ABDUL MAJEED and others vs Trustees of Haji Sir ABDULLAH HAROON WAKF
This matter originated from petitions challenging a Sindh High Court judgment that upheld eviction orders against tenants on the grounds of building demolition and reconstruction. The tenants argued that the Rent Controller lacked jurisdiction because the premises were declared 'protected heritage' under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994. The lower forums had ordered ejectment, contingent upon the Government of Sindh's decision regarding the heritage status of the buildings. The core legal question concerned the validity of eviction orders for reconstruction when the property is subject to heritage protection laws and the tenants' rights to re-accommodation. The Supreme Court disposed of the petitions after the respondent-Trust provided a categorical undertaking at the Bar. The Court held that the eviction order remains valid, subject to the Government of Sindh's clearance for demolition. Crucially, the Court affirmed that upon reconstruction, the respondent-Trust must strictly comply with the statutory obligations to protect the tenants' rights and accommodate them in the newly constructed premises, as mandated by the Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979.
- Does a Rent Controller have jurisdiction to order eviction for reconstruction when the building is declared protected heritage under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994?
- Are landlords legally obligated to accommodate tenants in newly constructed premises following demolition under the Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979?
- Can an eviction order for reconstruction be made contingent upon the outcome of proceedings before the Government of Sindh regarding heritage status?
- Section 6, Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994
- Section 10(3), Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994
- Section 15(3), Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979
- Section 15(4), Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979
ORDER
' RANA BHAGWANDAS, J.--- These petitions are directed against Sindh High Court judgment, dated 24-6-2005 whereby constitutional petitions filed by the petitioners against the findings of the Rent Controller and the appellate authority in rent cases filed by respondent No,1-Trust on the ground of reconstruction have been dismissed.
2. Petitioners are the tenants in different portions of the buildings constructed at Plots Nos.42 SB-6, 28 SB-6 and 53 SB-4, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road, Karachi consisting of several residential and commercial tenements. Eviction of the petitioners was sought on the sole ground of demolition and reconstruction of the premises for which appropriate permission and approval was obtained from the relevant authorities. The stance of the petitioners before the forums under the rent laws as well as the Sindh High Court appears to be that buildings sought to be demolished have been declared as 'protected heritage' under section 6 of Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the Act, 1994), therefore, Rent Controller had no jurisdiction to proceed against them. This objection was turned down and the ejectment ordered, subject to the order by Government of Sindh in terms of section 10(3) of the Act, 1994.
3. On its part, Sindh High Court has extensively and elaborately dealt with the provisions of the rent laws, relatable to demolition and reconstruction of a building as well as provisions of Act, 1994 with regard to buildings declared as 'protected heritage' and appeal before the Government of Sindh, in terms of section 10(3) of the Act, 1994. It is admitted that respondent-Trust have already moved appropriate application against inclusion of buildings in the Schedule of 'Protected Heritage' before the concerned authorities, which is still sub judice. In this view of the matter the Rent Controller as well as the appellate authority have directed that the execution of ejectment order shall be contingent upon the order that may be passed by the Government of Sindh on the application of the respondent-Trust. The apprehension expressed by the petitioner's counsel appears to be that, on reconstruction of the buildings, petitioners-tenants might be put to disadvantageous position and not accommodated in the newly constructed premises with an area equivalent to one already in their occupation in terms of section 15(3) and (4) of the Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979 (hereinafter referred to as the Ordinance, 1979).
4. Pursuant to the notice issued to the respondent-Trust, Miss Wajahat Niaz, learned Advocate-on- Record has entered appearance on behalf of the respondent-Trust and she makes a categorical statement at the Bar that, subject to clearance by the Government of Sindh for the proposed demolition, after reconstruction of the building, rights of the petitioners-tenants shall be fully protected and the respondent-Trust shall strictly abide by the provisions contained in subsections
(3) and (4) of section 15 of the Ordinance, 1979.
5. In this view of the matter, no other point is raised for adjudication by this Court with the consequence that these petitions stand disposed of accordingly in terms of the undertaking furnished on behalf of the respondent-Trust. No order as to costs.