Bhandari, C.J. - (1.) This petition raises the question whether the protection of the Rent Restriction Act 1949 can be waived by agreement and whether an order of a Tribunal, which is passed in consequence of the consent of the parties and not in consequence of an enquiry held by it under the provisions of the Act, can operate as a bar in subsequent proceedings.
(2.) It appears that an idol known as Murti Shri Bhagwan Ram is the owner of a certain shop situate in Ambala which was in the occupation of one Budh Singh. On 1-12-1948 the tenant applied for fixation of the fair rent and on 11-2-1949 the Rent Controller fixed the rent of Rs. 25/-per mensem on the basis of an agreement between the landlord and the tenant. On a later date this shop was let out to Niranjan Singh petitioner and on 11-7-1953 he applied for fixation of the fair rent thereof. The Rent Controller held an enquiry in accordance with the provisions of the Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, and fixed the rent at Rs. 3/5/- per mensem in respect of the shop. The landlord appealed to the District Judge and the learned District Judge held that as the fair rent of the premises had already been determined at Rs. 25/- per mensem it was not within the competence of the Rent Controller, in view of the doctrines of estoppel and 'res judicata', to reopen the question and to re-determine the rent. The appeal was accordingly allowed and the application of the tenant was dismissed. The tenant has now come to this Court under the provisions of Article 227 of the Constitution, and the question for this Court is whether the learned District Judge has come to a correct determination in point of law.
(3.) The Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act was enacted in the year 1949 to prevent a landlord from charging exorbitant rent and to enable a tenant to continue in his house so long as he paid the fair rent for the premises occupied by him. This measure was enacted solely for the protection of tenants. Section 4 requires the Controller to fix the fair rent of a premises after holding such inquiry as he thinks fit; Section 5 invalidates an increase in rent greater than the permitted increases and Section 6 prohibits a claim for rent in excess of fair rent. These sections impose a statutory obligation on the Court to refrain from making an order which is contrary to the provisions of the Act. A consent decree involves no judicial inquiry into the facts or law and must for all practical purposes be regarded as a contract. If an agreement for payment of rent which is in excess of fair rent contravenes the provisions of the Act of 1949 and if a Controller's order which is based upon the consent of the parties and not on the judgment of the Court embodies that agreement it is obvious that the order itself contravenes the provisions of the Act.;