In Brief
A landlord sought to evict a tenant for non-payment of municipal taxes. The tenant had been paying contractual rent but refused to pay his apportioned share of municipal taxes. The High Court dismissed eviction, reasoning that municipal tax enhancement required a formal Rent Controller order. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that the 1997 Amendment Act imposed a statutory obligation on tenants, as occupiers, to pay their share of municipal taxes independently from rent. This statutory obligation does not require formal rent-enhancement procedures. The landlord may apportion taxes among multiple tenants and enforce payment. Default in paying apportioned taxes constitutes grounds for eviction without needing a Rent Controller's order of enhancement."
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