Deposit of rent by tenant on refusal of the landlord to accept it or in case of doubt or dispute as to the person entitled to receive it.

(1) If the landlord or his authorized agent refuses or neglects to pass to the tenant the receipt referred to in sub-section (2) of section 15, the Controller may, on an application made to him in this behalf by the tenant within two months from the date of payment and after hearing the landlord or his authorized agent, by order direct the landlord or his authorized agent to pay to the tenant, by way of damages, such sum not exceeding double the amount of monthly rent or other charges paid by the tenant and the costs of the application and shall also grant a certificate to the tenant in respect of the rent or other charges paid. (2) If the landlord or his authorised agent refuses to accept or evades acceptance of receipt of rent and other charges, the tenant may, by notice in writing, ask the landlord to supply him the particulars of his bank account in a bank located near to the building. (3) If the landlord furnishes the particulars of his bank account, the tenant shall deposit the rent and other charges payable in such bank account from time to time. (4) If the landlord does not furnish the particulars of the bank account under sub-section (2), the tenant shall remit the rent and the other charges payable to the landlord, from time to time, through postal money order after deducting the necessary postal charges. (5) Where any bonafide doubt or dispute has arisen as to the person who is entitled to receive any rent in respect of any building, the tenant may deposit such rent in the prescribed manner with the controller, stating the circumstances under which such deposit is made, and, may until such doubt has been removed or such dispute has been settled by the decision of any competent court or by settlement between the parties, continue to deposit in like manner the rent that may subsequently become due in respect of such building. (6) When a deposit has been made under sub-section (5), the amount of such deposit shall be held by the Controller pending the removal of the doubt or the settlement of the dispute which has arises as to the person, who is entitled to receive the rent, either by the decision of a competent court or by settlement between the parties, and the amount of such deposit may be withdrawn by the person who is declared by such court to be entitled to it or who is held by the Controller to be entitled to it in accordance with the settlement.