held that the need urged by the landlord<\/p>\n<p>is a bonafide one and accordingly passed an order of<\/p>\n<p>eviction under Sub Section (7) of Section 11.    The tenant<\/p>\n<p>carried the matter in appeal to the Rent Control Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority.   The Appellate Authority considered Ext.A2<\/p>\n<p>byelaws pertaining to the landlord Library and concluded<\/p>\n<p>that the purpose projected in the RCP squarely falls within<\/p>\n<p>the aims and objects of the Library. However, on making a<\/p>\n<p>re-appraisal of the evidence that Authority held that the<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 6 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nneed is not a bonafide one.   In coming to such a conclusion<\/p>\n<p>the Appellate Authority has highlighted that there is no<\/p>\n<p>consistency with respect to the purpose       stated by the<\/p>\n<p>landlord and also that the landlord has other space available<\/p>\n<p>with them for fulfilling the purpose which is sought to be<\/p>\n<p>achieved    after getting eviction of the petition schedule<\/p>\n<p>building. In this context the Appellate Authority points out<\/p>\n<p>that in Ext. B1 notice which was sent by the landlord even<\/p>\n<p>prior to Ext. A4 lawyer notice as a prelude for the Rent<\/p>\n<p>Control Petition what was stated was that<\/p>\n<p>      sse{_dn AwK&#8217;D!v ({]tXyIn(v Ip+nID, h\\nXID,<\/p>\n<p>     hnIemwK@ XpS&#8217;nbh@!v) hmbn!psXn\\pw hf@sp<\/p>\n<p>     hcps hnhckmt&amp;XnIhnZybpsS `mKambn Iw]yq+@<\/p>\n<p>     kwhn[m\\w G@s8Sp\/psXn\\pw adpw sse{_dnhI<\/p>\n<p>     Xmgs\/ \\nebnepE ISID Hgn8ns(Sp\/v hcnIbmWv.<\/p>\n<p>     {]kvXpX     {]h@\/\\&#8217;D!v         IqSpXp      Xew<\/p>\n<p>     thonhcpsXn\\mp Xm&amp;fpsS kzodv LmD \\S\/psIS<\/p>\n<p>     IqSn Hgn8ns(Sp!psXn\\v sse{_dn amt\\PnwKv I=dn<\/p>\n<p>     Xocpam\\n!pIbpombn.\n<\/p>\n<p>According    to  the   Appellate   Authority   during  cross<\/p>\n<p>examination of PW1 it was brought out that he was no<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                               &#8211; 7 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nlonger the Secretary of the landlord\/library and hence, he<\/p>\n<p>was no more competent to swear to the alleged need of the<\/p>\n<p>library or regarding the bona fides of the need. The<\/p>\n<p>Appellate Authority also noticed that an area extending to<\/p>\n<p>about 1600 or 1800 sq. ft. previously occupied by a tenant,<\/p>\n<p>textile fair is presently being occupied by Plaza Jewellery<\/p>\n<p>with the consent of the landlord. According to the Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority, the explanation of PW1 as to why the premises<\/p>\n<p>presently occupied by Plaza Jewellery could not be utilised<\/p>\n<p>for starting computer centre is not convincing. The Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority also notices that in the library&#8217;s building on Shastri<\/p>\n<p>Road previously a Magistrate&#8217;s Court was functioning and no<\/p>\n<p>explanation is forthcoming as to why the proposed computer<\/p>\n<p>centre cannot be started in the building at Shastri Road<\/p>\n<p>where Magistrate&#8217;s Court was previously functioning. The<\/p>\n<p>Appellate Authority also noticed that the Rent Control<\/p>\n<p>Petition does not clarify as to whether the proposed<\/p>\n<p>computer centre is part of library intended to fill data<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                               &#8211; 8 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nregarding goods for easy operation of the library or whether<\/p>\n<p>it is a computer centre intended to give training to the<\/p>\n<p>people. The evidence of PW1 it is to the effect that it is<\/p>\n<p>intended to give training, is not accepted by the Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority on the reason that the same is not founded on<\/p>\n<p>pleadings. The Appellate Authority would highlight a<\/p>\n<p>passage in PW1&#8217;s evidence and conclude that the real<\/p>\n<p>purpose behind seeking eviction was to install a capsule lift<\/p>\n<p>for entering the fourth floor. This need runs in conflict with<\/p>\n<p>the need projected and hence, the Appellate Authority<\/p>\n<p>concluded that element of bona fides is conspicuously<\/p>\n<p>absent in the landlord&#8217;s claim. On the basis of that<\/p>\n<p>conclusion the Appellate Authority set aside the Rent<\/p>\n<p>Control Court&#8217;s order and dismissed the RCP.<\/p>\n<p>    4. In this revision under section 20 various grounds have<\/p>\n<p>been raised assailing the judgment of the Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority. Very extensive arguments were addressed before<\/p>\n<p>us by Sri.Bechu Kurian Thomas, the learned counsel for the<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                               &#8211; 9 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nrevision petitioner on the basis of grounds raised in the<\/p>\n<p>memorandum. All the submissions of Sri.Bechu were<\/p>\n<p>resisted by Sri.S.Sreekumar, the learned counsel for the<\/p>\n<p>respondent\/tenant. Sri.Bechu Kurian Thomas submitted that<\/p>\n<p>the Appellate Authority failed to understand the scope of sub<\/p>\n<p>section 7 of section 11 which was specially enacted for the<\/p>\n<p>benefit of the institutions like the landlord\/library which<\/p>\n<p>served the public good. According to him, once it is<\/p>\n<p>established that a tenanted building is required for the<\/p>\n<p>purposes of public institutions like petitioner library order of<\/p>\n<p>eviction can be passed. The demand for enhanced rent at<\/p>\n<p>the earlier point of time has been highlighted by the<\/p>\n<p>Appellate Authority as a circumstance to conclude that the<\/p>\n<p>need is not bona fide. The view of the Appellate Authority is<\/p>\n<p>contrary to the decision of this Court in 2008(1) KLT 789.<\/p>\n<p>The judgment of the Appellate Authority is the result of an<\/p>\n<p>erroneous appreciation of evidence on recording the case.<\/p>\n<p>The same is vitiated by illegality, irregularity or impropriety.<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 10 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nThe evidence of PW1 ought to have been appreciated as a<\/p>\n<p>whole. When it is so done, it will be seen that installation of<\/p>\n<p>capsule lift was only incidental to the purpose gained by the<\/p>\n<p>landlord library. The capsule lift will not be inside the<\/p>\n<p>petition schedule building. It will be outside the premises &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Mr.Bechu argued by highlighting on the nature and position<\/p>\n<p>of the petition schedule premises in relation to the<\/p>\n<p>remainder portions of the larger building of which the<\/p>\n<p>petition schedule building is a part. Mr.Bechu fortified his<\/p>\n<p>submissions by citing various decisions including the<\/p>\n<p>judgment of this Court in <a href=\"\/doc\/1236152\/\">Sree Narayana Dharmasabha v.<\/p>\n<p>Sathiapalan<\/a>   (2004(2)    KLT    373)  and   another    recent<\/p>\n<p>judgment of this Court in Social Service Guild of Assissi<\/p>\n<p>Sisters v. Ouseph Chacko (2009(2) KLT 199) to both of<\/p>\n<p>which one among us [PCK(J)] was a party. All the<\/p>\n<p>submissions of Mr.Bechu Kurian Thomas were strongly<\/p>\n<p>opposed by Sri.S.Sreekumar. He submitted that under the<\/p>\n<p>statutory scheme the final court on facts is the Rent Control<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 11 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nAppellate Authority. When that Authority has entered finding<\/p>\n<p>on fact based on appreciation of evidence it is not for this<\/p>\n<p>Court to upset those findings on re-appreciation of the<\/p>\n<p>evidence. The finding of the fact finding court that the need<\/p>\n<p>is not bona fide does not suffer from any infirmity as<\/p>\n<p>envisaged by section 20 of Act 2 of 1965. According to Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Sreekumar, sub-section (7) of Section 11 is also qualified by<\/p>\n<p>sub-section (10) of Section 11 and the application has to be<\/p>\n<p>rejected once it is found that the same is without bona fides.<\/p>\n<p>Reminding us of the contours of the revisional jurisdiction<\/p>\n<p>under Section 20 Mr. Sreekumar argued that in the present<\/p>\n<p>jurisdiction, this court is not expected to reappraise the<\/p>\n<p>evidence for the purpose of arriving at factual conclusions<\/p>\n<p>different from those arrived at by the final fact finding<\/p>\n<p>authority.   According to Mr.Sreekumar, PW1, the former<\/p>\n<p>secretary of the library has an axe to grind against the<\/p>\n<p>tenant.    This was why he insisted on himself giving oral<\/p>\n<p>evidence in support of the rent control petition despite<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 12 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nhaving demitted office as secretary.         Mr.Sreekumar<\/p>\n<p>submitted that a careful scrutiny of his evidence will show<\/p>\n<p>that the real purpose behind evicting the tenant is to<\/p>\n<p>construct a capsule lift so as to access the 4th floor of the<\/p>\n<p>larger building.    This purpose is inconsistent with the<\/p>\n<p>purpose projected in the RCP and eviction for accomplishing<\/p>\n<p>the above purpose cannot be permitted since the same will<\/p>\n<p>result in prejudice to the tenant who was never called upon<\/p>\n<p>to defend such a claim.\n<\/p>\n<p>     5. By way of reply Sri.Bechu Kurian Thomas would<\/p>\n<p>submit that the finding of the learned Appellate Authority<\/p>\n<p>that there is inconsistency between the purpose pleaded in<\/p>\n<p>the RCP and the purpose spoken to by PW1 is the result of<\/p>\n<p>an erroneous appreciation of the oral evidence. He drew<\/p>\n<p>our attention to Annexure A1 and A2 produced by the<\/p>\n<p>appellant along with IA. No. 3259 of 2009 which are two<\/p>\n<p>photographs showing the picture of the larger building of<\/p>\n<p>which the petition schedule premises are a part and<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                               &#8211; 13 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nparticularly the petition schedule premises. He also placed<\/p>\n<p>before us a rough sketch of the petition schedule premises,<\/p>\n<p>the larger building of which the same is a part and the<\/p>\n<p>relative positions of the roads which the building abut. He<\/p>\n<p>submitted that the area reserved for the capsule lift does<\/p>\n<p>not occupy any interior space of the petition schedule room<\/p>\n<p>and is not going to encroach upon any part of the room<\/p>\n<p>which is sought to be evicted.         The proposed lift will be<\/p>\n<p>outside the petition schedule building though through the<\/p>\n<p>side of the petition schedule building which is situated in the<\/p>\n<p>ground floor of the larger building.       The learned counsel<\/p>\n<p>submitted that the petition schedule premises has three<\/p>\n<p>small shutters but the board displaying the name of the<\/p>\n<p>business carried on by the tenant has been installed<\/p>\n<p>encroaching on to the outer area on the left side. It is in<\/p>\n<p>that outer area where along the entire height of the larger<\/p>\n<p>building there is a very convenient niche for accommodating<\/p>\n<p>capsule lift, that the capsule lift is proposed to be installed.<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                                  &#8211; 14 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>     6. We have very anxiously considered the rival<\/p>\n<p>submissions addressed at the Bar.            Since we felt that<\/p>\n<p>annexures A1 and A2, the genuineness of which are not in<\/p>\n<p>dispute, will be of help to us in resolving the controversy as<\/p>\n<p>to whether the proposed capsule lift is going to be installed<\/p>\n<p>by utilising a portion of the petition schedule building we<\/p>\n<p>allowed IA. No. 3259\/09. In fact, IA. No. 3259\/09 was filed<\/p>\n<p>by the revision petitioner in response to an oral direction<\/p>\n<p>issued by us for production of photographs so as to enable<\/p>\n<p>us to appreciate the issue in an objective manner. We are<\/p>\n<p>convinced on a perusal of the photographs and also on<\/p>\n<p>perusal of the rough sketch which was placed before us<\/p>\n<p>during the course of arguments (the sketch tallies with<\/p>\n<p>annexures A1 and A2) that the proposal for installing the<\/p>\n<p>capsule lift if at all is to install the same outside the petition<\/p>\n<p>schedule building and at the area of the corner of the larger<\/p>\n<p>building which appears to be a convenient niche for<\/p>\n<p>accommodating such a lift.\n<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 15 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>     7. The purpose projected in Ext.B1 notice, Ext.A4<\/p>\n<p>notice, the rent control petition and also in the affidavit<\/p>\n<p>sworn to by PW1 in lieu of his chief examination is the<\/p>\n<p>purpose of starting a computer centre.        It is in cross-<\/p>\n<p>examination that PW1 mentions about the proposal to install<\/p>\n<p>capsule lift. In fact that part of PW1&#8217;s cross examination is<\/p>\n<p>extracted by the learned Appellate Authority towards the<\/p>\n<p>end of paragraph 10 of its judgment. Translated to English<\/p>\n<p>the above portion of the cross-examination of PW1 is as<\/p>\n<p>follows:\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>     &#8220;What we intend by saying computer centre is the<br \/>\n     conduct of a training centre for those who come out<br \/>\n     successful in library science etc. There is intention to<br \/>\n     construct a capsule lift also for accessing the 4th floor.<br \/>\n     The corner of the petition schedule building is<br \/>\n     suggested for constructing the capsule lift.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Once the above evidence is appreciated in the light of<\/p>\n<p>annexures       A1 and A2 it will be seen that the corner<\/p>\n<p>referred to by PW1 in his cross-examination is not the<\/p>\n<p>corner inside the petition schedule building, but is the<\/p>\n<p>common corner of the entire larger building which by all<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                               &#8211; 16 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nappearances     is a convenient niche for accommodating a<\/p>\n<p>capsule lift. If annexures A1 and A2 were before the Rent<\/p>\n<p>Control Appellate Authority there would not have been any<\/p>\n<p>room for confusion as to where the lift is proposed to be<\/p>\n<p>installed. Even otherwise, we are of the view that it was not<\/p>\n<p>proper on the part of the Appellate Authority to have<\/p>\n<p>appreciated the oral evidence of PW1 in the manner done.<\/p>\n<p>Oral evidence of PW1 and for that matter any witness is to<\/p>\n<p>be appreciated as a whole. When that is done it will not be<\/p>\n<p>difficult to understand that PW1&#8217;s version was only<\/p>\n<p>regarding accomplishment of the landlord&#8217;s idea of installing<\/p>\n<p>a capsule lift also for which removal of the fairly large name<\/p>\n<p>board presently exhibited by the tenant on the schedule<\/p>\n<p>premises in a manner encroaching into the outside corner is<\/p>\n<p>necessary. We are therefore of the view that the finding of<\/p>\n<p>the learned Appellate Authority that there is inconsistency<\/p>\n<p>between the need projected and the need spoken to is<\/p>\n<p>highly improper.\n<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 17 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>     8. It was appreciating the evidence adduced by the<\/p>\n<p>parties that the Rent Control Court, the trial court which had<\/p>\n<p>the advantage of seeing the witnesses and recording their<\/p>\n<p>testimonies, concluded that the need projected in the RCP<\/p>\n<p>stood established by the evidence available on record. The<\/p>\n<p>main reason on which the Appellate Authority interfered<\/p>\n<p>with the above finding is the reason of inconsistency<\/p>\n<p>between the need projected and the need spoken to in<\/p>\n<p>evidence. We have already found that the above reason is<\/p>\n<p>not a correct one.    We are of the view that the other<\/p>\n<p>reasons which weighed with the learned Appellate Authority<\/p>\n<p>for holding that the need is not bona fide are also not<\/p>\n<p>satisfactory.  According to the Appellate Authority, PW-1<\/p>\n<p>was no longer the secretary of the landlord library and was<\/p>\n<p>no more competent to swear to the alleged need of the<\/p>\n<p>library. The above view of the Appellate Authority is too<\/p>\n<p>technical to receive acceptance. It was during the PW1&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>regime as secretary that the decision was taken by the<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 18 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nlibrary to evict the tenant for accomplishing the need<\/p>\n<p>projected in the RCP. The tenor of the various questions<\/p>\n<p>asked to PW1 will show that the tenant did not have any<\/p>\n<p>serious challenge regarding PW1&#8217;s acquaintance with the<\/p>\n<p>affairs and management of the library as a very active<\/p>\n<p>member of the library. In other words, PW1&#8217;s competence<\/p>\n<p>as a witness for the library was not seriously challenged.<\/p>\n<p>The other two reasons mentioned by the learned Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority is that an extensive premises (1600 to 1800 sq.<\/p>\n<p>ft.) obviously occupied by a tenant textile fair is presently<\/p>\n<p>being occupied by Plaza Jewellery with the consent of the<\/p>\n<p>landlord and that the library does not come forward with an<\/p>\n<p>explanation as to why another premises on Sastri Road<\/p>\n<p>where a Magistrate Court was previously functioning cannot<\/p>\n<p>be utilised for the proposed purpose. As for the premises<\/p>\n<p>presently occupied by Plaza Jewellery in our opinion, the<\/p>\n<p>explanation by the landlord that the landlord never came to<\/p>\n<p>have occupation of those premises and that the former<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 19 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\ntenant textile fair themselves inducted Plaza Jewellery and<\/p>\n<p>that the landlord became obliged to attorn with Plaza<\/p>\n<p>Jewellery is a plausible one. Moreover, we find considerable<\/p>\n<p>merit in the submission of the learned counsel for the<\/p>\n<p>revision petitioner that both Plaza Jewellery building as well<\/p>\n<p>as the premises on Sastri Road where the Magistrate Court<\/p>\n<p>was previously functioning are very extensive premises not<\/p>\n<p>necessary for the conduct of the proposed computer centre<\/p>\n<p>which the library presently intends to start in a relatively<\/p>\n<p>smaller premises. We are of the view that the law allows<\/p>\n<p>certain amount of latitude to the landlord in the matter of<\/p>\n<p>choice of premises for accomplishing      its needs. It is not<\/p>\n<p>for the tenant to dictate as to where among the several<\/p>\n<p>places owned by the landlord, the landlord shall start the<\/p>\n<p>proposed computer centre.\n<\/p>\n<p>     9. It appears to us that the learned Appellate Authority<\/p>\n<p>missed the distinction between the statutory scheme for<\/p>\n<p>eviction under subsection (3) of Section 11 and under<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 20 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nsubsection (7) of Section 11. In the instant case, the status<\/p>\n<p>of the landlord library, one of the largest and ancient most<\/p>\n<p>in the State, an institution registered under Act 12 of 1995<\/p>\n<p>as a public institution envisaged by subsection (7) of Section<\/p>\n<p>11 is not in dispute. Eviction ground specifically invoked in<\/p>\n<p>the RCP is one under subsection (7) of Section 11.          A<\/p>\n<p>Division Bench of this Court        in Social Service Guild of<\/p>\n<p>Assissi Sisters v. Ouseph Chacko, 2009(2) KLT 199 to which<\/p>\n<p>one among us (PCK, J) was party, had occasion to deal with<\/p>\n<p>the relative standards for determining the bonafides for<\/p>\n<p>claims under Section 11(7) and (3) and 11(8). The Bench<\/p>\n<p>held at paragraph 10 of the order as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>     &#8220;It is now trite by judgments of Division Bench of this<br \/>\n     court in <a href=\"\/doc\/1408763\/\">Pakran v. Kunhiraman Nambiar<\/a> (2004 (1) KLT\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>     824) and in <a href=\"\/doc\/1367292\/\">K.T.Thomas v. P.Sreedhara Varma<\/a> (2007<br \/>\n     (4) KLT SN 58 (C.No.64) = 2008(1)KLJ 125) that the<br \/>\n     standards to decide the bona fides of a claim under S.<br \/>\n     11(3) and that of a requirement of additional<br \/>\n     accommodation coming under S. 11(8) are different,<br \/>\n     the former being more rigorous than the later.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>     According to us, the same principle can be invoked to<br \/>\n     petitions under S. 11(7) and it can be safely held that<br \/>\n     the standards for deciding the bona fides of a claims<br \/>\n     under S. 11(7) are not so rigorous as the standards for<\/p>\n<p>  RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 21 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\n     deciding the bona fides of a claim under S. 11(3). In<br \/>\n     fact we are of the considered view that the standards<br \/>\n     for deciding the bona fides of a claim under sub-s. (7)<br \/>\n     of S. 11 are even more liberal than the standards for<br \/>\n     deciding the bona fides of claims under sub-s. (8) of S.\n<\/p>\n<p>     11. This is because unlike claims under sub-ss. (3) and<br \/>\n     (8) of S. 11, where a private need of the landlord is<br \/>\n     being recognised by the Court, in a claim under sub-s.<br \/>\n     (7) of S. 11, the need which is given recognition and<br \/>\n     accepted as a ground for evicting the tenant, will have<br \/>\n     certain elements of interest of the public or a section of<br \/>\n     the public since the accomplishment of the need will be<br \/>\n     beneficial not only to the landlord but also to the entire<br \/>\n     public who are beneficiaries of the activities of the<br \/>\n     institution.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>We will immediately note in this context that the submission<\/p>\n<p>of Mr.Bechu Kurian Thomas that the landlord library the<\/p>\n<p>Kottayam Public Library has been rendering very useful<\/p>\n<p>service to the public inhibiting the Kottayam Town and its<\/p>\n<p>outskirts for several decades now and that the credibility<\/p>\n<p>and reputation of the institution has never been questioned<\/p>\n<p>by anybody concerned including the statutory authorities<\/p>\n<p>like State Library Council was not disputed at the Bar.<\/p>\n<p>       10. We have no doubt that when the standards<\/p>\n<p>necessary for a claim under sub-section (7) of Section 11<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                              &#8211; 22 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\nare applied it will have to be found that the learned<\/p>\n<p>Appellate Authority&#8217;s interference with the decision of the<\/p>\n<p>Rent Control Court was unwarranted. As for the protection<\/p>\n<p>under 2nd proviso to Section 11(3), the finding that the<\/p>\n<p>tenant is not entitled to such protection has entered<\/p>\n<p>concurrently and since such finding is founded on evidence<\/p>\n<p>there is no warrant for interference.\n<\/p>\n<p>     11. The result of the above discussion is that RCR will<\/p>\n<p>stand allowed. The judgment of the Rent Control Appellate<\/p>\n<p>Authority is set aside. Eviction order is passed against the<\/p>\n<p>respondent under sub-section (7) of Section 11.            The<\/p>\n<p>respondent is given time till 30-9-2010 subject to the<\/p>\n<p>following conditions:\n<\/p>\n<p>     The tenant shall file an affidavit before the Execution<\/p>\n<p>Court or the Rent Control Court as the case may be, within<\/p>\n<p>one month from today undertaking to give peaceful<\/p>\n<p>surrender of the building to the revision petitioner library on<\/p>\n<p>or before 30-9-2010 and undertaking further to discharge<\/p>\n<p> RCR.99\/09\n<\/p>\n<p>                               &#8211; 23 &#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p>\narrears of rent if any within one month and to pay<\/p>\n<p>occupational charges at the current rent rate till such time<\/p>\n<p>as surrender of the building is given.\n<\/p>\n<p>       In view of the apprehension voiced by the learned<\/p>\n<p>counsel for the respondent tenant that the real intention of<\/p>\n<p>the library is to let out the building to some other tenant on<\/p>\n<p>higher rent, we record the undertaking given on behalf of<\/p>\n<p>the landlord library in this court by their counsel Sri.Bechu<\/p>\n<p>Kurian Thomas that after eviction, the premises will be<\/p>\n<p>utilised only for the purpose stated in the RCP we also<\/p>\n<p>injunct the landlord from letting out the building for a period<\/p>\n<p>of three years from today. RCR is allowed as above without<\/p>\n<p>any order as to cost.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>                           PIUS C.KURIAKOSE, JUDGE<\/p>\n<p>                           K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE<br \/>\nksv\/-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kerala High Court Kottayam Public Library vs John Mani on 9 December, 2009 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM RCRev..No. 99 of 2009() 1. KOTTAYAM PUBLIC LIBRARY, &#8230; Petitioner Vs 1. JOHN MANI, AGED 56, &#8230; Respondent For Petitioner :SRI.BECHU KURIAN THOMAS For Respondent :SRI.S.SREEKUMAR The Hon&#8217;ble MR. Justice PIUS C.KURIAKOSE The Hon&#8217;ble [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-high-court","category-kerala-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Kottayam Public Library vs John Mani on 9 December, 2009 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/kottayam-public-library-vs-john-mani-on-9-december-2009\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kottayam Public Library vs John Mani on 9 December, 2009 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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