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West Bengal · 1949 · Bare Act

The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949

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Judicial and Legislative (Legislative) Department
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          Superintendent, Government Printing
    West Bengal Government Press, Alipore, West Bengal
                          1949

                     West Bengal Act II of 1949
              THE CALCUTTA THIKA TENANCY ACT, 1949.

                                     CONTENTS.

                                    CHAPTER 1.

                                     PRELIMINARY.
Section.
   1. Short title, extent and commencement.
   2. Definitions.
                                    CHAPTER II.
                           INCIDENTS OF   Thika TENANCIES.
  3.    Grounds on which a thika tenant may be ejected.
  4.    Notice before ejectment.
  5.    Proceedings for ejectment.
  6.    Stay of ejectment for arrears of rent if the amount of arrears and damages
           are deposited with the Controller.




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   7.   Restoration of possession where landlord does not use the land for the purpose




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           for which the thika tenant was ejected.
   8.   Surrender.
   9.
  10.
        Abandonment.
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        Consequences of the determination of interests of thika tenants in certain
           cases.
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  11.   Devolution or transfer of holding of a thika tenant.
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                                    CHAPTER III.

                     PROVISIONS AS TO RENT OF    Thika TENANCIES.
  12.   Payment of rent.
  13.   Time and place for payment of rent.
  14.   Appropriation of payments.
  15.   Thika tenant entitled to receipt for rent.
  16.   Penalty for withholding receipts.
  17.   Dep,Isit of rent on refusal of the landlord to accept.
  18.   Deposit of rent in certain other cases.
  19.   Receipt granted by the Controller for rent deposited to be a valid acquittance.
  20.   Disposal of rent deposited under section 17.
  21.   Disposal of rent deposited under section 18.
  22.   Saving.
  23.   Interest on arrears.
  24.   Restrictions on enhancement of rent.
  25.   Enhancement of rent.
  26.   Reduction of rent by the Controller.

                                    CHAPTER IV.
                     APPEALS AND CERTAIN SPECIAL PROCEDURES.

  27.   Appeal, review and execution.
  28.   Power of Court to rescind or vary decrees and orders in certain cases.
  29.   Application of Act to pending suits and proceedings.
  30.   Bar to application of Act to certain lands.
  31.   Restriction or exclusion of Act by agreement.
  32.   Power to enter and inspect premises, to require information and to summon
           witnesses.
  33.   Repeal and saving.
  34.   Rules.

                     West Bengal Act II of 1949
              THE CALCUTTA TH1Ki1 TENANCY ACT, 1949.

                    [Passed by the West Bengal Legislature.]
           [Assent of the Governor-General was first published in the Calcutta
                   Gazette, Extraordinary, of the 28th February, 1949.]

           An Act to make better provision relating to the law of land-
             lord and tenant in respect of thika tenancies in Calcutta.
              WHEREAS it is expedient to make better provision
           relating to the law of landlord and tenant in respect of
           thika tenancies in Calcutta;
                     hereby enacted as follows:—




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                                     CHAPTER I.

                                     PR.ELIMINARY.    od
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              1, (1) This Act may be called the Calcutta Thika Short title,,
                                                                         extent and
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           Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                                                         commence-
              (2) It extends to Calcutta as defined in clause (11) of went.
                                       In



Ben. Act   section 3 of the, Calcutta. Municipal Act, 1923 and such
III of     suburbs of Calcutta as may have been or may here-
1923.      after be notified under section 1 of the Calcutta Suburban
Ben. Act   Police Act, 1866 •and are not- , included within .Calcutta as
II of
1866.      so defined and also to .the municipality of Howrah.
                                       .     •


             (3) It shall come into force on :the ,day ;on which the
West Ben. Calcutta Thika Tenancy ,Ordinance, 1948, ceases to
Ord. XI   operate.
of 1948.
                                    ,
              2: 'In this Act, unlesS there is anything repugnant
                                                        ,         in Defini-
           the subject or context,—                                            Lions.

                (1) "Bharatia.7 means 'any .person. •by.;:whorn, ••) or on
                        whose at-count, rent is .Payable for. :any structure
                       .or part of •a :structure erected. by...a: thika tenant
                        in his holding; : ••
                (2)"Controller!"    means an officer .appointed as such -by
                     . the Provincial •GOVernment: .for an, area to which
                        this' Act eitends and includes any officer
                        appointed by the: Provincial Government to per-
                         form all or any „of- the duties ..impOsed, or to
                        exercise all or any of the powers. conferred by-
                        this Act, on the Controller;
                (3) "holding" means a parcel Or. parcels of land held
                      by any person as a thika tenant under one lease-
                      or one set of conditions whether such tenant has
                      held the land before or after the commencement
                      of this Act ;
                (4) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under
                       this Act;

           2        The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                                          [West Ben. Act

           (Chapter I—Preliminary.—Chapter 11—incidents of         thika
                           tenancies.—Section 3.)
               (5) "thika tenant" means any person who under the
                      system commonly known as "thika", "thika
                      masik utbandi", "thika masik", "thika baste"
                      or under any other like system holds, whether
                      under a written lease or otherwise, or has been
                      recorded in any record-of-rights as holding,
                      under the title "dakhal basatkar" or other like
                      appellation, land under another person and is,
                      or but for a special contract would be, liable to
                      pay rent, at a monthly or at any other periodical
                      rate, for that land to such other person and has
                      erected any structure on such land for a residen-
                      tial, manufacturing or business purpose and
                      includes the successors in interest of such
                      person; and




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               (6) all words and expressions used but not defined in




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                      this Act and used in the Transfer of Property IV of
                      Act, 1882, or the Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885, 1882.
                                                                        VIII of
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                      have the same meanings as in those Acts.          1885.
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                                 CHAPTER II.
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                         INCIDENTS OF Thika TENANCIES.

Grounds       3. NOtwithstanding anything contained in any other
on which   law for the time being in force or in any contract, a thika
a thika    tenant shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be liable
tenant     to ejectment from his holding on one or more of the
may • be
ejected.   following grounds and not otherwise, namely :—
                (i) on the ground that he has failed to pay an arrear
                       of rent due to the landlord in respect of the
                      holding ;
               (ii) on the ground that he has used the land comprised
                      in his holding in a manner which renders it
                      unfit for any of the purposes mentioned in clause
                      (5) of section 2 or that he has broken a condition
                      consistent with this Act on breach of which he
                      is, under the terms of a contract between him-
                      self and his landlord, liable to be ejected;
               (iii) on the ground that he ,has refused to agree to pay
                       rent at such enhanced rate as may be determined
                       under section 25 ;
               (iv) except during any period limited by a registered
                      lease under which a thika tenant may hold the
                      land comprised in the holding, on the ground
                      that the land is required by the landlord for his
                      own occupation or for the purpose of building
                      on the land or otherwise developing the land by
                      discontinuing the system of letting to thika
                      tenants;

                    The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.            3
        I I of 1949.]
        (Chapter 11—Incidents of thika tenancies.—Sections 4, 5.),

             (v) on the ground that he has failed himself to use or
                    occupy a major part of the holding for his own.
                    residential, manufacturing or business purpose_
                    for more than six consecutive months;
            (vi,) when he holds the land comprised in the holding
                   under a registered lease, on the ground that the
                   term of the lease has expired.

                                                                    Notice
           4. It shall not be competent for a landlord to eject any before
        thika tenant from his holding unless the landlord has given ejectment.-
        the thika tenant notice in the manner provided in section
IV of   106 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882-
1882.        (a) in the case where he wishes to eject the thika
                    tenant on any of the grounds specified in clauses
                    (i),           and (v) of section 3 at least one
                    month's notice in writing expiring with the end
                    of a month of the tenancy; and




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             (b) in the case where he wishes to eject the thika
                    tenant on the ground specified in clause (iv) of
                    section 3 at least three months' notice in writing
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                    expiring with the end of a month of the
                    tenancy :
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             Provided that—
                (i) no thaw tenant shall be ejected from his holding
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                       on the ground specified in clause (i) of section
                       3 during the period mentioned in sub-section
                       (1) of section 9, and
               (ii) save as otherwise provided in any contract in
                       writing, no thaw. tenant shall be ejected from
                       his holding on any of the grounds specified in
                       clauses (iv) and (v) of section 3, except
                       on payment to the thika tenant or on
                       depositing with the Controller for payment to
                       the thika tenant such compensation as may be
                       agreed upon between the landlord and the
                       thika tenant or, in the case where they do not
                       agree, as may be determined in the prescribed
                       manner by the Controller on application by -the
                       landlord or the thika tenant.
            5. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any Proceed-
        other law for the time being in force but subject to the ings for
        provisions of section 28, a landlord wishing to eject a thika ejectment.
        tenant on one or more of the grounds specified in section 3
        shall apply in the prescribed manner to the Controller for
        an order in that behalf and, on receipt of such application,
        the Controller shall, after giving the thika tenant a notice
        to show cause within thirty days from the date of service
        of the notice why the application shall not be allowed and
        after making an inquiry in the prescribed manner either
        allow the application or reject it after recording the reasons
        for making such order, and, if he allows the application,
        shall make an order directing the thik,a tenant to vacate the
        holding and, subject to the provisions of section 10, to put
        the landlord in possession thereof.

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                   4'          The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 194.9.
                                                                  [West Ben. Act
                   (Chapter 11—Incidents of thi-ka tenancies.—Sections 6-9.)
                       (2) No order allowing an application under sub-section (1)
                   shall be made in a case where compensation is payable under
                   clause (ii) of the proviso to section 4 unless and until the
                   amount of compensation so payable has been either paid
                   to the thika tenant or deposited with the Controller.
     Stay of          6. Every order made under section 5 allowing an appli-
     ejectment     cation for ejectment of a thika tenant on the ground that he
     for arrears   has failed to pay an arrear of rent due to the landlord in
     of rent if
     the amount    respect of his holding and directing the thika tenant to
     of arrears    vacate the holding and put the landlord in possession
     and dama-     thereof shall specify the amount of the arrear and of the
      ges are      interest, if any, due thereon, and no such order shall be
     deposited
      with the     executed- if that amount, the costs of the proceedings arising
    'Controller.   out of such application and such damages as the Controller
                   may allow, are deposited with the Controller within thirty
                   days from. the date of the order.




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                       7. If an order under section 5 directing a thika tenant




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     Restora-
     tion of       to vacate any land comprised in a holding on any of the
     possession    grounds specified in clause (iv) of section 3 is made and the

r
     where
     landlord
     does not
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                   landlord who recovers possession of the land as a result of
                   such order does not within six months from the date on
                   which he recovers such possession occupy the land himself
     use the
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     land          or commence the building on, or the development of, the
     for the       land or re-lets it within six months of the said date to any
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     purpose
     for which     thika tenant other than the previous thika tenant without
     the thika     the permission of the -Controller obtained in the prescribed
     tenant was    manner, the Controller may on application in writing being
     ejected.      made to him in this behalf by the thika tenant from whom
                   the landlord has so recovered possession of the land within
                    nine months from the said date, make an order directing
                    the landlord to restore the thika tenant to possession of the
                   land from such date and subject to such condition as may be
                    specified in the order, or to pay him such compensation as
                    may be fixed by the Controller :
                        Provided that the Controller may, on the application of
                    the landlord, extend the period within which the building
                    on, or the development of, the land is to be commenced by two
                    months at a time and six months in all.

      Surrender.       8. (1) A thika tenant not bound by any lease or other
                    agreement for a fixed period may, at the end of a month of
                    the • tenancy, surrender his holding, provided that he gives
                    to his landlord at least one month before he surrenders,
                    notice of his intention to do so.
                         (2) When a thika tenant .has surrendered his holding
                    the landlord may, subject to the provisions of section 10,
                    enter on the holding and either let it to another tenant or
                    occupy it himself or dispose of it in any way he may think
                    fit.

      Ahem:Ion-        9. (1) When a thika tenant vohintarily abandons his
      merit.        holding without notice to the landlord and without arrang-
                    ing for the payment of his rent as it falls due, the landlord

                     The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.              5
         I I of 1949.]
         (Chapter II—Incidents of       thika tenancies.—Section 10.)

         may, at any time after the expiration of a period of two
         months from the date of such voluntary abandonment, file
         the notice referred to in sub-section (2) and subject to the
         provisions of sub-section (3) and of section 10 enter on the
         holding and let out the same to another tenant or occupy it
         himself.
            (2) A landlord who intends to enter on a holding under
         this section shall file a notice in the prescribed form with         WIN



         the Controller stating that he has treated the holding as
         abandoned and intends to enter on it accordingly; and the
         Controller shall within fifteen days from the date on which
         the notice is so filed cause such notice to be published in the
         prescribed manner.
             (3) After the publication of the notice under sub-
         section (2), the thika tenant may apply to the Controller at
         any time not later than the expiration of one month from the
         date of the publication of such notice for the cancellation of




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         such notice and thereupon the Controller may, on being

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         satisfied after such inquiry as he considers necessary that
         the thika tenant is entitled to continue in possession, cancel
         the notice and direct that the thika tenant shall continue
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         in possession of the holding subject to payment of the arrears
         of rent due on the date pn which the notice is so cancelled.
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         If the thika tenant does not make any application under this
         sub-section or his application under this sub-section is
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         rejected, the landlord may enter on the holding subject to
         the provisions of section 10.


              10. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary Conse-
          contained in any contract, on the determination of the quences of
          interest of a thika tenant in the land comprised in a holding the deter-
          as a result of ejectment from the holding of, or of surrender or mination
                                                                           of in-
          abandonment of the holding by, the thika tenant, or terests of
          otherwise, any structure erected by the thika tenant on such thika
          land and existing on the date of such determination shall tenants
          vest in the landlord.                                            in certain
                                                                           eases.
              (2) When any structure erected in any holding by a
          thika tenant vests in the landlord under sub-section (1) other-
          wise than as a result of ejectment of the thika tenant from
          the holding on any of the grounds specified in clause (iv) of
          section 3, any Bharatia in possession of such structure shall
          be entitled to continue in such possession and shall be deemed
West Ben. to be a tenant within the meaning of the West Bengal
Act       Premises Rent Control (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1948,
XXX VIII holding under the landlord on the terms and conditions on
of 1948.  which such Bharatia had been holding immediately before
          such structures vested in the landlord :

             Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent
          either the landlord or such Bharatia so deemed to be a
          tenant holding under the landlord, from proceeding under
          the West Bengal Premises Rent Control (Temporary Pro-
          visions) Act, 1948, for fixing the standard rent payable in
          respect of such structure.

              6         The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                                             (West Ben. Act
              (Chapter II—Incidents of thika tenancies.—Chapter
              Provisions as to rent of thika tenancies.—Sections 11-15.)

Devolu-          11. The holding of a thika tenant shall descend on his
tion or       death in the same manner as his other immovable property
transfer of
holding of    and the person succeeding shall hold the land comprised in
a thika       the holding under the terms and conditions on which it was
tenant.       held by the thika tenant. He shall also give to the landlord
              notice within one month of the succession in the prescribed
              manner :
                 Provided that in any case in which under the law of
              inheritance to which the thika tenant is subject his other
              property goes to the Crown, his interest in the holding shall
              be extinguished.

                                    CHAPTER III.

                      PROVISIONS AS TO RENT OF Thika TENANCIES.

Payment          12. Any rent or instalment of rent payable by a thika




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of rent.      tenant shall be paid, where there is a contract in writing in




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              this behalf between the landlord and the thika tenant, with-
              in the time fixed in the contract or, in the absence of any

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              such contract, by the fifteenth day of the month next follow-
              ing the month or period for which the rent is payable.
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Time and         13. (1) Every thika tenant shall pay or tender rent or
place for     each instalment of rent before sunset of the latest day by
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payment       which it is payable under the provisions of sections 12:
of rent.
                 Provided that a thika tenant may pay or tender the rent
              payable for a month or period at any time during such month
              or period 'before it falls due. ,
                  (2) The payment or tender of rent may be made—
                    (i) at the landlord's local office or at such other con-
                            venient place as may be appointed in that behalf
                            by the landlord; or
                   (ii) by postal money order in the manner prescribed.
                  A tender may also be made by depositing the rent with
              the Controller in accordance with the provisions of section
              17 or section 18.
                  (3) Any rent or instalment of rent which is not duly paid
              within the time referred to in section 12 or is not duly
              deposited with the Controller within the time referred to
              in section 17 or section 18 shall be deemed to be an arrear.
Appro-           14. (1) When a thika tenant makes a payment on account
priation      of rent, he may declare the month or period in respect
of pay-
ments.        of which he wishes the payment to be credited, and the pay-
              ment shall be credited accordingly.
                  (2) If he does not make any such declaration, the pay-
              ment may be credited to the account of such month or period
              as the landlord thinks fit.
Thika            15. (1) Every thika tenant who makes a payment on
tenant en-    account of rent to his landlord shall be entitled to obtain
titled to
receipt for   forthwith from the landlord or his authorised agent a written
rent.         receipt for the amount paid by him, signed by the landlord.

                The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 949.           7
 II of 1949.]
 (Chapter Ill—Provisions as to rent of thika        tenancies.—
                   Sections 16-18.)

     (2) ,A counterfoil of the receipt shall be prepared and
 retained by the landlord or his authorised agent.
    (3) The receipt and counterfoil shall be in such form and
 shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.
     (4) If a receipt does not contain substantially the parti-
 culars required by this section, it shall be presumed, until
 the contrary is shown, to be an acquittance in full of all
 demands for rent up to the date on which the receipt was
 given.
    16. If a landlord without reasonable cause refuses or Penalty for
neglects to deliver to a thika tenant a receipt containing the withhold-
particulars required by section 15 for any rent paid by the ing receipts.
tenant, the Controller may, on application made in this
behalf by the tenant within three months from the date of
payment, by order direct the landlord to pay the tenant




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such penalty not exceeding double the amount of that rent

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as the Controller thinks fit.
   17. (1) Where a landlord refuses to accept any rent the Deposit of
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thika tenant may, by an application in writing containing rent     on
such particulars as may be prescribed,—                    refusal of
                                                                   the land-
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      (a) deposit such rent with the Controller, within the lord         to
                                                                 accept.
             period specified in sub-section (2), and
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      (b) unless the landlord signifies by notice in writing to
             the thika tenant his willingness to accept any
             subsequent rent which becomes due from such
             tenant, also deposit such rent with the Controller
            within the period within which it is payable
             under the provisions of section 12 together with
             the cost of transmission by postal money order
            of such money to the landlord.
     Explanation.—A landlord shall not for the purposes of
            this sub-section be deemed to have refused to
            accept any rent unless the rent is remitted by the
            thika tenant by postal money order within the
            time specified and in the manner referred to in
            section 13 and the rent so remitted is returned to
            the thika tenant by the postal authorities as
            undelivered either on account of the landlord
            having refused to accept payment thereof or for
            any other cause.
   (2) The deposit referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1)
shall be made within a fortnight of the date on which the
rent remitted by postal money order is returned to the thika
tenant by the postal authorities as undelivered.
   18. (1) In either of the following cases, namely : —         Deposit of
                                                            rent
    (a) when any rent is payable jointly to two or more co- certain in
          sharer landlords and the thika tenant is unable other cases.
          to obtain a joint receipt from them for the rent
          and no person has been empowered to receive the
          rent on their behalf,

                              11111,
             8          The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                                                [West Ben. Act

             (Chapter III—Provisions as to rent of thika          tenancies.—
                                Sections 19, 20.)

                  (b) when a dispute has arisen as to the person who is
                        entitled to receive the rent, the thika tenant may
                        by an application in writing containing such
                         particulars as may be prescribed deposit such
                         rent with the Controller and may continue to
                         deposit with the Controller any subsequent rent
                         which becomes due from such tenant until the,
                         thika tenant is able to obtain a joint receipt from
                         the co-sharer landlords or a person has been
                          empowered to receive the rent on their behalf,
                         or until such dispute has been settled by the
                          decision of a competent Court or by settlement
                          between the parties, as the case may be.
                 (2) The deposit of rent referred to in sub-section (1) shall
L             be made within the period within which it is payable under
              section 13.




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    Receipt         19. If it appears to the Controller to whom application
    granted by for deposit is made under section 17 or section 18 that the
    the Con- applicant is entitled to deposit the rent wider any of those
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    troller for sections, he shall receive the rent deposited and give a
    rent depo- receipt for it under the seal of the Court and such receipt
    sited to be
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    a      valid shall operate as an acquittance for the amount of the rent
    acquit.      payable by the thika tenant and deposited as aforesaid, in
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    tance.       the same manner and to the same extent as if the amount of
              the rent had been received—
                   in cases referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1)
                        of section 17, by the person specified in the applica-
                        tion as the person to whose credit the deposit was
                        to be entered;
                    in cases referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of
                        section 18, by the co-sharers to whom the rent is
                        due; and
                    in cases referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of
                        section 18, by the person entitled to the rent.

     Disposal of    20. (1) On any deposit being made under section 17 the
     rent depo- Controller shall forthwith forward the same by postal money
     sited under order to the address of the landlord.
     sect ion I 7 .
                     (2) Where any money has been deposited under clause
                 (a) of sub-section (1) of section 17, the cost of transmission
                 thereof to the landlord by postal money order shall be
                 recoverable from the landlord and, in forwarding the money
                 so deposited to the landlord by postal money order, the
                 Controller shall deduct therefrom the cost of such
                 transmission.
                      (3) If the money sent by the Controller under sub-
                  section (1) by postal money order to any landlord is returned
                  undelivered, the Controller shall cause a notice of the receipt
                  of the deposit to be served on the landlord and the amount
                  lying in deposit may, subject to such rules as may be made
                  under this Act, be withdrawn by the landlord on applica-
                  tion made by him to the Controller in that behalf and if

          The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 194.9.             9
I I of 1949.]
(Chapter 111—Provisions as to rent of thika
                  Sections 21, 22.)

such amount is not so withdrawn before the expiration of
three years from the date of service of such notice, it may,
in the absence of any order of a Civil Court to the contrary,
be repaid to the depositor on his application and on his
returning the receipt given by the Controller with whom.
the rent was deposited.
    21. (1) When the Controller receives a deposit under Disposal of
section 18, he shall forthwith cause to be affixed in a rent depo-
conspicuous place at his office a notification of the receipt sited under
thereof containing a statement of all material particulars, section 18.
and, if the amount of the deposit is not paid away under
sub-section (2) within the period of fifteen days next follow-
ing the date on which the notification is so affixed, the
Controller shall forthwith in cases referred to in clause (a)
of sub-section (1) of section 18 cause a notice of the receipt
of the deposit to be posted free of charge at the landlord's




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local office, if any, and at some conspicuous place in the

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locality in which the holding is situated, and, in cases
referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of the said section,
cause a like notice to be served free of charge on every
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person who, he has reason to believe, claims or is entitled to
the deposit.
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    (2) The Controller may pay the amount of any deposit
notified under sub-section (1) to any person who proves to
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his satisfaction to be entitled to the same or is entitled to
the amount as a result of a settlement referred to in sub-
section (1) of section 18 or he may, if he thinks fit, retain
the amount pending the decision of a Civil Court as to the
person so entitled.
    (3) If no payment is made under sub-section (2) before
the expiration of three years from the date of notice issued
under sub-section (1) or three months after the decision of
the Civil Court, whichever is later, the amount deposited
may in the absence of any order of a Civil Court to the con-
trary be repaid to the depositor upon his application and on
his returning the receipt given by the Controller when the
rent was deposited.
    22. (1) When a landlord accepts rent in respect of any Saving.
holding sent by postal money order by a thika tenant under
clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 13 or by the Controller
under section 21 or withdraws any rent deposited under
section 17 or section 18, the fact of this acceptance or with-
drawal shall not be used in any way as evidence that he has
admitted as correct any of the particulars set forth in the
pOstal money order form or in the application for deposit of
such rent.
    (2) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall
be instituted against the Crown or against any officer of the
Crown in respect of anything done by the Controller receiv-
ing a deposit under section 17 or section 18; but nothing in
this Act shall prevent any person entitled to receive any
amount so deposited from recovering the same from any
person to whom it has been paid under section 20 or section
21.

               10       The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                                              [West Ben. Act

               (Chapter III—Provisions as to rent of thika tenancies.---
                  Chapter IV—Appeals and certain special procedures.—
                                 Sections 23-27.)
Interest on       23. Any arrear of rent shall bear simple interest at the
arrears.
               rate of six and a quarter per centum per annum from the
               expiry of the time within which the rent or the instalment
               of rent is payable under the provisions of section 12 or is
               to be deposited under section 17 or section 18, as the case
               may be, to the date of payment or of the institution of the
               suit, whichever date is earlier.
Restric-          24. The rent of a thika tenant shall not be enhanced
tions on       except as provided in this Act.
enhance-
ment of
rent.
Enhance-          25. (1) The rent payable by a thika tenant for his
ment of        holding may be enhanced by the Controller on application
rent.          made to the Controller by the landlord in the prescribed




                                                                     e
               manner on either or both of the following grounds,




                                                               od
               namely :—
                   (a) that the value of the holding has increased;
                                                         aC
                   (b) that the landlord has effected some improvement to
                          the land at his own cost which has increased the
                                                     di
                          value of the holding :
                                                 In

                  Provided that no rent shall be enhanced under this sub-
               section so as to exceed the rent previously payable by the
               thika tenant by more than twelve and a half per centum.
                   (2) The rent fixed under sub-section (1) shall not be
               further enhanced during three years next following the date
               on which it has been last so enhanced.

 Reduction         26. Any rent payable by a thika tenant which has been
 of rent       settled within a period of three years immediately before the
 by the        commencement of this Act, may be reduced by the Controller
 Controller.
               on application made in that behalf by the thilat tenant if the
               Controller considers that the rate of rent so settled is unfair
               and inequitable having regard to the prevailing rate of rent
               payable by thika tenants of lands of a similar description
               and with similar advantages in the locality.

                                      CHAPTER IV.
                        APPEALS AND CERTAIN SPECIAL PROCEDURES.
 Appeal,           27. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the
 review and     Controller may, within thirty days from the date- of the
 execution.
                order, present an appeal in writing—
                    (a) in respect of any holding in the Presidency town of
                           Calcutta, to the Chief Judge of the Court of
                           Small Causes of Calcutta; and
                    (b) in respect of any holding elsewhere, to the District
                           Judge of the district in which the holding con-
                           cerning which such order is made is situated.

                           The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.         11
            II of 1849.]

            (Chapter 1V—Appeals and certain special procedures.—
                                Section 28.)
                 (2) The Provincial Government may, by notification,
            appoint any person who has exercised the powers of a
            District Judge to hear appeals presented under clause (a) of
            sub-section (1) to the Chief Judge of the Court of Small
            Causes of Calcutta and may, by notification, also appoint
            any person who is a judicial officer not below the rank of a
            subordinate judge to hear appeals presented under clause
            (b) of the said sub-section to a District Judge.
                (3) The Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes of
            Calcutta to whom an appeal is presented under clause (a)
            of sub-section (1) or •a District Judge to whom an appeal is
            presented under clause (b) of that sub-section may transfer
           such appeal to any person appointed to hear any such appeal
            under sub-section (2) and may withdraw any appeal so




                                                            e
            transferred and either hear and dispose of it himself or
            transfer it to any other person appointed to hear such appeals
           under sub-section (2).
                                                       od
                (4) The Chief Judge or the District Judge or any person
                                                 aC
           appointed under sub-section (2) to whom an appeal is
           transferred under sub-section (3), as the case may be, shall
           then send for the record of the case from the Controller and
                                              di


           after perusing the record and, if necessary, taking such
                                          In



           evidence himself or personally making such further inquiries
           as he thinks fit, shall make an order deciding the appeal after
           giving the parties an opportunity of being heard.
                (5) Subject to such rules as may be made under this Act,
           any order passed under this Act by the Controller, the Chief
           Judge of the Court of Small Causes of Calcutta, or a District
           Judge or a person appointed under sub-section (2) may be
           reviewed by the person who passed the order on the ground
           of the discovery of any new and important matter or evidence
           or on account of some mistake or error apparent on the face
           of the record or for any other sufficient cause:
              Provided that before any order is passed under this
           sub-section which is likely to affect any person adversely
           such person shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being
           heard.
              (6) An order under sub-section (4) made by the Chief
           Judge or the District Judge or a person appointed under
           sub-section (2), as the case may be, or, subject to such
           order, an order made by the Controller under this Act, shall,
           subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), be final and may
           be executed by the Controller in the manner provided in the
Aot V of   Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for the execution of decrees.
1908.
               28. Where any decree or order for the recovery of Power of
           possession of any holding from a thika tenant has been made Court     to
           before the date of commencement of this Act but the possession rescind or
           of such holding has not been recovered from the thika tenant vary
           by the execution of such decree or order, the Court by which decrees
                                                                           and orders
           the decree or order was made may, if it is of opinion that the in certain
           decree or order is not in conformity with any provision of cases.
           this Act other than sub-section (1)
                                               of section 5 or section 27,
           rescind or vary the decree or order in such manner as the

           12             The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                                                 [West Ben. Act

               (Chapter 1V—Appeals and certain special procedures.—
                               Sections 29-32.)

               Court may think fit for the purpose of giving effect to such
               provision and a decree or order so varied by any Court shall
               be transferred by such Court to the Controller for execution
               under this Act as if it were an order made under and in
               accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Applica-       29.       The provisions of this Act shall apply to all suits
tion of Act and proceedings, including proceedings in execution, for
to pending ejectment of a thika tenant which are pending at the date
suits and of commencement of this Act, and if any such suit or
proceed-
ings.       proceeding relates to any matter in respect of which the
               Controller is competent after the date of such commencement
               to pass orders under this Act, such suit or proceeding shall
               be transferred to the Controller who shall on such transfer




                                                                       e
               deal with it in accordance with the provisions of this Act as




                                                                od
               if this Act had been in operation on the date of institution
               of the suit or proceeding:

                                                           aC
                  Provided that in applying the provisions of this Act to
               any suit or proceeding instituted for the ejectment of a thika
               tenant so transferred, the provisions regarding notice in
                                                         di
               section 4 of this Act shall not apply.
                                                    In

Bar       to      30.    Nothing in this Act shall apply to—
applica-
t ion of Act        (a) .Crown lands,
w certain                 -
lands.
                    (b) any land vested in or in the possession of—
                          (i)   the Provincial Government,
                         (ii)   a port authority of a major port, or
                        (iii)   a railway administration, or
                        (iv)    a. local authority, or

                    (c) any land which is required for carrying out any of
                          the provisions of the Calcutta Improvement Act, Ben. Act
                                                                           V of 1911.
                          1911.

                   31.   Nothing in any contract between a landlord and a
 Restric-
 tion or ex-    thika tenant made after the commencement of this Act shall
 clusion of     take away or limit the rights of such tenant as provided for
 Act by         by this Act, and any contract which is made in contraven-
 agreement.     tion of or which is inconsistent with any of the provisions
                of this Act shall be void anti without effect to the extent of
                such contravention or inconsistency.

 Power to     32.             (1) For the purposes of any inquiry under this Act,
 enter and the Controller and any person deciding an appeal under
 inspect    section 27, may,—
 premises,
 to require      (a) enter and inspect any premises at any time between
 informa-              sunrise and sunset;
 tion and to
 summon              (b) authorise any person subordinate to him to enter
 witnesses.                and inspect any premises between sunrise and
                           sunset; or

                            The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.       13
             II of 1949.]
             (Chapter IV—Appeals and certain special procedures.—
                              Sections 33, 34.)

                  (c) by written order require any person to produce for
                        his inspection such accounts, rent receipts, books
                        or other documents relevant to the inquiry at
                        such time and at such place as may be specified
                        in the order:
                 Provided that no premises shall be entered under
             clause (a) or clause (b) without the consent of the occupier,
             unless at least twenty-four hours' previous notice in writing
             has been given.
            (2) The Controller and any person deciding an appeal
         under section 27 shall, subject to any rules made under this
         Act and in so far as such powers are necessary for carrying
         out the provisions of this Act, have power to summon and




                                                           e
         enforce the attendance of witnesses, including the parties

                                                      od
         interested, and to compel the production of documents by
         the same means and, so far as may be, in the same manner
         as is provided in the case of a Court by the Code of Civil
                                                 aC
Act V of Procedure, 1908.
1908.
                                             di

West Ben.  33. On the expiry of • the Calcutta. Thika Tenancy Repeal and
Ord. XI Ordinance, 1948, the provisions of section 8 of the Bengal saving.
                                         In



of 1948. General Clauses Act, 1899, shall apply as if it were an
Ben. Act     enactment then repealed by a West Bengal Act.
I of 1899.
                34. (1) The Provincial Government may, subject to Rules.
             the condition of previous publication, make rules for carry-
             ing out the purposes of this Act.
                 (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality
             of the foregoing .power, such rules may provide for all or
             any of the following matters, namely :—
                 (a) the manner of determination of compensation
                       referred to in the proviso to section 4;
                 (b) the manner in which a landlord may apply to the
                       Controller and the_ manner in which the Controller
                       may make inquiries under section 5;
                 (c) the manner of obtaining permission of the Controller
                        referred to in section 7;
                 (d) the form of notice and the manner of publication of
                        such notice under sub-section (2) of section 9;
                 (e) the manner of payment or tender of rent by postal
                        money order referred to in clause (ii) of sub-
                        section (2) of section 13;
                 (f) the form of receipt and of the counterfoil referred
                        to in sub-section (3) of section 15, and the
                        particulars to be specified in such receipt and
                        counterfoil ;
                 (g) the particulars to be contained in applications for
                       depositing rent under sub-section (1) of section 17
                       and sub-section (1) of section 18;

14         The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949.
                                     [West Ben. Act Il of 1949.1
(Chapter IV—Appeals and certain special procedures.—
                    Section 34.)

      (h) the method of withdrawal of the deposit of rent by
             the landlord under sub-section (3) of section 20;
      (i) the manner of making application for enhancement
             of rent under sub-section (1) of section 25;
      (j) the procedure to be followed in inquiries under this
             Act, by the Controller, the Chief Judge of the
             Court of Small Causes of Calcutta, the District
             Judge and any person appointed under sub-
             section (2) of section 27;
      (k) the procedure for review of orders referred to in
            sub-section (5) of section 27;
      (1) the procedure for summoning and enforcing the




                                                        e
             attendance of witnesses and compelling the pro-




                                                  od
             duction of documents referred to in sub-section
             (2) of section 32;

                                            aC
     (m) the manner of service of notices issued under this Act
            where the mode of such service is not provided in
            this Act; and
                                        di
      (n) the charging or remitting of costs and fees and the
                                   In

            claim:, of a scale of costs and fees.




     WBGP-49150-5473A-'2M