In Brief
A tenant was evicted for non-payment of rent under the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958. The landlord served a demand notice for arrears, but the tenant claimed to have paid rent without receiving receipts. The Rent Controller ordered the tenant to pay rent going forward, which he failed to do consistently. The Supreme Court held that while the Rent Controller has discretionary power to condone delays, condonation requires the tenant to provide justifiable reasons showing circumstances beyond his control. As the tenant was a willful defaulter offering no explanation for delays, and had taken a false stand about payment, the Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the eviction order, granting the tenant three months to vacate.
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