Kerala High Court
Vasantha Kumari vs K V Suresh Babu on 21 October, 2025
Author: A. Muhamed Mustaque
Bench: A.Muhamed Mustaque
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISANKAR V. MENON
TUESDAY, THE 21ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 29TH ASWINA, 1947
OP (RC) NO. 193 OF 2025
AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 11.09.2025 IN IA 3 OF 2024 IN
RCP NO.32 OF 2024 OF ADDITIONAL MUNSIFF COURT, KOZHIKODE-II
PETITIONER/2ND RESPONDENT IN IA & 2ND RESPONDENT IN RCP:
MURALIDHARAN, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O. LATE V.
HARIDASAN NAIR, RESIDING AT VARADA HOUSE,
NELLIKODE. P.O, KOZHIKODE-673 016, AND RUNNING
BUSINESS AT SHOP NO. 59/3571, 59/3527 A, ANGADI
MARUNNU KACHAVADAM, OPP. HOTEL IMPERIAL, KALLAI
ROAD, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673 002
BY ADVS.
SRI.VINOD SINGH CHERIYAN
SRI.T.M.KHALID
SMT.K.P.SUSMITHA
SHRI.MUHAMMED SINAN P.
RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS AND 1ST RESPONDENT IN IA/PETITOIENR
AND IST RESPONDENT IN RCP:
1 K.V. SURESH BABU, S/O. K.V. SREEDEVI KOVILAMMA,
PATHMA HOUSE, MANKAVE. P.O, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673
007
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OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
2
2 K.V. SANTHOSH KUMAR, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O. K.V.
SREEDEVI KOVILAMMA, VARADA HOUSE, NELLIKODE. P.O,
KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673 016
3 VASANTHAKUMARI V, AGED 66 YEARS, D/O. HARIDHASAN
NAIR (LATE), 7/2202, KRISHNAN NAIR ROAD, OPP.: CO-
OPERATIVE BANK, KARUVASSERI, KARAPARAMBA P.O.,
KOZHIKODE, VENGHERI VILLAGE, KOZHIKODE TALUK, PIN
- 673 010
THIS OP (RENT CONTROL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
21.10.2025, ALONG WITH OP (RC).192/2025, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
3
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISANKAR V. MENON
TUESDAY, THE 21ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 29TH ASWINA, 1947
OP (RC) NO. 192 OF 2025
AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 11.09.2025 IN IA 3 OF 2024 IN
RCP NO.32 OF 2024 OF ADDITIONAL MUNSIFF COURT, KOZHIKODE-II
PETITIONER/1ST RESPONDENT:
VASANTHA KUMARI, AGED 66 YEARS, ASHOWN AS SHOP
NO.59/3571,59/3527A, V.HARIDASAN NAIR, ANGADI
MARUNNU KACHAVADAM, OPP. HOTEL IMPERIAL, KALLAI
ROAD, KOZHIKODEMBANI, 7/2202, KRISHNAN NAIR ROAD,
OPP. CO-OPERATIVE BANK, KARUVASSERI, KARAPARAMBA-
POST, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673 010
BY ADVS.
SRI.K.RAKESH ROSHAN
SMT.THUSHARA.V
RESPONDENTS/1ST PETITIONER:
1 K V SURESH BABU, S/O SREEDEVI KOVILAMMA, PATHMA
HOUSE, MANKAVU- POST, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673 016
2 K V SANTHOSH KUMAR, S/O. VARADA HOUSE, NELLIKODE-
PO, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673 016
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
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3 MURALEEDHARAN, SHOP NO. 59/ 3571,593527A,V.
HARIDHASAN NAIR, ANGADI MARUNNU KACHAVADAM, OPP.
IMPERIAL HOTEL, KALLAI ROAD, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673
002
BY ADVS.
SRI.K.M.FIROZ
SRI.VINOD SINGH CHERIYAN
SRI.T.M.KHALID
SMT.K.P.SUSMITHA
SHRI.MUHAMMED SINAN P.
SMT.M.SHAJNA
THIS OP (RENT CONTROL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
21.10.2025, ALONG WITH OP (RC).193/2025, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
5
JUDGMENT
[OP (RC) Nos.193/2025, 192/2025]
A. Muhamed Mustaque, J.
The tenants have come up with these original petitions
challenging an order under Section 12(1) of the Kerala Buildings
(Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 (for short "Act") passed by
the Rent Controller. There is a serious contest raised by the
learned counsel for the revision petitioners/tenants that there
exists no landlord - tenant relationship. If there is no landlord -
tenant relationship, the question of whether there exists a
landlord - tenant relationship has to be prima facie appreciated
by the Rent Controller at the first instance.
2. We have dealt with the scope of exercising
power under Section 12(1) and 12(3) of the Act in Unnikrishnan
P.N v. K.X. John Victor [2025 KHC 933] If the Rent Controller
committed any error, that can be challenged when that order
culminates in the final order under Section 12(3) of the Act and
can be corrected by the Rent Control Appellate Authority. No
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
doubt, prima facie the court will have to answer the question of
whether there exists landlord - tenant relationship to direct the
tenant to pay the rent arrears. If it requires an adjudication, no
doubt, that has to be postponed for a trial. This is the law laid
down by us in Unnikrishnan Case (supra).
3. Anyway, we are not examining the matter on its
merits. We reserve all liberty for the petitioners/tenants to
challenge the order once it culminates in the order under Section
12(3) of the Act.
With the liberty as above, these original petitions stand
disposed of.
Sd/-
A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE
JUDGE
Sd/-
HARISANKAR V. MENON
JUDGE
PR
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
APPENDIX OF OP (RC) 193/2025
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 COPY OF THE RENT CONTROL PETITION IN
R.C.P. NO. 32 OF 2024 ON THE FILE OF THE
RENT CONTROL COURT - II A, KOZHIKODE
DATED 21.2.2024
Exhibit P2 COPY OF THE COUNTER STATEMENT FILED BY
THE PETITIONER HEREIN/2ND RESPONDENT TO
THE R.C.P. NO. 32 OF 2024 ON THE FILE OF
THE RENT CONTROL COURT - II A, KOZHIKODE
DATED 10.9.2024
Exhibit P3 COPY OF AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE
PETITION I.A. NO. 03/2024 IN R.C.P. NO.
32 OF 2024 ON THE FILE OF THE RENT
CONTROL COURT - II A, KOZHIKODE DATED
17.9.2024
Exhibit P4 COPY OF THE COUNTER STATEMENT FILED BY
THE PETITIONER/2ND RESPONDENT IN I.A.
NO. 03/2024 IN R.C.P. NO. 32 OF 2024 ON
THE FILE OF THE RENT CONTROL COURT - II
A, KOZHIKODE DATED 25.2.2025
Exhibit P5 COPY OF THE ORDER IN I.A. NO. 03/2024 IN
R.C.P. NO. 32 OF 2024 ON THE FILE OF THE
RENT CONTROL COURT - II A, KOZHIKODE
DATED 11.9.2025
Exhibit P6 COPY OF AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE I.A.
NO. 6/2025 IN R.C.P. NO. 32 OF 2024 ON
THE FILE OF THE RENT CONTROL COURT - II
A, KOZHIKODE DATED 12.9.2025
Exhibit P7 COPY OF AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE I.A.
NO. 7/2025 IN R.C.P. NO. 32 OF 2024 ON
THE FILE OF THE RENT CONTROL COURT - II
A, KOZHIKODE DATED 12.9.2025
2025:KER:78067
OP (RC) Nos.193/2025 & 192/2025
APPENDIX OF OP (RC) 192/2025
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION IN RCP 32/2024
OF MUNSIFF, KOZHIKODE-II
Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE COUNTER FILED BY THE
PETITIONER AS 1ST RESPONDENT IN
Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT FILED IN
OF MUNSIFF, KOZHIKODE-II
Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE COUNTER FILED BY
PETITIONER AS 1ST RESPONDENT IN I,A
Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE COUNTER FILED BY 3RD
RESPONDENT HEREIN AS 2ND RESPONDENT IN
Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11-9-2025
