Anu Manglani vs. Suresh Arora & Anr.

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CM(M)/3661/2024HC DelhiGSTCNR DLHC01072058202414 July 2025Bench: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN3 pages
For Petitioner: Mr. Sushil K. Tekriwal and Dr. Mamta Tekriwal, AdvocatesFor Respondent: Mr. S.C. Singhal, Advocate
AI SummaryDismissed

Facts

The petitioner, Anu Manglani, is defending a commercial suit and is aggrieved by an order dated 04.09.2024 passed by the learned District Judge (Commercial Court) under Order XVA of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC). The impugned order directed the petitioner to deposit rent at the rate of Rs. 3,60,000/- per month plus GST and other applicable taxes from 01.12.2023 within two months, and to continue depositing future rent monthly. The lease deed dated 14.10.2021 was registered and its execution was not disputed. The petitioner had admittedly deposited the rent until the present month. The petitioner also raised issues regarding the termination of the lease and substantial improvements made to the premises, which were stated to be matters for trial.

Held

The Court held that the question of whether the lease could have been terminated in the manner it was, and whether the petitioner had made substantial improvements and was entitled to claim such amounts, were matters for trial and had no bearing on the decision under Order XVA CPC. The Court found no error, illegality, or perversity in the impugned order dated 04.09.2024, especially considering the petitioner had lodged a counter-claim and continued to use the tenanted premises. The Court dismissed the petition. Regarding the subsequent order dated 11.02.2025, the Court noted it was not under challenge and that it would be open for the petitioner to take recourse as permissible under law to challenge it. The Court also clarified that any application moved under Order XII Rule 6 CPC should be disposed of in accordance with law without being influenced by the observations in the impugned order.

Key Issues

1. Whether the learned District Judge (Commercial Court) erred in passing the impugned order dated 04.09.2024 under Order XVA CPC, directing the petitioner to deposit rent at Rs. 3,60,000/- per month plus GST and other applicable taxes from 01.12.2023, and to deposit future rent monthly, despite the petitioner's contentions regarding the lease termination and improvements made to the tenanted premises. Petitioner's arguments: The petitioner argued that the question of lease termination and entitlement to claim amounts for substantial improvements were matters for trial and should not have delayed the decision on the Order XVA application. The petitioner also noted that an order dated 11.02.2025 directed the release of deposited rent in favor of the plaintiff, which was not under challenge before this Court, and sought to reserve the right to challenge it. Respondent's arguments: The respondent (plaintiff) did not object to the petitioner's request to reserve the right to challenge the subsequent order. The respondent also submitted that the application under Order XII Rule 6 CPC could not be taken up due to the pendency of the present petition and requested the Trial Court to consider it.

Sections Cited

Order XVA CPC, Order XII Rule 6 CPC

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
CM(M) 3661/2024 1 $~69 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 14th July, 2025 + CM(M) 3661/2024 & CM APPL. 61682-61683/2024 & CM APPL. 70550/2024 & CM APPL. 10236-10237/2025 ANU MANGLANI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sushil K. Tekriwal and Dr. Mamta Tekriwal, Advocates. versus SURESH ARORA & ANR. .....Respondent Through: Mr. S.C. Singhal, Advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN

J U D G M E N T (oral)

1.

Petitioner is defending a suit which is commercial in nature.

2.

Petitioner is aggrieved by the order passed by learned District Judge (Commercial Court) under Order XVA CPC.

3.

This Court has gone through such impugned order dated 04.09.2024 and since the execution of lease deed in question was not in dispute, after hearing arguments from both the sides, the learned Trial Court allowed the abovesaid application and directed the petitioner herein to deposit rent @ Rs.3,60,000/- per month plus GST and other applicable taxes from 01.12.2023 within two months. There is also a direction to deposit future rent on monthly basis till the defendant remains in possession of the tenanted premises.

4.

The Court has gone through the lease date dated 14.10.2021 which is a CM(M) 3661/2024 2

registered one.

5.

Admittedly, the abovesaid rent has already been deposited by the petitioner herein, till the present month.

6.

The question whether the lease could have been terminated in the manner it has been, is subject matter of trial and has no bearing with respect to the impugned order passed under Order XVA CPC, particularly, keeping in mind the stand taken by the respective parties.

7.

Whether the petitioner herein has made substantial improvements in the tenanted premises and was entitled to claim such amount is also subject matter of the trial which could not have delayed the decision on the abovesaid application under Order XVA CPC. More importantly, the petitioner herein has, already, lodged counter-claim and since, admittedly, the petitioner continues to use the tenanted premises, there no any error, illegality or perversity in the impugned order.

8.

The petition is, accordingly, dismissed.

9.

Learned counsel for petitioner, however, submits that, initially, the order was regarding deposit of rent in the Court but on the basis of one subsequent application moved by the plaintiff, the amount has been directed to be released in favour of the plaintiff vide order dated 11.02.2025. 10. He submits that his right to assail the abovesaid order may be left open.

11.

Said order dated 11.02.2025 is not under challenge before this Court and, therefore, it will be open to petitioner to take recourse to action, as permissible under law, to challenge the abovesaid order.

12.

During course of the arguments, learned counsel for the petitioner also informed that the plaintiff has moved an application under Order XII Rule 6 CPC, seeking judgment on admission. CM(M) 3661/2024 3

13.

He submits that the observations made in the impugned order are tentative in nature and the learned Trial Court may consider the abovesaid application in accordance with law, without getting influenced by any of the observations appearing in the impugned order.

14.

Mr. Singhal, learned counsel for the respondent/plaintiff has also no qualm with respect to the abovesaid limited request. He, however submits that the abovesaid application could not be taken up by the learned Trial Court on account of pendency of the present petition and, since the present petition has been disposed of, the learned Trial Court may be requested to consider such application.

15.

Accordingly, it is also clarified that, as and when, any such application moved under Order XII Rule 6 CPC is taken up by the Court and is decided, the learned Trial Court, it shall dispose of the same in accordance with law, without being influenced by the observations appearing in the impugned order.

16.

The present petition is disposed of in aforesaid terms.

17.

The pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

(MANOJ JAIN) JUDGE JULY 14, 2025/ss/pb

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