CLC 1987

1987 PLP 971 (CLC)

Mst. SHAH JEHAN BEGUM‑‑Petitioner Versus RENT CONTROLLER, KARACHI, WEST and another‑‑Respondents

Jurisdiction / Court
Karachi
Decided Date
Constitutional Petition No. D‑1140 of 1986, decided on 4th November, 1986.
Honorable Judges
Muhammad Zahoorul Haq and Sajjad Ali Shah, Jj
Case Reference Summary (AEO Optimized)
Citation 1987 PLP 971 (CLC)
Forum / Court Karachi
Bench Members Muhammad Zahoorul Haq and Sajjad Ali Shah, Jj
Parties Mst. SHAH JEHAN BEGUM‑‑Petitioner Versus RENT CONTROLLER, KARACHI, WEST and another‑‑Respondents
Primary Law (b) Constitution of Pakistan (1973)‑‑, (a) Sind Rented Premises Ordinance (XVII of 1979)‑‑
💡 Quick Legal QA & Summary / سوال و جواب خلاصہ
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 1987 PLP 971 (CLC)?

This judgment primarily cites: (b) Constitution of Pakistan (1973)‑‑, (a) Sind Rented Premises Ordinance (XVII of 1979)‑‑ as referenced in Pakistani case law index.

Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 1987 PLP 971 (CLC)?

The case was heard and decided by the Karachi bench comprising: Muhammad Zahoorul Haq and Sajjad Ali Shah, Jj.

Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?

Cite this legal precedent as: 1987 PLP 971 (CLC) (Mst. SHAH JEHAN BEGUM‑‑Petitioner Versus RENT CONTROLLER, KARACHI, WEST and another‑‑Respondents). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.

Laws Cited

(b) Constitution of Pakistan (1973)‑‑ (a) Sind Rented Premises Ordinance (XVII of 1979)‑‑

Representation

  • Umar Hayat Sandhu for Petitioner.

Headnotes / Summary

‑‑‑Ss. 16(2) & 21(1)‑‑Constitution of Pakistan (1973), Art. 199 Striking off defence of tenant‑‑Order of Rent Controller‑‑Remedy against‑ Constitutional petition, maintainability of‑‑Remedy of appeal against Rent Controller's order refusing striking off defence of tenant on application of landlord being available, constitutional petition against such order, held would not be competent. Mst. Zubaida Begum v. Mst. S. T. Naqvi 1986 S C M R 261 ref. ‑‑‑Art 199‑‑Sind Rented Premises Ordinance (XVII of 1979), S.16(2)‑ Striking off defence of tenant‑‑Order for‑‑Constitutional jurisdiction, exercise of‑‑Jurisdiction having been conferred upon Rent Controller of making order in respect of acceptance or rejection of application of landlord for striking off defence of tenant, order of Rent Controller, held, could not be regarded as without lawful authority simply because he had passed a wrong and incorrect order‑‑Constitutional petition filed by landlord challenging order of Rent Controller dismissing landlord application for striking off defence of tenant under S.16(2) accepting tenant's explanation, was dismissed as incompetent.

Judgment & Decree

MUHAMMAD ZAHOORUL HAQ, J.‑‑The petitioner has felt aggrieved against the order passed by the Rent Controller on 23rd February, 1985, whereby he has rejected the application for striking off the defence of the respondent made by the petitioner in an application, which was pending under the Sind Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979. The petitioner had filed a review against the said order but the same was also dismissed on 30th March, 1986. This petition has now been filed where the two above orders are attacked. In the first instance .the petitioner should have filed an appeal against the order, dated 23‑2‑1985 because the rights in respect of the application made by him under section 16(2) had been finally determined. It had been held by the Supreme Court in Mst. Zubaida Begum v. Mst. S.T. Naqvi 1986 SCMR 261 that the landlord, who files an application for striking off the defence of the tenant and the same is rejected, has a right of filing an appeal against that order. In that view of the matter, the petitioner had a remedy in law available to him for making the same, but he had not availed the same and Mr. Sandhu states that he was not aware of this fact. The explanation appears to be reasonable, but the appeal was in any case competent and has not been filed. However, what we find is that the Rent Controller has the jurisdiction of making the order in respect of acceptance or rejection of the application for striking off the defence and since he had the jurisdiction to do so then the mere fact that he has passed a wrong and incorrect order, it cannot be said to be without lawful authority. Mr. Sandhu was quite right when he had contended that the Rent Controller has presumed that the tenant was sick in 1982 when the alleged default took place, while the medical certificate that he has filed was in respect of sickness in 1983. The learned counsel is right but it is a matter of accepting the explanation and once the Rent Controller has accepted the explanation it is not for us to go into the correctness of that order because we are not sitting here as a Court' of appeal. Consequently, this petition is dismissed in limine. H.B.T./S‑2/K Petition dismissed.