ISLAM RIFFAT SIDDIQUI vs MAHMOOD ABID RIZVI

M.S.H. QURAISHI, J.-- The appellant is aggrieved by the order of the High Court whereby his appeal from the order of the Controller striking of his defence for non-compliance of an order of deposit of rent, was dismissed. By the order made on 5-5-1981, the Controller had directed the appellant to deposit arrears of rent from September, 1980 to April, 1981 at the rate of Rs.900 p.m. Within thirty days. The appellant deposited Rs.3,600 on 21-5-1981 and Rs.8,100 on 4-7-1981. This was held to amount to a wilful and negligent defiance of the deposit order and accordingly his defence was struck out.

2. Leave was granted to -consider whether on the admitted facts of the case, the appellant could be held guilty of non-compliance of the Controller's order made under section 16(2) of the Sind Rented Premises Ordinance. The submission of learned counsel in this regard is that the question of non-compliance did not arise because to bank drafts more than sufficient in value to cover the deficit amount had already been issued in favour of the landlord and the same are lying with the Controller. The Controller, it appears from the deposit order, took due note of these to bank drafts which had been produced before him by the landlord but nevertheless proceeded to make the order in terms already mentioned above. The contention does not appeal to have been raised before the Controller, where the plea taken was that the delay was on account of the summer vacations. The contention was, however, taken before the High Court but it did not consider the bank drafts to amount to payment to the landlord. In any case the bank drafts having admittedly been issued in the name of the landlord, and not of the Court could not be treated to be a deposit in compliance of the order, No case is, therefore, made out for interference with the concurrent decision of the Courts below. The appeal is dismissed with no order as to costs.