Right to recover immediate possession of premises to accrue to certain persons

(1) Where a landlord who, being a person in occupation of any residential premises allotted to him by the Government or any local authority is required, by, or in pursuance of any general or special order made by the Government or such authority to vacate such residential accommodation or in default, to incur certain obligations, on the ground that he owns in the place where such residential premises has been allotted to him

either by the Government or by such local authority, a residential accommodation either

in his own name or in the name of his wife or dependent child there shall accrue on and

from the date of such order to such landlord, notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force or in any contract (whether express or implied), custom or usage to the contrary, a right to recover immediately possession of any premises let out by him:

Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring a right on a landlord owning in the place where the residential accommodation has been allotted to

more than one dwelling house and it shall be lawful for such landlord to indicate the dwelling house, possession of which he intends to recover.

1. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force or in any contract, custom or usage to the contrary where the landlord exercises the right of recovery conferred on him by sub-section (1), no compensation shall be payable by him to the tenant or any person claiming through or under him and no claim for such compensation shall be entertained by any court, tribunal or other authority: Provided that where the landlord had received,—
   • (a) any rent in advance from the tenant, he shall, within a period of ninety days from the date of recovery of the premises by him, refund to the tenant such amount as represents the rent payable for the unexpired portion of the contract agreement or lease;
   • (b) any other payment, he shall, within the period aforesaid, refund to the tenant a sum which shall bear the same proportion to the total amount as received, as the unexpired portion of the contract or agreement or lease bears to the total period of contract or agreement or lease: Provided further that, if any default is made in making any refund as aforesaid the landlord shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum. 45[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act,—
   • (a) a landlord, who is a member of the armed forces of the Union or who is an employee of the Central Government or Railways or any Public Sector Undertaking of the Central Government whose employees are subject to transfers from their original place of posting or who was such member or employee as the case may be, and is duly retired (which term shall include premature retirement), shall be entitled to recover

possession of any premises on the grounds that the premises are bonafide required by

him for occupation by himself or any member of his family (which term shall include a parent or other relation ordinarily residing with him and dependent on him), and the Controller shall pass an order for eviction on such grounds if the landlord, at the hearing of the suit, produces a certificate signed by the Head of his Services or his commanding Officer or by the Head of his Department or Head of the Public Sector Undertaking, as the case may be, to the effect that—

1. (i) he is presently a member of the armed forces of the Union or employee of the Central Government or Railways or the Public Sector Undertaking of the Central Government or he was such member or employee as the case may be, and is now retired ex-serviceman or employee as the case may be; and
2. (ii) he does not possess any other suitable residence in the local area where he or the members of his family can reside: Provided that in the case of an ex-serviceman or an ex-employee referred to in sub-- clause (i) above, an affidavit sworn before the competent authority to the effect as envisaged in sub-clause (ii) shall be sufficient;

1. (b) Where a member of the armed forces of the Union or employee of the Central Government or Railways or any Public Sector Undertaking of the Central Government whose employees are subject to transfers from their original posting place, as the case may be, dies while in services or such member is duly retired and dies within five years of his retirement, his widow who is or becomes a landlord of any premises, shall be entitled to recover possession of such premises, on the ground that the premises are bonafide required by her for occupation by herself or any member of her family (which

term shall include her husband‘s parent or other relation ordinarily residing with her)

and the Controller shall pass an order for eviction on such ground, if such widow, at the hearing of the suit, produces a certificate signed by the Area or Sub-Area

Commander within whose jurisdiction the premises are situated or by the Head of

Department or Head of the Public Sector Undertaking whereof, her deceased husband

was employee to the effect that—

1. (h) she is a widow of a deceased member of the armed forces or the employee of the Central Government or Railways or any Public Sector Undertaking of the Central Government, as the case may be; and
   • (ii) she does not possess any other suitable residence in the local area where she or the members of her family can reside: Provided that the landlord or his widow, as the case may be, shall be entitled to

recover only one of the premises chosen by him or her, under this section, in case more

than one premises have been let out by him or her.

Explanation 1.— For the purposes of this sub-section,

1. (i) ―armed forces‖ means an armed force of the Union constituted under an Act of Parliament and includes a member of the police force constituted under the Police Act as applicable to the State of Goa;
2. (ii) any certificate granted by the concerned authority thereunder shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated therein. Explanation 2.— For the purpose of clause (a) of this sub-section, the expression the Head of his ―Services in the case of officers retired from the Indian Navy, includes the Flag Officer-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and in the case of officers retired from the Indian Air Force, includes the Station Commander.‖ 46[(3A) (a) Every application under sub-section (3) shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedure specified in this sub-section.

1. (b) After an application under sub-section (3) is received, the Controller shall issue summons for service on the tenant in the form specified in the Schedule.
2. (c) The summons issued under sub-clause (b) shall be served on the tenant as far as may be, in accordance with the provisions of Order V of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908). The Controller shall in addition direct that a copy of the summons be also simultaneously sent by registered post acknowledgement due addressed to the tenant or his agent empowered to accept the service at the place where the tenant or his agent actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain and that another copy of the summons be affixed at some conspicuous part of the building in respect whereof the application under sub-section (3)1 been made. d) When an acknowledgement purporting to be signed by the tenant or his agent is received by the Controller or the registered article containing the summons is received back with an endorsement purporting to have been made by a postal employee to the effect that the tenant or his agent has refused to take delivery of the registered article and an endorsement is made by a process server to the effect that a copy of the summons has been affixed as directed by the Controller on a conspicuous part of the building and the Controller after such enquiry as he deemes fit, is satisfied about the correctness of the endorsement, he may declare that there has been a valid service of the summons on the tenant.
3. (e) The tenant on whom the service of summons has been declared to have been validly made under clauses (c) or (d) of sub-section (3A), shall have no right to contest

application for eviction and obtains leave from the Controller as hereinafter provided and in default of his appearance in pursuance of the summons or his obtaining such leave, the statement made by the landlord or, as the case may be, the widow, of such landlord in the application for eviction shall be deemed to be admitted by the tenant and the applicant shall be entitled to an order for eviction of the tenant.

1. (f) The Controller may give to the tenant leave to contest the application if the

affidavit filed by the tenant discloses such facts as would disentitle the landlord or, as

the case may be, the widow, of such landlord from obtaining an order for the recovery of possession of the residential building under sub-section (3).

1. (g) Where leave is granted to the tenant to contest the application, the Controller shall commence the hearing on a date not later than one month from the date on which

the leave is granted to the tenant to contest and shall hear the application from day to

day till the hearing is concluded and application decided.

1. (h) No appeal or second appeal shall lie against an order for the recovery of possession of any residential building made by the Controller in accordance with the procedure specified in this sub-section: Provided that the High Court may, for the purpose of satisfying itself that an order

made by the Controller under this sub-section is according to law, call for the records of

the case and pass such order in respect thereto as it thinks fit].

47[(3B) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a Non-resident Indian, on an application made in this behalf to the Controller, shall be entitled to recover possession of any premises on the grounds that the premises are bonafide required by him for occupation by himself or any member of his family:

Provided that the Non-Resident Indian had become the owner of such premises prior to the creation of the tenancy in respect of the said premises, except where the non- resident Indian had acquired ownership by inheritance.

1. (b) Where a Non-resident Indian recovers possession of the premises under above

section, he or she shall not transfer it through sale or any other means or let it out before

the expiry of a period of three years from the date of taking possession of the premises, failing which, the evicted tenant may apply to the Controller for an order that he or she be restored the possession of the said premises and the Controller shall make an order accordingly.

1. (c) The controller shall pass an Order for eviction of tenant on an application by a Non-resident Indian under clause (a) above supported by a certificate from the concerned District Magistrate that he is a Non-resident Indian and is now willing to reside in the State of Goa. The District Magistrate shall issue such certificate on an affidavit sworn by Non-resident Indian before the Competent Authority to the effect that he does not possess any other suitable residence in the local area where he or member of his family can reside.
2. (d) Every application filed before the Controller under clause (a) above shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedure specified in sub-section (3A) and the provisions thereof in so far as they are applicable, shall apply to such proceedings.

Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-section, ―Non-resident Indian‖ means a

person residing outside India, who is either a citizen of India or is a person of Indian origin].

48[(3C) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a landlord, who is

a senior citizen, or a widow, or a physically disabled person, on an application

made in this behalf to the Controller, shall be entitled to recover possession of any residential premises owned by him/her on the ground that such premises are bonafide required by him/her for occupation by himself/ /herself.

1. (b) Where the senior citizen, or a widow, or a physically disabled person recovers possession of the premises under clause (a), he or she shall not transfer it through sale or any other means or let it out before the expiry of a period of three years from the date of taking possession of the premises, failing which, the evicted tenant may apply to the Controller for an order that he or she be restored the possession of the said premises and the Controller shall make an order accordingly.
2. (c) The Controller shall pass an order for eviction of tenant on an application by a senior citizen, or widow or a physically disabled person under clause (a) above supported by documentary proof that such a person is a senior citizen, or a widow, or a physically disabled person.
3. (d) Every application filed before the Controller under clause (a) above shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedure specified in sub-section (3A) and the provisions thereof in so far they are applicable, shall apply to such proceedings. Explanation:— For the purposes of this sub-section,—
   • (i) senior citizen means a person who has attained the age of 60 years;
   • (ii) a widow includes a widower; and
   • (iii) a physically disabled person means a person who has suffered disability at least to the extent of 40% and is so certified by a medical authority specified under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (Central Act 1 of 1996), as amended from time to time.] (4) 49[save as provided in sub-sections (3) and (3A) any landlord] who desires to exercise the right conferred by this section shall make an application to the Controller and the provisions of section 25 in so far as they are applicable, shall apply to such proceedings].