BHATIA CO-OPERATIVE HOUSINGSOCIETY LTD. vs D. C. PATEL.

The Supreme Court interpreted Section 4(1) of the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1947, establishing that the Act's exemption for government or local authority premises applies to suits by a lessee against a sub-lessee. The Court held that the building constructed by the lessee belonged to the local authority, thus affirming the jurisdiction of the City Civil Court to hear the case. The judgment clarified that civil courts possess inherent jurisdiction to determine their own jurisdiction, even if they ultimately find they lack it.