Holding

Sub‑lessees are deemed tenants under Section 4 and the 1978 notification’s condition granting them a purchase right is valid, so the appeal fails.

Summary

The appellants, owners of agricultural lands, had leased the lands to Saswad Mali Sugar Factory Ltd., a commercial undertaking approved under Section 43A(1)(a) of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948. The lease deed expressly permitted the factory to sub‑let the lands, and the sub‑lessees cultivated the fields. The State of Maharashtra issued a notification under Section 43A(3) that, among other conditions, gave sub‑lessees a right to purchase the land within one year of the expiry of the period during which the lessor could terminate the lease under Section 14, and made Sections 32‑32R applicable. The appellants challenged the validity of this notification and the status of the sub‑lessees as deemed tenants/purchasers. The Supreme Court held that because the lease allowed sub‑letting, the prohibition in the notification did not apply; Section 4 of the Act therefore deemed the sub‑lessees to be tenants, and the 1978 notification’s condition 7 was within the State’s power under Section 43A(3)(d). Consequently, the sub‑lessees are deemed purchasers and the appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether sub‑lessees of a sugar factory approved under Section 43A(1)(a) are deemed tenants under Section 4 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948.
Whether the notification issued under Section 43A(3) granting sub‑lessees a right to purchase the land is within the legislative competence of the State Government.
Whether Sections 14 and 27 of the Act apply to the sub‑leases and bar the operation of Section 4.
Whether the High Court’s decision upholding the sub‑lessees’ right to be deemed purchasers is legally correct.

Legislation cited

Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948s. 14, s. 27, s. 32-32R, s. 4, s. 43A(1)(a), s. 43A(3)(d)

Subjects

tenancyagricultural landsdeemed tenantsub‑leasepurchase rightBombay Tenancy ActSection 43Anotificationdeemed purchasercommercial undertaking

Judgment

KRISHAN MALHAR MIRASDAR A
v.
·'-\; SASWAD MALI SUGAR FACTORY LTD. AND ORS.

JANUARY 13, 1998

[S.B. MAJMUDAR AND M. JAGANNADHA RAO, JJ.] B
;..
_, Tenancy and Land Laws :

Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948: Sections 43-A
(l)(a)&(3), 4 and 14 Sub-lessees-As deemed tenants-Lands leased to c
commercial undertaking viz. Sugar factory approved by State Government
under S.43-A(1)(a)-Sugar factory further sub-leased to sub-lesses-
Notification issued under S. 43-A (3) made S.14 applicable to limited extent
of prohibiting any sub-lease executed contrary to the provisions of lease-
Lease deed under which Sugar factory was given lease granted express D
permission to the lessee to sub-let-Held: The prohibition contained in
,.,.""'-.
notification is inapplicable-S.14 applies to such leases by virtue of S.43-
A(I) as it was not one of the sections enumerated as excluded from their
applicability to such leases-Sub-lessees of Sugar factory cannot be said to
be in unlawful cultivation-Hence, sub-lessees became deemed tenants under
S.4 which operates on its own. E
Section 4-Deemed tenant-Held: A class apart from a lessee.

Section 43-A(3)(d)-Scope of-Sub-lessees-As Purchasers of land-
Notification issued under S.43-A(3) laid down condition regarding "any
other matter referred to in section mentioned in sub-section (I) "-Notification F
..> -J.... laid down condition that when land leased to commercial undertaking viz
Sugar factory approved under S.43-A(I) is sub-leased, such sub-lessee shall
have a right to purchase the land within one year from expiry of the period
during which lessor is entitled to terminate the lease under S.14 and that Ss.
32 to 32-R shall, as far as may be applicable, apply to right of such lessees
to purchase that lands-Held: Notification under Sub-section (3) includes
G
notification providing conditions for applicability of the sections which are
-< excluded under Sub-section (1)-Hence, conditions not contrary to scope
S.43-A(3).

The appellants leased out lands belonging to it to the respondent-Sugar H
97
98 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1998] I S.C.R.

A factory which was a commercial undertaking approved by the State Government
under Section 43-A (l)(a) of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands
Act, 1948. Tiie State Government issued a notification under Section 43-
A(3) making Section 14 of the Act applicable to a limited extent of prohibiting
any sub-lease executed contrary to the provisions of the lease. Under the
lease deeds, which were renewed from time to time, the respondent-Sugar
B factory, the original lessee, was permitted to sub-lease the said lands and
accordingly, the sub-lessees came to occupy these lands at the relevant time
when the leases were granted. The further notification under Section 43-
A(3) issued by the State Government laid down additional conditions one of
them being that the sub-lessee shall have a right to purchase the land within
C one year from the expiry of the period during which the lessor was entitled
to terminate the lease under Section 14 and that Sections 32 to 32- R applied
to the right of such sub-lessees to purchase the lands.

Accordingly, the sub-lessees were treated as deemed purchasers of
agricultural, lands cultivated by them in the light of the aforesaid notification.
D A Division Bench of the High Court had upheld the said right of the sub-
lessees. Hence this appeal.

Dismissing the appeal, this Court

HELD: I. It is an indisputable fact that the lease documents, under
E
which the Sugar factory was given lease, gave express permission to the
lessee to sub-let. Therefore, strictly speaking the prohibition mentioned in
the notification to the effect that lea·ses would be terminated if lessees had-
sub let the lands contrary to the provisions of the lease did not apply. Section
4 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 applies to such
F leases by virtue of Section 43-A(l) as it is not one of the sections enumerated
as excluded from their applicability to such leases. Hence, sub-lessees of the
Sugar factory came within the scope of the protective umbrella of Section
4 the Act and became deemed tenants as it cannot be said that they were not
lawfully cultivating these lands. 1103-B-G]

G Dahya Lal v. Rasul Mohammed Abdul Rahim, 11963] 3 SCR 1, followed.

Gopala Genu Wagale v. Mageshwardeo Palas Abhishekh Anusthan
Trust, 11978) 2 SCC 47, held inapplicable.

H 2. By Section 4 of the Act certain persons who are not tenants under
K.M. MIRASDAR v. SASWAD MALI SUGAR FACTORY LTD. 99
the ordinary law are deemed to be tenants for purposes for the Act. A person A
who is deemed to be a tenant by section 4 is manifestly in a class apart from
the tenant who holds lands on lease from the owner. Such a person would
be invested with the status of a tenant, if the three conditions mentioned in
the Section are fulfilled. [105-B]

Dahya Lal v. Rasul Mohammed Abdul Rahim (1963] 3 SCR I, followed.
B

3. On a conjoint reading of Section 43-A(l) and clause (d) of sub-
section (3) of Section 43-A, it becomes clear that the State Government had
power and authority to lay down conditions about the·applicability of Section
32 to 32-R in connection with leases contemplated by section 43-A(l), As the C
leases in the present case are covered by Section 43-A(I)(a), the notification
in question could legitimately apply to Section 32 to 32-R subject to the
conditions, which may be laid down. Such an authority and power clearly flow
from the express language of Section 43-A(3) especially clause (d) thereof.
Section 43-A(3)(d) empowers the State Government to lay down condition D
'regarding any other matter referred to in sections mentioned in sub-section
(I)'. It necessarily means that Legislature permitted the delegate to provide
appropriate conditions for applicability of the excluded sections expressly
mentioned in Section 43-A(l ). Therefore, in view of wide scope of Section 43-
A(l )(d) the notification can provide for the benefit of deemed purchase to sub-
leases of such factories. Section 4 without Section 14 and 27 applied to such E
leases covered by Section 43-A(l) from the very inception of the applicability
of the Act to such leases. Therefore, it cannot be said that further provision
of deemed purchase for deemed tenants. Sub-leases of such permitted sub-
lettings as per the notification is in any way contrary to the scheme of the
Act. So, even if the industrial or commercial undertakings may be themselves F
owning the lands through the tenants the latter can be made deemed
purchasers by issuance of such notification, Which would remain a
permissible exercise. (106-E-H; 107-A-F]

Sri Ram Narain Medhi v. State of Bombay, [1959) Supp. I SCR 489, G
followed.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5308 of 1990.

From the Judgment and Order dated 9th March, 1990 of the Bombay
High Court in Civil Application No. 2255of1975. H
JOO SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] I S.C.R.

A V.N. Ganpule and A.M. Khanwilkar for the Appellants.

Bhimrao N. Naik, V.B. Joshi, D.M. Nargolkar, N.K. Neeraj and A.S.
Bhasme for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
B
S.B. MAJMUDAR, J. In this group of appeals a sho1t question arises
for consideration which runs as under:-

Whether the sub-lessees of the lessee, Saswad Mali Sugar Factory
Ltd. and which was earlier functioning as Saswad Mali Sahakari Sakhar
c Karkhana in Solapur District of Maharashtra State were entitled.to be
treated as deemed purchasers of agricultural lands cultiyated by them
in the light of the notification issued on 8.2.1978 by the State of
Maharashtra in exercise of its powers under Section 43A(3) of the
Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 (Act No.67 of
D 1948) (hereinafter to be referred to as 'the Act').

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court in the impugned judgments
has upheld the said right of the sub-lessees. That is how the present appeals
on special leave have been filed by the original owners of the lands.

E A few relevant facts leading to these appeals may be noted at the
outset. The lands in question were originally leased out by the appellants to
the aforesaid factory for the purpose of growing sugarcane. Under the lease
deeds which were renewed from time to time the sugar factory, the original
lessee was permitted to sub-lease the said lands and accordingly, the sub-
F lessee came to occupy these lands at the relevant time when the leases were ,. •
granted. The provisions of the Act did not apply to such leases in view of
Section 88(1) (b) as it stood at the relevant ~ime. As per the said section, the
Act was not applicable as a whole to leases entered into for the benefit of
industrial and commercial undertakings. There is no dispute between the
parties that the leases of the lands granted to the sugar factory were covered
G by the sweep of this exemption clause.

Later on by Section 30 of the Bombay Act 13 of 1956 which amended
the Parent Act, Section 43A was inserted in the principal Act by way of
Chapter III-A which dealt with special provisions for lands held on lease by
H industrial or commercial undertakings and by certain persons for the cultivation
•
K.M. MIRASDAR v. SASWAD MALI SUGAR FACTORY LTD. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J] 101

of sugarcane and other notified agricultural produce. Section 43A with its A
sub-sections is relevant for decision in the present appeals. It is profitable to
extract it in extenso as under:-

"CHAPTER III-A

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LANDS HELD ON LEASE BY B
INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL UNDERTAKINGS AND BY
CERTAIN PERSON FOR THE CUL TIVATI ON OF SUGARCANE AND
OTHER NOTIFIED AG RI CULTURAL PRODUCE.

43A (1). The provisions of section 4B, 8, 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, JO, JOA,
14, 16, 17, 17A, 178, 18,27,31 to3JD(bothinclusive),32to32R(both C
inclusive), 33A, 338, 33C, 43, 63, 63A, 64 and 65, shall not apply to-

(a) land leased to or held by any industrial or commercial
undertaking other than a Co-operative Society which in the opinion
of the State Government bona fide carries on any industrial or
commercial operations and which is approved by the State Government; D
(b) leases of land granted to any bodies or persons other than
those mentioned in clause (a) for the cultivation of sugarcane or the
growing of fiuits or flowers or for the breeding of livestock;

(c) to lands held or leased by such co-operative societies as are E
approved in the prescribed manner by the State Government which
have for their objects the improvel)lent of the economic and social
conditions of peasants or ensuring the full and efficient use of land
for agriculture and allied pursuits.

(2) The State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette F
in this behalf direct that the provisions of the said sections shall not
apply to a lease of land -obtained by any person for growing any other
class of agricultural produce to which it is satisfied that it will not be
expedient in the public interest to apply the said provisions. Before
the issue of such notification, the State Government shall direct an G
inquiry to be made by an officer authorised Government and shall give
all persons who are likely to be affected by such notification, an
opportunity to submit their objections.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (I) and
(2), it shall be lawful for the State Government to direct, by notification H
102 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] l S.C.R.

A in the Official Gazette that the leases or lands, as the case may be to
which the provisions of sub-sections(!) and (2) apply, shall be subject
to such conditions as may be specified in the notification, in respect
of-

(a) the duration of the lease;
B
(b) the improvements to be made on the land and the formation """'
of co-operative farming societies for that purpose and financial
assistance to such societies;

(c) the payment of land revenue, irrigation cess, local fund cess
c and any other charges payable to the State Government or any local
authority; or

(d) any other matter referred to in. sections mentioned in sub-
section (I)".

D The aforesaid sub-section (!) of Section 43A clearly indicates that
though earlier because of Section 88( 1)(b) Sections I to 87 were not applicable
to such leases, after insertion of Section 43A(l) by Bombay Act 13 of J 956,
certain sections of the parent Act only were not made applicable thereafter
to those lands leased. Rest of the sections got applied. We are concerned
E with lands leased to commercial undertaking like Saswad Mali Sahakari Sakhar
Karkhana as such sugar factory is a commercial undertaking. It is not in
dispute between the parties that those lands are covered by Section 43A(l)
(a) as the State Government has approved Saswad Mali Sahakafi Sakhar
Karkhana for the applicability of the said provision. Once the said provision
applied to the respondent-sugar factory, consequences mentioned in sub-
F . section ( 1) of Section 43A would get attracted. However, there is a power
available to the State Government in sub-section (3) thereof under which it
can issue notification to the effect that the leases or the lands, as the case
may be, to which sub-sections (I) and (2) would apply shall be subject to
such conditions as may be notified in the notification. The State of Maharashtra
G issued two notifications in exercise of that power. The first one was issued
on 14.2.1958. It dealt with the lands covered by clause (b) of sub-section (I)
of Section 43A. We are strictly not concerned with the said notification. The
relevant notification which would apply in the present batch of appeals is one
of even date issued in connection with the lands leased to sugar factories
which have been approved by the State Government under clause (a) of sub-
H section (I) of Section 43A. The said notification as initially issued in 1958 did
K.M. MIRASDAR r. SASWAD MALI SU<!AR FACTORY LTD [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J] J03
not confer any right to the sub-lessees of the factories to become deemed A
purchasers of the lands. On the contrary, it tried to apply the provisions of
Section 14 of the Act for the first time to the lessee factories. As laid down
therein such leases shall not be terminated unless the lessees, amongst
others, have sub-let the lands contrary to the provisions of the lease without
the previous permission of the Mamlatdar. Consequently, initially when this B
notification operated, any lawful sub-lease was liable to be terminated and
even lessee was liable to be evicted if such sub-lease was effected contrary
to the provisions of the lease. It is not in dispute between the parties that
in the present cases, the lease documents under whi.ch the sugar factory was
given lease, gave express permission to the lessee to sub-let. Therefore,
strictly speaking the prohibition mentioned in clause (4) of the notification did C
not apply and hence the landlord did not object to sub-letting of lands by
the sugar factory in favour of the sub-lessees concerned who are respondents
in the present batch of appeals. It is also to be noted that when the aforesaid
notification applied, the provision of Section 14 to the extent laid down by
clause (4) of the notification became applicable. Section 14 by itself attracted
Section 27 which prohibited even lawful and permissible sub-leases. While D
clause (4) applied the provisions of Section 14 to the limited extent of its
applicability to only non-permitted sub-lessees. Consequently, Section 27
could not get attracted to such permitted sub 1essees by the leases covered
by Section 43A(I )(a). We have also to note that Section 4 of the Act applied
to such leases by virtue of Section 43A(I) as it was not one of the sections E
enumerated as excluded from their applicability to such leases. When we tum
to Section 4, it is found clearly provided therein that a person lawfully
cultivating any land belonging to another perscn shall be deemed to be a
tenant if such land is not cultivated personally by the owner and if such
person is not - (a) a member of the owner's family; or (b) a servant on wages,
payable in cash or kind but not in crop share or a hired labourer cultivating f
the land under the personal supervision of the owner or any member of the
owner's family; or (c) mortgagee in possession. Thus, the sub-lessees of the
sugar factory straighaway came with the scope of protective umbrella of
Section 4 of the Act and became deemed tenants as it cannot be said that
they were not lawfully cultivating these lands. They were in possession of G
.the lands as lawful sub-lessees of the sugar factory which was entitled by
virtue of the express permission granted under the. lease deeds by the landlords
of
to sub~let. A Constitution Bench this Court in the case of Daya Lal & Ors.
v. Rasul Mohammed Abdul Rahim reported in, [ 1963] 3 SCR I. while interpreting
Section 4 of the Act held that the Act affords protective umbrella to all
persons who hold agricultural lands as contractual tenants, and subject to the H
104 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] I S.C.R.

A exceptions specified all persons lawfully cultivating the lands belonging to
others whether their authority is derived directly from the owner of the land
or not must be deemed to be tenants of the land.

However, learned senior counsel for the appellants, invited our attention
to a decision of this Court in the case of Gopala Genu Wagale v.
B Mageshwardeo Patas Abhishekh Anusthan Trust reported in, [1978] 2 SCC
47 wherein it has been held by a Bench of two learned Judges of this Court
that before Section 4 of the Bombay Tenancy Act can be pressed in service
by any one, it must be found that the person concerned was lawfully cultivating
the land and in case of sub-tenant covered by Section 14(1) (a) (iii) and
C Section 27 of the Tenancy Act, protection of Section 4 of the Act would not
,•
be available as he cannot be said to be lawfully cultivating the lands. In our
view, this decision cannot be of any avail to the appellants in the present
cases for reasons, firstly, in that decision the Court had clearly held that in
a reference under Section 85A of the Tenancy Act about the status of the
person "concerned claiming to be a sub-tenant of the land vis-a-vis head
D tena~t, no further question about deemed tenancy survived for consideration.
Having held so in paragraph 4 of the report, further observations were made
in paragraph 5 of the report on the interpretation of Section 4. Strictly speaking,
they were not required for the decision of the case and were obiter. But even
that apart, as seen from the facts of that case Section 4 was construed in the
E light of Sections 14 and 27 and on a conjoint reading thereof a view was taken
that even if a sub-tenant is inducted by permission of the landlord, Section
27 would hit such permitted sub-lessee and hence sub-tenants cannot urge
that they were lawfully cultivating the lands. In· the present case, such a
situation does not emerge as both Sections 14 and 27 are excluded by Section
43A(I) & (2) and Section 4 on the other hand is made applicable without the
F fetters of Sections 14 and 27. Therefore, in cases of leases c~vered by Section
43A, the provisions of Section 4, would operate on their own. Consequently,
lawful sub-lessees of lessees covered by Section 43A cannot be held to be
in unlawful cultivation. Once this conclusion is reached, Section 4 ·would
operate on its own and once it operates on its own the sub-tenants who are
G lawfully cultivating the lands by express permission to sub-let granted by the
landlords to the lessees could be said to be deemed tenants. Therefore, the
ratio of the decision in Gopala Genu Wagale's case (supra) will not apply to
the facts of the present cases. On the contrary, the ratio of the decision of.,
the Constitution Bench of this Court in [1963] 3 SCR 1 would strictly get
attracted. It was clearly held by J.C. Shah, J. speaking for the Constitution
H Bench that Section 4 operates on its own. That person lawfully cultivating
K.M. MIRASDAR v. SASWAD MALI SUGAR FACTORY LTD. [SB MAJMUDAR, l.] J05
lands of another and not covered by the excluded categories mentioned in A
sub-sections (a), (b) and (c) will automatically get the status of a deemed
tenant. It was observed that Section 4 seeks to confer the status of a tenant
upon a person lawfully cultivating land belonging to another. By that provision,
certain persons who are not tenants under the ordinary Jaw are deemed to be
tenants for purposes of the Act. A person who is deemed to be a tenant by B
Section 4 is manifestly in a class apart from the tenant who holds lands on
lease from the owner. Such person would be invested with the status of a
tenant, if the three conditions mentioned in the section are fulfilled.
I Consequently, the law laid down in, (1976] 2 SCC 47 cannot be of any
G,· assistance to the appellants and the said decision was, therefore, rightly not
applied to the facts of the present appeals by the High Court in the impugned C
judgment.

Now remains the question as to what is the scope and ambit of the
further notification under Section 43A(3) dated 8.2. 1978. The said notifioation
lays down other conditions in connection with leases in respect of lands
leased to sugar factories which were approved by the State Government D
under sub-section ( 1) of Section 43A. The notification, amongst others, laid
down conditions permitting the landlords to terminate such leases as per
dauses (4) and (4A) (I). Amongst others, !lie said notification lays down
additional conditions, one of them being condition no. 7 which is relevant for
our consideration.
E
"7(1). Where the lease land has been sub-leased by the sugar
factory, the sub-lessee unless his lease is terminated under condition
48 shall have the right to purchase the land within one year from the
expiry of the period during which the lessor is entitled to terminate the
lease under section 14(1). F
(2) The provisions of sections 32 to 32R (both inclusive) shall so
far as may be applicable, apply to the right of such lessee to purchase
. the land under this condition."

A look ai the said provision shows that when the leased land has been G
· sub-leased by the sugar factory such sub-lessee, as per condition no.7, shall
··have a right to purchase the land within one year from the expiry of the period
during which the lessor is entitled to terminate the lease under Section 14(1).

· The short question is whether this condition can be said to be contrary
to the scope and ambit of. Section 43A(3}. It may be noted that the vires of H
-{
\

SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1998) I S.C.R.

A sub-section (3) of Section 43A were challenged neither before the High Court
nor before us. It was also not submitted that the said provision suffers from
excessive delegation of legislative power. Consequently, we have only to refer
to the express provisions of clause (7) and the field on which it would operate.
As noted earlier, sub-section (3) of Section 43A startes with a non-obstante
B clause and provides that noi withstanding anything contained in sub-sections
(I) and (2), it shall be lawful for the State Government to direct, by notification
in the Official Gazette that the leases or lands, as the case may be, to which
the provisions of sub-sections (I) and (2) apply, shall be subject to such
conditions as may be specified in the notification in connection with such
lands or leases which are the subject-matters of Section 43A(I) and (2). It is
C true that uoder Section 43A(3) such notification can be issued in connection
with leases or lands covered by sub-sections (I) and (2) and conditions can
be laid down by the State Government by the said notification in respect of
matters referred to in clauses (a) to (d) thereof. Clauses (a) to (c) of Section
43A( I) refer to the working of such leases and monetary obligations flowing
therefrom. But when we turn to the provisions of clause (d) of Section 43A(3),
D it becC'mes clear that the State Government is empowered to provide for any
further matter in connection with sections referred to in sub-section (I) of
Section 43A. Sections 32 to 32R, amongst others, are mentioned in sub-
section (I) of Section 43A. Therefore, on a conjoint reading of Section 43A(J)
and clause (d) of sub-section (3) of Section 43A, it becomes clear that the
E State of Maharashtra had power and authority to lay dow~ conditions about
the applicability of Sections 32 to 32R in connection with leases contemplated
by Section 43A(I). As the leases in the present case are covered by Section
43A(J)(a), the notification in question.could legitimately apply to Sections 32
to 32R subject to the conditions which may be laid down. Such an authority
and power clearly flow from the express language of Section 43A(3) especially
F clause (d) thereof. Learned senior counsel for the appellants .would have been
right if clause (d) would have only provided that the State Government could
issue notifications for laying down conditions 'regarding any other matter
referred to in sub-section (I) 'of Section 43A but on the contrary it empowers
the State Government to lay down condition 'regarding any other matter
G referred to in sections mentioned in sub-section (I)'. It necessarily means the
Legislature permitted the delegate to provide appropriate conditions for
applicability of the excluded sections expressly mentioned in Section 43A(I).
Therefore, in view of wide scope oftlie said provision of Section 43A(3) (d) •
'·it is not possible to agree with learned senior counsel for the appellants that
the notification could not have provided for the benefit of deemed purchase
H tO sub· leases of such factories. ·Learned senior counsel for the appell3nts
K.M. MIRASDAR v. SASWAD MALI SUGAR FACTORY LTD. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J] J07
submitted that on the scheme of the parent Act apart from applicability of A
Section 43A(J) to sub-tenant even if legally permitted by the lease deeds, the
sub-tenant could not be a deemed purchaser at least till 1978 when condition
no. 7 was made applicable in its present form as during that time because of
clause (4) of 1978 notification. Section 4 did not apply due to the applicability
of Sections 14 and 27. Hence, even after 1978, he cannot get the benefit of B
- Section 4 as a deemed tenant. It is difficult to agree with this contention. The
reason is obvious. So far as the lands leased to or held by any industrial or
commercial undertaking are concerned. Section I to 87 did not apply initially.
For the first time, the legislature made some of the provisions in the Act not
applicable to such leases but applied the rest of them. While doing so, the
Legislature in its wisdom did not exclude Section 4. Thus, Section 4 without C
Sections 14 and 27 applied to such leases covered by Section 43A(l) from
the very inception of the applicability of the Act to such leases. Therefore,
it cannot be said that the further provision of deemed purchase for deemed
tenants sub-leases of such permitted sub-lettings as per 1978 notification is
in any way contrary to the scheme of the Act. On the contrary, as laid down
""~ by the Constitution Bench of this Court in the case of Sri Ram Narain Medhi D
v. The State of Bombay reported in, [1959] Supp. 1 SCR 489, wherein the
constitutionality of deemed purchase provision was upheld, the object of the
amendment was to make the tiller of the soil the owner thereof and to exclude
the intermediary landlord so as to bring the tiller in direction relationship with
the State. This being the scope and real purport of the Act, it cannot be said E
that by inserting clause (7) in the notification of 1978 a provision was sought
to be made which runs counter to the scheme of the parent Act. It is also
to be kept in view that sub-section (3) of Section 43A empowers the State
Government by notification to lay down conditions in connection with matters
referred to in sub-sections (I) and (2) thereof about the leases or lands that
would be covered by sub-sections (I) and (2). So, even if, the industrial or F
commercial undertakings may be themselves owing the lands through tenants
the latter can be made deemed purchasers by issuance of such notification
which would remain a permissible exercise. Learned senior counsel for the
appellants fairly submitted that so far as the industrial concerns themselves
being owners, had let out lands, their tenants can be legally brought within G
the scope of clause (7) of the notification of 1978. His grievance was about
sub-tenants only. So far as this grievance goes, on the scheme of the Act and
the express provision made in Section 43A(3) (d), it is not possible to
countenance it. In that view of the matter, the decision of the High Court
cannot be said to be in any way erroneous of going contrary to the scheme
of the Act. H
108 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1998] l S.C.R.

.A In the result, the appeals fail and are dismissed. However, we make it
clear that we have examined the limited controversy which was posed for our ..-.
consideration, as s~ated earlier and especially the validity of condition no. 7
of the 1978 notification. Our judgment, therefore, does not refer to any other
controversies between the parties.

B v.s.s. Appeals dismissed. ,