High CourtDivision BenchAppeal and Special Leave Petition dismissed; ev...

Ravi Dutt Sharma v. Ratn Lal Bhargava

Case / Petition Number:Civil Appeal No. 212 of 1981; Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 2948 of 1982
Neutral Citation:1984 SCR 618

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court
Hon'ble Judges
  • Fazal Ali, J.
  • A. Varadarajan, J.
  • R.N. Misra, J.
Judgment Date
1984-02-20
Court Decision / Holding
Appeal and Special Leave Petition dismissed; Eviction order affirmed; time to vacate extended to June 30, 1984, subject to undertakings to be filed within four weeks; costs not awarded.
Final Disposition
Appeal and Special Leave Petition dismissed; eviction upheld; time to vacate extended to 30 June 1984; no order as to costs.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Ravi Dutt Sharma

Respondents

  • Ratn Lal Bhargava

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • V. M. Tarkunde
  • • P. M. Parekh
  • • Indu Malhotra
  • • Kailash Mehta
  • • Vimal Dave

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Bikramjit Nayar
  • • D. D. Sharma
  • • T. S. Kawatra
  • • N. K. Agarwala

Case Synopsis & Summary

This Supreme Court decision concerns the eviction of a tenant in a Slum Area under the Delhi Rent Control Act and the effect of the Amending Act of 1976 introducing Chapter III-A, along with Sections 14A, 25A, 25B and 25C. The landlord had sought eviction of a tenant inducted as far back as 1945, initially under the Slum Clearance Act (Section 19(1)(a)) which required permission from the Competent Authority; that permission was denied, the order was affirmed in appeal, and eviction was later sought under the Rent Act for eviction on grounds of personal need. The Tenant challenged the new scheme, arguing that the Slum Act’s permission requirement remained applicable and that the Rent Act amendments (especially 25A, 25B, 25C) were ultra vires Article 14 and inconsistent with the Slum Act. The Court held that the Amending Act’s new procedure is a special law created to expedite eviction for landlords with bona fide personal need, and that the non-obstante clauses in the Amending Act and Chapter III-A override prior statutes, including the Slum Act. The Court emphasized the dominant object of the Amending Act: swift, efficient eviction decisions in specific classes of cases, and concluded that the new provisions override the Slum Act where there is inconsistency. The appeal and the Special Leave Petition were dismissed, with time to vacate extended to June 30, 1984, subject to undertakings.

Provisions of Law Cited

Delhi Rent Control Act 1958: sections 14(1)(e), 14A, 25A, 25B, 25CSlum Areas Improvement and Clearance Act 1956: section 19(1)(a)Chapter III-A (Rent Act Amending Act 1976)Section 39 of Slum Clearance ActArticle 14 of the Constitution of India (as interpreted)

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Non-obstante clause prevails over other laws
  • Special law overrides general law
  • The dominant object of legislation guides interpretation
  • Public interest as a rationale for statutory change
  • Overriding effect of later enactments (Chapter III-A over Slum Act)
  • Interlocking of object, purpose, and nexus in statutory classification

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner-tenant contends that permission under the Slum Act (Section 19(1)(a)) is a mandatory precondition for filing an eviction suit and that the Amending Act’s Chapter III-A creates a new, special procedure that cannot override pre-existing statutory safeguards; Sections 25A, 25B, and 25C are claimed to be ultra vires Article 14 and inconsistent with the Slum Act, which was an existing statute. They argue that the Slum Act’s protections and the pre-amendment framework should prevail, and that the landlord’s evictions should follow the older procedure rather than the expedited Chapter III-A route.

Contentions of Respondents

The landlord-defendant argues that the Amending Act of 1976 introduced a special, expeditious procedure for eviction for those landlords needing premises for bona fide personal occupation, and that Sections 14A, 25A, 25B and 25C are designed to meet a specific contingency. They assert that Chapter III-A, with its non-obstante clause, overrides the Slum Act and other conflicting provisions, ensuring quick relief for eviction and that the Slum Act is rendered inapplicable to the extent of inconsistency.

Cited Precedents (5)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Newal Singh v. Lajwanli[1980] 1 S.C.R. 854PositiveCited to illustrate that later enacting provisions override earlier ones, supporting the Amending Act's supremacy over the Slum Act.
Sarwan Singh & Anr. v. Kasturi Lal[1971] 2 S.C.R. 421PositiveUsed to support the principle that later enactments prevail in case of conflict between laws.
Vinod Kumar Chowdhry v. Narain Devi Taneja[1980] 1 S.C.R. 746PositiveCited for the concept of overriding earlier statutes by a later enacted provision.
Smt Krishna Devi Nigam & Ors. v. Shyam Babu Gupta & Ors.AIR 1980 Delhi 165PositiveApproved ratio supporting that the added sections are special provisions overriding conflicting laws.
Kewal Singh's case (supra)—Mentioned OnlyReferenced for context on conflict between parallel statutory schemes; no precise citation provided in text.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

, A 614 B RATAN LAL BHAR.GAVA _February_ 20, 1984 '.. \ RAVI DUTT SHARMA ' ' _v._ ' _.:..-_ _IF_ _:_ _c_ '• S, MuRTAZA FAzAL Au: A. VARADARAJAN & R,N. MISRA, Jl l _Constitution_ _of India_ 1950, _Article 14: Sections 14A, 25A and 25B of_ _Delhi_ _Rent Control Act_ 1958 _whether ultra_ _vires_ _Article_ 14: , _Slull) Areas·([nif,rovement and_ Clearance~·.A~t-1956, _s,_ 19 _Delhi.. Rent_ Contr~l _Act 1958, Ss.14_ (!) _(e), 14A, 25A, 25B_ & _25C: suit_ _by landlord for eviction of_ _tenant under_ s.14.(1) _(e)_ _or s.l4A_ _of the Rent_ _Act-prior permiss(on ofCompetant_ _Authority urider_ _Slun1_ _Clearance_ _Act-Whether necessarr._ ~ .. '-. ~· The appt::hant-tenant was induct~ into the suit prenrises as for b~ck as 194~. The respondent landlord a,pplied _under section 19 _(!)(a) of the Slum Areas Irilprovc-. \ ~:.., ment and Clearance) Act 1956 before the Competent Authority for pennitting .him_ _J_ to institute a suit for eviction ·or the appellant but that application was dismissed. ·I aod thC order was confirn1ed ill appeal by the Financial Conunissioner: ·Thereafter F G H the re·spondelit field a1 suit for eviction in April 197!? under section 14 (1) (e) read with seCtiori 25B of the Delhi Rent Control Act 1958. The tenant applied for leave ... "'to defend the suit but the same was rejected ·and an order of eviction was passed A revision filed by the ten~n~ Jin the High' Court was dismissed. . '· 'n -the appe~l to this Court .fs ~el1 as in the connected Special LeaV"e " Petition lt, \Vas.contended that: (1) under seetion 19 (1) (a) or the Slum Act it is incumbent on the landlord to obtain iJenni36ion frQm the Competent Authority before insti~ . tution of a suit for evicting a tenant and without such permission the suit . was no "' 1naintainable, and (2) sections 25A and 2~'.B were _ultra vires_ of ·Article 14 of the Constitution aud \Vere inconsisterit wit~ the Slun1 Act which was· an existing Statute· and,,therefote, the prqcedure substituted under: Chapter, IIlA, particularly sections 25A and 25B should be invaljdated. - ~ \ DiSmissi~ the Appeal and Spcciill Leave Petition; _I_ ' RAX' o·uTr _v._ )lATAN LAL 615 ~ the ., HELD: A.(i) The High Court ten~nts-for setting as_idc the ofder·;-ef was eviction. cotre~t in rejecting the applications ['6241.§] - of 'A . ~.. ' , B.(l). s~ctions 14A; 25A;25B firld 25C Of the Rent Act arc sPecial ·~revisions so far as the landlord and tenant arc concerned an,f in view Of. the non~obstante clause th~se proviSions ~verridc the existing- la\V So far as. the neW procedure· is ~oncemed; · .[624Al B ' ,J..._. (2) Thef; is lio._differenCe ei_ther on principle or in Ia_w· between sections 14 (l)(e) and 14A of the Rent A~t even though these _two:_ proviSio~s rdate to Cviction. of tenants under different situationS; [624B] ' . (3) ;-,The prOccdtire inca'fporated in Ch~pter IIIA ·ar· _th~ A~ending Act into the Rent Act is in public .. interest and is not vlotatiye- of Artir.fe 14 ·of the Constitu:. ·ti on; [624C] - ' - ::t: .- i. - . \ . . (4) ~1n vieW of the prOcedure in Ch3pter IIIA of the Rent Act, thC Slum Act . ·"{ . ....,. i~ reqdered inapplicabJe to· the extent of inconsiStency and it is· not; therefore, neces~ sary for the landlord to obtain permission of the Compc~ent Authority_ undCr s. 19 - (i)(a): of· ihe Slum· _Act._ before 'ihstitufing a sUit for evicti-00 arid corning _within .s.14 C.(1) The_dominant object of' the Amending~Act ~f 1976 was to provide a speCdy, expeditio-us -and effect ieffiedy ·for a.' claS:s of landlords contemplated 9Y seCsections 14(1)(e) and J4A and _foi_ avOidinf'unusual dilatorY process pfOvided other., _wise_ by the Rcq.t·Act. Suiis'for evicti6n.under the Act take a Jong_time commc'ncing ·with the Rent eOntroller arid ehctlng up with" thO ~.upn .. Jnc- COurt.· ln many ca~es by 'the 'time. thC eviction decree becanie final several :years elapsed and either [1] :the . ~ - •) ' ' landlord died or the necessity which provided the cause of action disappeared. It waS this n1ischief Which the.legisl_ature intended _to ayoid by incorporatingthe·.new procedure in Chapier _IDA:_ It cannot therefore be said that ·the tlilssification of _(.l)(e) or 14A of the Rent Act.. [624D-E] ·c , E·. , sue~ landlords- ·wouid be an ureasonaPle one because such a classification has. got a clear ·nexus withlith_e objects of the Alnending Act ·or 1976 and tP,e purpos·es which-~ . F· -G H _·r_ it seeks to - subServe. [619D-F; G] - ·. · -. ·, -, . : 1 -.' :'1 _:_ _I_ . _:,_ _',)_, l (2) The ne'v sections 14A, 25A, 25B and 25C had been introduced for the purpose Or meeting ~~. pa_Fticular ~ntingencY as spelt out in 'the object and reasons behind the" new proViSionS. ·once it is recognised that ·the nCwly a'dded sections are in the nature uf a spedal law inte"nded to apply to speci(\1 classes of landlords, the . ·inevitable Conclusion would be that the ;pplication of the Sl'um Act st2.nds with-. '· _,/_ ''drawn to iha:t exterit and any SUit falling.within the scOpi_ of sections 14(1)(e) 'and 14Awould not be governed.or controlled by section 19(1) (a) of'the Slum Act, _r_ . ' ' [621CD-J . ' ' [621CD-J ,, •' i· A ' B c D E F G H - I 616 SUPREME COURT . REP,ORTS (1984] 2' S.C.ll. \. _V.M.' Terkunde, P:M. Parekh, Ms,_ _.Jndu_ _Ma/hotta, Ms. Kaila!h_ _Mehta_ _&_ _Vima/_ _Dave_ for the Appelant/Pctitioners. _Bikarmjit_ _Nayer_ aicd _D.D._ _Sharma_ for the Respci~dent in CA. 212/81. .. _(_ '' • 1 - (3) It is open to the ~egislaturc to pick ~ut 'one class of the '1anillords out of sever.al ·covered by sectioq 14(J)(e) of thc.Re1lt Act so long as they fonned a class _J_ - (3) by·thems~lves and the· lcg1slaturc \Vas fr9c to prOvidc the be.ncfit of the special prncedure to them in the matter of eviction of their' tenants as long as the legislation had an object tci achieve and the special procedure· had a rc.asOnable nexus with su·ch . object,to be secured. [621F-G] - · \ , (4). The new p~ovision in the Ariiending Act w~re.intended to haveoverri .. di~ ~ffect an(.f all pr~cedural. laws wer.e to give waY to .~he ~ew procedure. [623pj ' . . ' ' ~ew.al _.Sing/I_ _v. ·Lajwaftti_ [1980] _1_ S.C.R. 854; _Sar.wan_ _Sing11_ _&_ _Anr._ _'v.,,_ _Kasturi_ _Lal_ [.l9Tlj 2 S.C.R. 421; _Vinod_ _Kun1ar_ _,Chowdhry_ _v._ _Narain_ _DeVi_ _Taneja_ [1,80) _i_ S.C.R. 746 referred to. _Smt:'Krislma ·Devi_ _Nigpm_ ~Ors. _v._ _Slryan1 Babu Gupta_ _&_ _Ors._ AIR 1780 ·Delhi .165 ~pproved. ; ·~ C1v1L APPELLATE JuRIS4lICTION : Civil Appeal No. 212 of 1981 . Appeal by specie! .leave from the judgment and order dated Delhi .High Court in C.R. No. 790 . the 26th.August, 1980 of the of 1979: .. ' . _WITH_ \ ~ \ . . -, . _SPBCIAL LFIAVB PETITION (CIVIL) NO._ 2948 _OF_ 1982 l From· the judgment and order d,ated the 17th December, . ofthe . Delhi High . Court in C.R. No. 873 of 1981. . 1981 '. RAVI DUI? _v._ RATAN LAL _(Faz'al_ _Ali,_ _J.)_ 617 . . . . '· ' ' \ ' . _T.s,,.Kawatra_ _&_ _NJ{, Agarwaia•fo'r_ the Respondent in S.L.P.. A No .. 2948 bf 1982, . . ' ., ',, ·~-' ·The Judgment .of the Couft was delivered by · . " ··•'' B \, . " 4FAZAL Au, J. This Appeal'b;.spedal' leave is directed ·against _':Jo_ an order· passed by the" Delhi High Court ori· August 26, 1980 .· affirmillg an order of eviction of the appelarit,madeby .the 'Rent ,-Tontroller.The.f(lcts of the ~ase '.ie \~thin.a ·yery, narrow compass· _[/ ]_ . _,;r._ . and the appeal mvolves a pure .Polilt ofraw w)11ch 1s already convered C' by decisions of this coµrt to which we shall presently refer: _:_ . ' , ., . ~ I, . _:_ ~ . ' ' " . .,... The tenant, Ravi Dutt Sharma, ;;,as inducted into the suit premises as for back as 1945, Tl(e .landlord· Rat~n Lal Bhargava applied undj:r' section 19 (I) (a} of the Slum Clearance Act ('Sluin Act' fot'. . short) before the . Competent Authority for .permitting .him to insti ' .. _,,/_ tute. a suit for eviction of the,' appellant but that. application was . · dismissea on'July 28, 1973. An appeal against this· order was dismi ssed by t]je Financial Commissioner 'on October 4,, · 1974. Thereafter -,... Respondent filed a suit (or eviction of theienant. under _·s:_ 14 (I) (e) ·read with s. 25 (B) of the Delhi Rent Control Aci ("Rent Act' for - - - \ - •' ' #",, ' - I - - - \ - •' ' #",, ' - I 1 [short) on April ] [13, ] [1979. ] [Qrn:Ler ] [the provisions ] [of. ][!he ] [Rent ] [Act, ][as, ] . "-.~wended 'in 1976 it is'incun1bent upon the. defendant tenant to apply· D E F - for leave· to defend 'a s~it for eviction before. entering contest; The tenant· applied for sucb leave but the same was rejected and an order. •. of his' eviction was passed, on September J 4, 1979: A revision by ihe. tenant to the High Court was dismissed and that has '1ed to the appeal •, to this Court.' - · · ' . In the special. leave' petition Smt. Puspa Rani filed' a stiit for eviction against her tenant, Swara~ .Kumar and .others, which also .· G - w~s all~wed by the Rent Controller and a revision therefrmit has' been · . ·dismissed l)y the High Court, Ij:ence the ·petition for special leave "". a,gainst judiiment, of the High Court h_as been filed and that was directed, to be heard along with the Civil Appeal. It is unnecessary to giv' the racts·fovolved in the case in which special !eave . ·has been asked H for because the poin( of law. for cosideratfon is one and the same. . . . .,. . _I_ , . . . ~ 618 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1984] 2 s.c.R. Admittedly the houses for which eviction )1as been asked for.in ·' these two cases are located within the slum areas as defined under the _.__. . Slum Act. It was contended on behalf of the t"nants that .the .suits . for eviction by the landlords were not competent in view of want of - permissio~ from the competent Authority under the Slum Act. Under section 19 (1) (a) of t]].e Slum Act •it' is incumbent'on the landlord to B obtain permission from the Competent Authority before instituting a suit for evicting a tenant all(! without such permission the suit is . iot maintainable. · - .• t This argument was co11ntercd by the respondent on the ground """ C .. that by virtue of the. Amending' Act of 1976 (referred to as the 'A'.mending Act' for short) a 'new procedure has been substituted for two types of eviction of tenant-one of . which was covc,red by. s . .14 (I) (e) and the other by . section 14 (A). In the instant case ·we ate mainly concerned with eviction. applications covered by s'. - 14(1) le) ' and' the · special procdure provided in D Chapter III-A. introduced by the Admending Act. It was contended by the respqudent that by virtue of the Rent Act a special·protection was gtven to a particular class of landlords who fell within ·the provisioi:is of s. 14 (l).(e) of the ·Rent Act (personal necessity) and in such " - cases a procedure different ·rrom the procedure fo)lowed in other E ~ases had been prescribed. Section 25 (A) and 25 (B) so~ght to simplify the procedure by ·insisting on the tenant to obta;,; permission to ·enter defence. In other word.s, so far as "suits for eviction on the ' . ground of personal necessity weae con~er~ed, the case for eviction_....>-' " was put at par· witlis.uits m1der Order 37, Code of Civil' Procedure . where the Court was satisfied that the tenant had-an arguable case,· 1eave to defend would be. granted;. otherwise the order of eviction would be passed straightway., F " Learned counsel for the tenants then argue<! that. sections 25(A) 'and 25 (B) were _1:1ltra_ _vires_ of Article 14 - of the Constitution and were inconsistent with the Slum Act which was an existing· statute and, therefore, the procedure substituted under Chapter III-A, particulary in ·ss. 25(A)°and 2'5 (B) sho11ld be invalidete<l. On the other hand, counsel for the landlords contended that by virtue of the Amending Act a new procedure has been added in respect of evictions . under s. 14(1) (e) as also the newly added 14(A), and sections 25(A) and 25(B} have been brought into the 'Statute to give efiect to the intention of ·the legislature by providing a Special .procedure and , . .. ., I ' \ . . - _v_ ' ## - .. _I_ ·decided on tlle 9th Scoten~ber J9i5. that, a p~rso11 who owns his own ho us~ in his place of ;.ork should vacate,the Government accommodation· allotted'. to him before· the 31st DEX<em- ber 1975. - do\)~rnm-~nt · cmisi~iered that in the circum**stances,** **the** **Act requi..rcs** **to** **be** **a111cnded_** urg~·ntly.", **.** ., / . ' •"-. " . . ·.RAVID,UTT _V._ RATt,NLAL _(Faza/A/i, J,)_ 619 ·also making provision ~at the. existing lawto the contl'ary. riew • procedure would override the .. . In 'order to appreciate 'this contention it niay be necessary to give: an extract of Statement of objects and re~sons of'the Amending ·Act ""' : -,, - ., **B** ' ##### . ' ~ ' . ' ·.· . ' ' ' . "There I.as been a persistent demand for amendments to the iDelhi Rent Control Ad, 1958 with a view. ~to ccfnferring1 a right of tenancy on' certain heirs/successors of a d~ceased .. statutory, tenant to that they may be protected froril eviction , by landlords and also for simplifying the procedure,, for eviction of tenants in case. the landlord requiresthe pre!llises . bona. fide for his personal occupation. Further Government . The dominant obj~ct of the Amending Act was, therefore, to provide a spoody, expoditious .and effective remedy for a class of landlords . . _;·{__ - contempbt1'd by· ss. _14 (l)(C) .and 14 (A) and ror avoidin'g unusual [1 ] ### **r** dilatory process provided .otherwise by the Rent Act. Jt is commo'n experience that su_its fo~ eyiction under the Act take a long time. · cmninencirig with the Rent Controller and endi1ig up with the Supreme Court. In many cases experience-has indicated thatby the time the eviction .tiecrec became final' several years elapsed and eitlie[ .. the. hndlord died _or the necessity which provided the cause of · action ·dissappered and' if. the're wasfurther delay in securing eviction and tfor family of t_he landlord' ha\:l by .then expanded, in· the abse **C,** **D** E _!__ .,,,, **G** **H** **n.ce** **of** **acc6mmodation** **_the** **1ncnibers** **of** **the** **family,_were** **virt-11ally.** thrown on the road. It.was this mischief wihch the legislature intended to avoid by incorporating _the new procedute in Cliapter'III:A. The legislature in its wisdom thought that -in cases where the landlorils required their own premises· for bona fide and personal· necessity they shriuid< be treated as a .. ieparat~ class along with the landlords . covered-by s .. 14 A ·and should be allowed to reap the fruits of decrees for eviction wiihin the. quickest possible time. It cannot, . therefore, be said that the Cl~ssification. of such 'landlords would be , . _1._ 620 SUPREME COURT REfORTS [1984] 2 s.c.R. . I _A._ an unreasonabl~ one because such a classification has got a clear - nexus with the objects of the Amending.Act and the· purposes which : it seeks 'to subserve. Tenants cannot complain of any discrilnination ' \ . '. B ' D E . . F G. '' ~ _The_ matter _)s_ no ~ longer _res,_ _integra_ ' and· is coverecf by' two' ' _:_ .decisions of this Court which.ate directly in •point. ·The first cine is ~ because .the' Rent Aci merely gave . certain protection to them in public· i;1terest and if ihe protection 'or part _of'._ it afforded by the Rent Act was .withdrawi1 and the common law right of the tenant: : ~nden the l'ransfer of property Act was stilL preserved; no genuine grievance could be made. This wa~ clearly held in the case of That test is that the later. en'ilnctment mwst prevail ayer -the earlier one. Section ·14 A and Chapter I.II A .having been ena- . ., ·cted with effect from December I 1975, are lat•; ena~tinents . in reference tO. s. 19 of' !,he Slum 'clearance Act which in its present form,. was placed 'on the statute book with effect· _[(ewaf Singh_ _v._ _Lajwan!i.(_ _[1]_ _)_ . ' the' case of _Sarwan Singh_ _&_ _Anr._ _v._ _Kasturi Lal,_ [1] " hi which, ari . identical _point_ came up for.consideration, It.was held by this Court that sections 2'5 (A), 25 (BJ and. 25 (C) of the Rent Act (introduced .by the Amend,ing Act) were special provisions with reference to s. - 1 14 (A) thereof· 'which superseded all existing _Ac!s_ ·to the contrary. .. It .was also pointed out 'that thefo ilewly added sections in :the)lent Act were to app)y only to. a ciass Of landlords and, therefore, the question of violation of A~t. 14 of the constitution did not arise.· While considering verious,;spects of the aforesaid· provisions, Chand. rachud, J. (as.lie then was): spoko· for t1ie Court th.us . ._,, ~'When"two or more !all's operate. in \he same field and _ _.}-'. eacl;,contains a non7obstante clause stating that its provisions will override those of any other law, stimulating and inoisive problems' of interpretation 'arise. Since statutory inter, pretat.ion has no conventional ·protocol, cases of such 'conflict . have to be decided in refe'rence Jo the object and purpose JI of the laws under con'sid.eration ...... For resolving such inter #### 1 s~. conflicts, one other ·t.est may also be· applied though the • persuasive force of such a test is but one of the factors which _:_ combine to give a fair, meaning to the language of the' faw. ' #### . Ji ..; (I) [1980fl S.C.R. 854. (2)[1977]'2 S.C.R. 421. ' .·' ' ' ~ ' 1 !\AV! DUTT _•._ _v._ RATAN LAL' (Fa~al _Ali,_ _J.)_ 621, ' ' ·. \ ' . ... _·}_ •' '~ ' >!O _I_ -,'' f .. from February28, 1965 and in reforen~e to s. 39· of the same Act, which came into force in 1956 wh.en the Act itself was passed. The .legislature gave over-riding effect to s. 14 A and ' Chapter III A with the knowledge that SS.' ]9 and,39 'of the Sluin Clearance Act cont~ined non-~bstante clauses.of equa·I efficacy. Therefore, .the later e~actment must prevail:over·the former .., . Bearing iii' mind the langu:lge of the two fuws, their object and putp9se, and the fact that one.ofthem is later in point of.time and was ei;~cted with the knowledge of the 'non-obstante 'ciau,ses in, the earlie, law, ~e hcwe' ~ome· to the . .conclusion .that tl).c p'rovisions of s. 14· A.and ChapteflJI. A of t!).e Re11t · Control Act must preva'il over those c0ntained u1 ss, 19 and 39'of the. Slum Clearance Ac't." ' ' . A .. B. c " An analysis of. the aforesaid dedi~ion ~]early reve~ls. thaf the.new sections 14A 25(A)i 25(B) and 25(C) had been intr0 dced tor the purpose of meeting a particular contingency aespelt out\ in the objects and reasons behind the,new provisions. Once it is. recoginsed that the D newly aaded sections ' . ' ' - are .in - the nature ' ' . .· . of ' a special law. . ' - ' intended to . apply to special classes· of landlords, the inevitable conclusion would 'be that the applica:tiol) of·· the Sulm Act •stands· withdraw~ to that extent and any suit falling within the scope of the aforesa·id seetions 14 (!) (e) and 14A,":ould not be govcnied or controlled bys. '19 (!) (a} of the Slum: AcL · - - E · ,\ __ . ' I ~ Jt was; however, ;ul:imitted that s. 14A of the Rent act dealt with a sp·ec~il contingehcyfor which .a. different procCdure had been provided ii1 the m~der of evicting tenants by the 'landlords iii bccu pation of preni.i;es allotted by the Central. Governine~t or any local authority. This was• to .enable them to get their dwn resid~ntia!' accommodation so,that thby would be. in a position to vacate·,the premises alloted to them by the Centrai.Government., _It_ was coriten- ·, '. ded that as. the·. Central GJvernment · a11d persons. in occupation as· F •, ,G H .. -. tenants _pf_ premises provid~d. by Central Govern.men! were a dhss by themselves, section 14 A could be taken as a. special provision but 1.4 (I) (e) of the Act could nrit.be ~levated to .that pedestal. We are no"t able to· accept this 'ilrgument. .. It was open to the legislature to pick out 'one class of landlords out of the 'se~eral covered by .s. 14' - · . (1) (e) of the ·Rent act so long is they formed· a class by themselues and legislature was free·to provide the benefit of a special procedure to,them in .the matter of e.vi6tion o'(their,tenants is long }he legisl;i ' ##### . . ',· " . .. .' I \ , 622 SUPREME COURff REPORTS, [1984] 2 $.C.R. **A** **B** **c** **D** , E **F** **G** **H** I \ , 622 SUPREME COURff REPORTS, [1984] 2 $.C.R. ' \ - ' ' ###### 6on had art object to achieve and the,specaiJ procedure had a reas- · .. ' "The Act actually re_plac\d the Ordinance which was promulgated on Jst December, 1979, The objects and reasol)s clearly reveal that the amendme,nt has been made or simplifying the procedure for evictio'n of tenants in case the landlord requires the premises bona fide for his per.son'al occuration, It -is a ' matter of comm·on knowledge that even though the landlord **may** **have** **an in1n1ediate** **and** **imperative** **necessity** **for.** **vacating** the house given to a tenant he, is compelled• to resort to the time consuming and dilatory procedure of a suit,:wb:ich takes - years before the landlord is able to obtain the 'tiecree and in most cases· by the tfm,e the d'cree is p~sscd either the landlord dies or the need disappears and the landlord is completely, deprived of getting any relief. It appears to ns that it was for thes~ reasons that the legislature in.its wisdom thought that a short ancl. simple procedure should be provided for those land' ' - lords who generally want the ·premises,for their bona fide necessity so that they may be.able to get' quick and expec.itious relief. ..., . The landlords having personal necessity have been brought together - ' as - ' a separate class because of ~ ~ thei1' special **needs and .such** **a classification cannot** **be** **said to be unreaso-** nable, particularly when the legislature in its wisdom feels that . tl:ie landlords should get this reli_ef as quickly as possible ·Thus taking an overall picture of the situation, the circu~­ stanccs under.which the ~landlord's needs have been calssified and the safeguards given by the statute it cannot be said by ~ onaple naxm with such object to be secured.· _r_ ' ' '. . \ . - ' ',,. . I . Despite.the ingenius and attractive arguments of Mr, Tarkunde, it seems to us tha~ the distinction made by the learned counsel between ss, 14 (l) (e) ~nd 14 A ·is really a distinction without any difference. Moreover, the newly added sections, viz., ss, J4A, 25(AJ, 25 **(B)** and 25 (C) do constitute parts of a special scheme and have the effect of makin,g the Sulm Act inapplicable. fo view 'of the pronouncement of this Court as referred t<;> above, it is impossible to accede to the contention advanced on behalf of the tenants. In _Kewal Singh's_ case (supra), a decision to which one of us was a ·party (Fazal Ali, J.), this Court observed as follows~ ' ' . ·~ ... _'y_ , r. ' RAVI DUTT, RATAN LAL _(Faza/ Ali,_ _J.)_ i:: .. " - .. -~·· 623 -..· # .... .An iden\ical view has been tak'en by,the· ·oelhi High. Court tn the cdse of · _Smt._ _Krishna ·Devi·_ _Nigam_ & _.Ors._ v. _Shyam_ _}Jabu,_ _Gupta_ & O~s., '•' In this decision it has been clearly held that.the pro. . . .. #### visions of s. 29A carniot be controlled by the provmons . of the Slum Act. We fully · app-rov" and endors~ the ratio· laid down in that decision as it is in conformity with 'the consistent ·opinion of this .Court.' .,, , . On a consideration, therefor~. of the 'ract~ and· ~irc1imsta~Ces 'of tho case and .the,law referred to' above, we' reach ·the fo)lowing **conclusions** : any stretch of imagination that section 29B and its sub-s~cti~ . ons are violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, F **G** or that section 29 B suffers from,.t}le vice of excessive delega . tion • of powers. In fact section 29 B contain• valuable ' - 1· -· - I and sufficient guldclines'which completely exclude the exercise of uncanalised or arbitrary power~ by the Rent Co~troller: . _· .. ti'_ . - power~ by the Rent .. -The .ratio ofcthis case reinforces ih~ ruie laid down in Sa~waii Singh'/case'sµpra and in _Vlnod ·Kumar Chowdhry_ v. _"Naraill_ _Devi·_ _Taneja,11_ _[1 ]_ it .was clearly pointed out that wheneyer there . was ·any conflict· b.etween. section 29A and 'any .other provision of law. ·s.' 29 A was to override and prevaiL Here again one of . us (Fazal Ali, J.) observed; ' ' - - - - ' ~.·The non-obstant.e cl~use occurring in sect.ion ·29 A . makes it quite c,Lear that whenever there is a conflict between the provi- \ sions of Chapter III A on the one hand and those of the re&t - of' the Act or qf any other law foi the ti;,,e bein,g irl force o.n the other, the ·former shall prevail:" - " ·, I . _)_ C· **·D** ' ' It is; therefore, clear _frDm__ the' new provisipn in the Amending . . Act thatrthe procedure indicated tj1er.,in was intended to have ovej,- / . riding effect and ·au procedural laws weri: to give way 'to the new **.E** proceclure. 'Applioations ·under. s.; 14 (I) (e), theref9re, clearly fell within the protective umberlla of the new procedure in Chapter IIIA. ; ·. ' (I) [19801 2 S.C.R. 747 .. AIR.1980 Dellii 1~5! (2) 0 .·~ ' ' ·_/ 624 **A** **c** **D** **E** F G **H** - . 'N.V.K. _Appeal_ _&_ _/'etition dismissed._ .. (1) I . - \ - SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1984] 2 S.C.R. That sections 14A, 25A, 1513 and 2SC of the Rent Act are special pmvisions so far: as the landlord and tena1\t are concerned and in view of the non-obstante clause thes,6 .provisions woul.d override. the existing law so far . as the new· procedure i's concerned;. (2) · That there is no difference either on principle or in law . ' ' .. ' .... ·. _**"4··**_ , between sections. 14(1) (e)and !4A of the Rent Act even· though these two provisions rebte to tenants under diffe **rent situations;** - _'f'_ (3) ·That ihe procedure incorporated. in .Chapter lllA of the Amending Aci into the. Rent Act is in,public interest and 1s not violativ,e.of Article 14 of the Constitution; I . That in'view of the ·procedure in Chapter ITTA of the Rent Act, the Slum Act· is rendered inapplicable to the extent of inconsistency a'nd it is !lot, therefore, necessary . for the landlord to obtain permission of th.e Competent· (4) " Authority u~det s. 19 (I) (ii)·of the Slum Act before instituting a suit for 'eviction and coming· withins. 19(1) (e) or 19A of the-Rent Act. **flt** •· - - . ' ' ~ We are: therefore; of the opinion 'that the High Cour.t i\-as correct in rejecting applications of the tenants for setting rs'de. the. order of•_eviction. The appeal is a~cordingly dismssed but without ~any. **order as** **to· coSts ..** As. a result ' of o:ir decision, the special leave petition has to be dismissed. In both these.cases time to hcate the premises i~1 exten­ ded till June 30, i 984, subject to filing ~f the usual undertaking with in four weeks· from today failing which the landlords shall be free to - a1k for possession forthwith through the 'executing court.·