Anushka Mansharamani
The division bench comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh stayed the execution of eviction notice served on Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gaekwad for the property that was occupied by his family and him in New Delhi.
The stay was permitted on subject to a payment of Rs. 10 Lakhs per month as a deposit. This deposit has to be made until the court passes an order on the stay application or the main appeal filed.
Chief Justice DN Patel stated that the deposit amount was to be treated as a deposit and not rent.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s family occupied the property since he was served as a Member of Parliament.
In August 2002 they were served with an eviction notice, however, they received it back by September 2002.
They occupied the property by making a payment of Rs. 7,500 per month as lease rental amount.
The counsel representing the Maharaja Ranjit Singh family stated that the lease amount was paid up to do to which Chief Justice DN Patel stated that, “This is Delhi, not a village in Baroda.”
Therefore the bench passed a stay order subject to a monthly deposit until the verdict was passed on the stay application or the Letters Patent Appeal.
The counsel, agreed to the depositing amount and the court stated that the amount received would be used for public welfare.