2000 SCMR 1622 SUPREME-COURT

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AL-KARAM TRAVELS (PRIVATE) LTD. VS EAST WEST INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. Constitution of Pakistan 1973--185 , S. 13---Constitution of Pakistan (1973), Art. 185(3)---Bona fide personal need of landlord---Commercial building occupied by 36 tenants---Rent Controller ordered ejectment of such 36 tenants on the ground of bona fide need of landlord---Validity---Leave to appeal was granted by Supreme Court to examine the contention of tenants that landlord had failed to establish its bona fides; that landlord required entire building in good faith inasmuch as landlord Company's Managing Director, who appeared as a witness, was neither aware of the built up area of the building nor could specify the additional space required by the landlord company for its office, which information were vital for determining the actual need of the landlord company and its bona fides, that during the pendency of the eviction proceedings landlord company purchased another building in the city but failed to explain as to why that additional accommodation would not be enough to meet its requirement and that the eviction of such large number of tenants at the same time was not justified in law---Operation of the impugned judgment was ordered to remain suspended by Supreme Court and status quo to continue till the disposal of appeals of the tenants.