In Brief
A tenant challenged eviction orders for non-payment of rent, claiming he had sent the rent via money order which the landlord refused to accept. This defense was not raised at trial or in the first appeal, only before the High Court. The Supreme Court upheld the eviction, finding that a money order of Rs. 632 for rent of Rs. 24/month constituted willful default. The concurrent findings of the trial court and appellate authority could not be overturned. However, the Court granted the tenant time until end of Diwali 2018 to vacate, recognizing the shop as his family's sole livelihood, subject to strict conditions and no further default.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.