#legal possession

The Supreme Court ruled that when a tenant vacates premises and third parties not party to the lease take exclusive possession, it constitutes unlawful subletting under the Karnataka Rent Act, regardless of partnership deeds. This clarifies that mere business association does not equate to tenancy, empowering landlords to act against covert subletting without direct contractual evidence.

Bombay High Court holds that mere occupation as caretaker or watchman, even for decades, does not amount to settled possession under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963.