As India proudly marches towards the goal of flattening the curve of the
epidemic the threat has prompted responses most notably, lockdown, which has
fundamentally changed the nature of certain legal relationships between
individual/s.
This makes it pertinent to examine the legal intricacies which might arise among
different stake holders which are involved in these relationships. The aim of
this article is to examine one such relationship, i.e. of lessor and lessee.
Under these unusual circumstances, it becomes expedient to examine whether
Doctrine of frustration will have any impact on covenant of lease.
Application Of Contract Act, 1872 On Lease Agreement
The
concept of 'Lease as explained under Section 105 of the Transfer of
Property Act is transfer of an immovable property by means of a registered
instrument. The instrument elaborates the condition under which the property
is let out to the other party. The parties to the lease agreement are called
as Lessor, the one who owns the property, and the person to whom such
property is leased out is called Lessee.
An agreement which contains the clause related to Force Majeure, is governed
under Chapter III of the Contract Act, 1872 i.e. Contingent Contracts.
Section 31 of the Indian Contract Act defines Contingent Contracts and
Section 32 of Indian Contract Act, 1872 deals with the enforcement of the
contingent contract.
Therefore, those contracts which contain the Force Majeure, such agreement
would be dealt in line with the Section 32 of the Contract Act. However, in
agreements where force majeure clause remains absent, doctrine of
frustration is relied upon in order to de hors the contract and any
liability arising under from it.
Supreme Court in Energy Watchdog v. Central Electricity Regulatory
Commission and Ors. upheld the reasoning whereby it stated that a contract
shall be held to be frustrated under Sec. 56 of Contract Act if it becomes
impossible to perform or the very foundation on which the contract is
premised has changed. The agreement of lease, however, is distinct in nature
from that of the Contract Act and is governed by Transfer of Property Act.
Doctrine Of Frustration And Lease Agreement
Section 56 of Contract Act deals with situation of impossibility of an
agreement, which exonerates the party to the contract to discharge itself
from the agreement but the same is not applicable in the case of lease
agreement, which is beyond the purview of Contract Act. The case of Dhruv
Dev Chand v. Harmohinder Singh, is a peculiar one in its own sphere for it
set out a fine distinction between a general agreement and an agreement for
lease.
In this case Hon'ble Apex Court had examined the application of provisions
of Contract Act, 1872 upon Lease Agreement. It was held that doctrine of
frustration under section 56 of Indian Contract Act, 1872 does not apply to
lease agreement. The court herein had drawn the difference between a lease
agreement and other kind of agreements.
On a fine perusal of the above judgment it can be concluded that the
principle of frustration, as enshrined in English Law, does not apply to
scenarios in India.
The Supreme Court in Kidar Lall Seal and Anr. v. Hari Lall Seal has held
that in situation where there is general law and special law, the special
law will have an overriding effect on the general law. The Transfer of
Property Act being a special law will override the provisions of Contract
Act.
Lease Agreement And Force Majeure
Section 108(B) (e) of the Transfer of Property act lays down that conditions
under which lease agreement shall be rendered void.
Section 111(b) of the TPA allows parties to consent to the determination of
the lease upon the happening of an agreed event (such as a force majeure event).
It is also pertinent to note that general law of force majeure is
inapplicable to lease deeds, this does not prevent parties by way of
contract to agree to certain protections in the event of occurrence of
a force majeure event. It is pertinent to note that the Apex Court, in the
matter of Saha Ratansi Khimji v. Kumbhar Sond Hotel Pvt. Ltd. has
held that merely because the subject matter of lease has been destroyed
would not frustrate the lease agreement per se.
Therefore, on fine reading of the above judgment it can be construed safely that
the lease agreement is not an ordinary agreement as it involves rights related
to immovable property, unlike other contracts, it would not be frustrated merely
because the subject matter of the agreement has been destroyed. It is also
pertinent to note that such relationship between lessee and lessor will continue
to subsist even in situations where subject matter has been completely
destroyed.
It is upon the lessee to declare the contract void and get rid himself from the
shackles of obligations arising under the contract of lease. Furthermore, in
Shankar
Prasad and Ors. v. State of M.P. and Ors (ILR [2013] MP 2146), this position
of law puts an obligation upon the lessee to inform the lessor about such
damage, until then the Lessee is bound by the agreement.
In the case of
Raptakos Brett & Co. Ltd v. Ganesh Property the court laid
down the proposition that when a lease comes to an end by efflux of time or by
notice of termination or by any such means whereby the right of the lessee
becomes forfeited, under such circumstances the right of the lessee is reduced
to that of a tenant, the lessee is bound under Sec.108 (q) of the Transfer of
Property Act to transfer the possession of such property to the lessor without
any delay.
Further, in the case of
Bhawanji Lakhamshi and Ors. v. Himatlal Jamnadas Dani
and Ors. the Court was of the view that in situations where rent has been
accepted by the landlord after the expiry of the tenancy then acceptance of rent
may waive the right of the lessor to evict the lessee. But in the same case it
was further held by the court that if there is absence of intention of the
lessor to extend the lease agreement then it cannot be presumed that he lease
agreement can be extended.
It is in this context, it becomes pertinent to examine the rent obligations
arising as per lease agreements during this lockdown, the Delhi High court, in
its recent judgment, has discussed this in a vivid manner. It seems rather
difficult that lockdown due to COVID-19 will fall under the ambit of the section
108 (e) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. It still remains the question of
fact whether COVID-19 will fall under the ambit of irresistible force or not.
The authors so far have not come across any definition of the term 'irresistible
force” or have prescribed the criteria that what would amount to 'irresistible
force'. However in order to understand the inclination of Courts towards the
lockdown due to COVID-19, verdict of Delhi High court can be referred wherein it
has stated that lockdown is of nature of force Majeure.
Furthermore, Black's Law Dictionary defines force majeure, inter alia, as a
“superior or irresistible force”. Therefore, in cases wherein Force Majeure clause
is incorporated in lease agreements, there they will be governed by the general
rules of contract interpretation and will be strictly interpreted. The principle
of contra proferentem will be used in case if any such ambiguity arises.
This principle basically states that an ambiguous term will be construed against
the party responsible for its inclusion in the contract. The rule of “ejusdem
generis” is also important as it can be used as a tool for the interpretation of
Force Majeure arising under Transfer of Property Act, 1882. It primarily means
“of same class”. In simple words , when general words follows a specific list of
events, the general wording will be interpreted in light of the specific list
of events.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be presumed that lease agreement will not be barred or
restricted by Sec. 108 (e) of the Property Act. The decision in Court of
Wards Dada Siba Estate and Ors. v. Raja Dharan Dev Chand makes the law clear
in this regard by stating that rule of frustration would not apply to agreements
where rights have already been created in favour of the lessee as the agreement
of lease are not purely contractual in nature.
It is apparent from plethora of judgments that even though the subject matter of
the lease agreement gets destroyed, the lessee shall be obliged under agreement
until the lessee exercises the rights under section 108 (e) of Transfer of
Property Act. The court in
Shankar Prasad and Ors. v. State of M.P. and Ors have
clearly held that in such situation financial difficulties cannot be used as
shield to escape from the liabilities arising under this agreement and concerned
party shall be liable to pay.
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