In Brief
The tenant of a Delhi residential property was served with a notice demanding unpaid rent of Rs. 500 per month from April 2001. The tenant claimed to have paid rent without receiving receipts and offered a bank draft, but failed to prove tender to the landlord. The Rent Controller directed the tenant to pay future rent monthly but the tenant defaulted repeatedly, providing no explanation for delays. The Supreme Court held that while Rent Controllers may condone rent delays, condonation requires justifiable reasons showing circumstances beyond the tenant's control. The Court found the tenant a willful defaulter and upheld the eviction order, granting three months to vacate.
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