MRS. Y. SINNIAHPILLAI, Appellant, and M. A. C. S. ABDUL CADER, Respondent

121-NLR-NLR-V-69-MRS.-Y.-SINNIAHPILLAI-Appellant-and-M.-A.-C.-S.-ABDUL-CADER-Respondent.pdf


Sinniahpiilai v. Abdul Coder
54 7
1967 Present: H. N. G. Fernando, C.J., and Sirimane, J.Mbs. Y. SINNIAHPILLAI, Appellant, and M. A. C. S. ABDULCADER, RespondentS. G. 461164—D. C. Jaffna, 1G02IL
Bent Restriction Act—Overpaid rents—Right of tenant to set them off against arrears ofrent.
In computing whether a tenant is in arrears of rent, credit must be given tothe tenant for excess payments of rent made during the three years precedingthe date when he stopped paying rent.;
Wijetekcra v. Kanapathipillai (65 N.LJt. 676) not followed.
548
H. N. G. FERNANDO, C.J.—Sinniahpillai v. Abdul Coder
_^PPEAL from a judgment of the District Court, Jaffna.
C. Ranganathaan, Q.C., with K. Sivanunthan, R. Nalllah and
P.S. Thuraiyappah, for the defendant-appellant.
H. W. Jayewardene, Q.C., with R. Manikkavasagar, for the plaintiff-respondent.
June 4, 1967. H. N. G. Fernando, C.J.—
Counsel are agreed that if credit must be given to the defendant forexcess payments of rent made during the three years preceding the datewhen the tenant stopped paying rent, it cannot be said that the tenantwas in arrears when the action was filed. Following the decisions in47 N. L. R. page 62, and in 57 N. L. R. page 108, we are of opinionthat the landlord should have appropriated excess payments of rentagainst rent due during the period during which the tenant did not makeactual payments. We are not inclined to follow the judgment of Pulle, J.in 55 N. L. R. page 575.
The decree appealed from is set aside and the plaintiff’s action isdismissed with costs in both Courts.
Sirimane, J.—I agree.
Appeal allowed.