The Delhi High Court threw out a tenant’s final attempt to stay an eviction order on September 8, 2026, clearing the path for two practitioners to convert a rented premises into a law office. The bench rejected the tenant’s application for leave to defend, upholding the April 7, 2026, order passed by the Additional Rent Controller at Karkardooma Courts under Section 14(1)(e) of the Delhi Rent Control Act.
The tenant had argued the landlords changed their story. He claimed they initially wanted the space for a confectionery shop before switching to a law office, a shift he said proved the requirement was a pretext. He also pointed to other properties the family owned, suggesting they had ample space for professional work. The court found these arguments unpersuasive, noting that refining an intended use does not automatically render a claim mala fide.
Crucially, the tenant’s own pleadings undermined his case. He admitted the property originally belonged to the respondents’ grandfather, who first let it out. In eviction proceedings, a landlord does not need to prove absolute title as in a property suit; they only need to show a better title than the tenant. Adnan Siddiqui, a Partner at King Stubb and Kasiva, noted this admission made it nearly impossible for the tenant to walk back from the established landlord-tenant relationship.
The court also scrutinized the 'alternative accommodation' defense. The tenant cited a district court chamber, but the landlords proved it belonged to their late father and was too small for three advocates, including one respondent’s wife. Another property was deemed a residence, not an office, and was too far from the main court where the respondents principally practised. Two shops were excluded from the calculation because a 2016 family settlement had already allotted them to other relatives.
With the High Court’s judgment, the eviction order stands. The advocates can now take possession of the premises to establish their firm. The tenant has no further immediate recourse under this specific petition, leaving him to secure new accommodation before the landlords take control of the property.