MANGAT RAI & ANR. vs KIDAR NATH & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that Section 31 of the Relief of Indebtedness Act, 1934 applies broadly to all persons owing money, including tenants in arrears of rent, allowing them to deposit owed amounts in court. The Court emphasized that this provision creates a statutory mechanism for debt management, ensuring that deposits made by tenants are treated as payments to landlords under the Rent Act. The judgment overruled previous interpretations that limited the scope of Section 31, affirming that tenants are considered debtors under the Act and can benefit from its provisions.