Special provisions regarding termination for non-payment of rent.

(1) Where the tenancy of any land held by a tenant is terminated for non-payment of rent and the landlord files any proceeding to eject the tenant, the Mamlatdar shall call upon the tenant to tender to the landlord the rent in arrears together with the cost of the proceedings within thirty days from the date of the order and if the tenant complies with such order, the Mamlatdar shall, in lieu of making an order of ejectment, pass an order directing that the tenancy has not been terminated, and thereupon the tenant shall hold the land as if the tenancy had not been terminated: Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any tenant whose tenancy is terminated for non-payment of rent if he has failed for any three years to pay rent within the period fixed by or under this Act and the landlord has complied with the requirements, if any, of any notice to the tenant by or under this Act. (2) The landlord may apply to the Mamlatdar in the prescribed form for recovery of arrears of rent for any period not exceeding three years. The Mamlatdar may, after such enquiry as he considers necessary, pass such order as he deems fit. The Mamlatdar in passing an order shall allow the tenant to set off the sum, if any, paid by him to the landlord within the period of three years immediately preceding the date of application made under sub-section (1) in excess of the rent due from him: Provided that if the Mamlatdar is satisfied that in consequence of a total or partial failure of crops or similar calamity the tenant has been unable to pay the rent due, the Mamlatdar may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, (i) direct, after hearing the landlord, that no rent shall be payable for the period of such failure of crops by the tenant, or (ii) direct, after hearing the tenant and the landlord, that the arrears of rent, or such part thereof as may be considered reasonable by the Mamlatdar, together with the cost of proceedings, if awarded, shall be paid within one year from the date of the order and that if before expiry of the said period the tenant fails to pay the said arrears of rent and costs the tenancy shall be deemed to be terminated and the tenant shall be liable to be evicted. (3) When a tenant tenders an amount on account of rent to the landlord for any period and if the landlord refuses to receive it or grant a receipt for it, the tenant may present to the Mamlatdar an application in writing for permission to deposit in his office the full amount of rent. The Mamlatdar may receive the amount in deposit and give a receipt for it. Notice of the amount so deposited shall be given to the landlord and if the Mamlatdar is satisfied that the payment by the tenant was bona fide it shall be paid to the landlord, and thereupon it shall constitute a discharge of the tenant’s liability in respect of the rent for such period and no claim or application by a landlord for rent shall be maintainable in respect of the period for which the rent has been so deposited by the tenant.