RAKAPALLI RAJA RAMA GOPALA RAO vs NARAGANI GOVINDA SEHARARAO & ANR.

The Supreme Court held that under Section 10(2) of the A.P. Buildings (Lease, Rent & Eviction) Control Act, 1960, a tenant's default in rent payment must be shown to be wilful, meaning intentional, deliberate, and conscious. The Court found that the appellant's non-payment was based on a bona fide belief of entitlement to purchase the property under an oral agreement, thus ruling that his default was not wilful. Consequently, the Court allowed the appeal and set aside the eviction order against the appellant.