GOPALAN KRISHNAN KUTTY versus KUNJAMMA PILLAI SAROJINI AMMA & ORS.

J.S. VERMA, J. This appeal by special leave is by the defendant and it arises out of a suit for redemption of a mortgage. The appellant was the lessee in the premises which is a shop in which he was carrying on his bakery business from 1965. The plaintiff later executed a mortgage in favour of the defendant on 18.7.1974 for a consideration of Rs. 13,000. On expiry of the period of mortgage, the plaintiff ftled a suit for redemption and recovery pf possession of the premises. The defendant contested the claim for recovery of possession, inter a/ia, on the ground that his possession was that of a lessee, independent of the mortgage and even after redemption of the mortgage the defendant was entitled to continue in possession under the lease. The Trial Court passed a preliminary decree granting redemption and directing recovery of possession from the defendant. The first appeal by the defendant has been dismissed by the High Court. Hence, this appeal by the defendant.

pp. 356–357, margin F

The High Court has held that there was surrender of the prior lease by the defendant on execution of the mortgage by the plaintiff in his favour; and that the defendant's possession of the premises al the time of mortgage being only as mortgagee, the defendant was bound to restore possession to. the plaintiff on redemption of the mortgage. '

p. 357, margin B

In Shah Mathuradas Magan/al& Co. v. Nagappa Shankarappa Malage & Ors., [1976] 3 SCC 660, the distinction between the rights of a lessee and a mortgagee was pointed out and the conditions for the merger of the two rights were indicated. It was held that surrender of a lease takes effect like a contract by mutual consent on the lessor's acceptance of the act of the lessee; and that there must be a taking of possession, not necessarily a physical taking, but something amounting to a virtual taking of possession. Whether this has occurred is a question of fact. Thus, the mere fact that the owner creates a mortgage in favour of the lessee is not by itself decisive to hold that the prior lease was surrendered and the possession of the earlier lessee is only that of a mortgagee on creation of the mortgage. The nature of possession, is a question of fact in each case.

p. 357, margin C

In · Gambangi Appalaswamy Naidu & Ors. v. Behara Venkataramanayya Petro & Ors., [1984] 4 SCC 382, it was reiterated that the answer to the question whether upon redemption of usufructuary mortgage a tenant-mortgagee was required to deliver actual or physical possession of the mortgage property to the lessor-mortgagor must depend upon whether there was surrender of the lessee's right when the usufructuary mortgage was executed in his favour by the lessor-mortgagor; and this depends upon the intention of the parties at the time of execution of the mortgage deed in favour of the sitting tenant. Thus, unless there was a. surrender of the lessor's rights at the time of execution of the mortgage, the mortgagor would not be entitled to obtain delivery of physical possession upon redemption.

p. 357, margin E

Recently in Narayan Vishnu Hendre & Ors. v. Baburao Savalaram Kothawale, (1995] 6 sec 608, these decisions have been followed and it has been held that the doctrine of merger does not apply where tenanted premises are mortgaged in favour of the lessee. It has been held that implied surrender of the lease would not be readily inferred. It was reiterated that unless surrender of the lease was proved, the only effect of the mortgage was that the lessee's rights were kept in abeyance and it would revive upon redemption of the mortgage. It is, therefore, clear that in a case like this, the question whether there was surrender of the lease by the lessee at the time of execution of the mortgage in his favour by the lessor-mortgagor is a question of fact to be answered on the evidence.

pp. 357–358, margin G

The High Co&rt, in the present case, proceeded on the erroneous assumption in law that surrender of the lease by the lessee_ (defendant) must be implied from the fact of .execution of the usufructuary mortgage in his favour by the lessor (plaintiff). As indicated, this is an erroneous assumption in law. This question has to be decided on the contents of the deed since there is no other evidence of surrender of the lease by the defendant on execution of the mortgage. We find nothing in the mortgage deed (Annexure A-1) dated 18th July, 1974 read with the release deed of the same date to prove either an express or an implied surrender of the lease by the defendant in favour of the plaintiff on execution of the mortgage deed. Since there is no automatic merger of the interest of a lessee with that of a mortgagee when the same person is the lessee as well as the mortgagee, in absence of proof of surrender of the lease by the defendant, on redemption of the mortgagee, the plaintiff is not entitled automatically to recover possession of the leased premises. The defendant's right to continue in possession as a lessee, therefore, continues to subsist.

p. 358, margin B

Accordingly, the appeal is allowed. The judgments and decrees of the Courts below to the extent they directe restoration of possession by the defendant to the plaintiffs are set aside. The defendant-appellant would get his corresponding costs throughout from the·plaintiff-respondents. S.V.K. Iyer. Appeal allowed.

p. 358, margin E