P. ORR AND SONS (P) LTD. vs ASSOCIATED PUBLISHERS (MADRAS) LIMITED

The Supreme Court held that Section 14(1)(b) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960 requires the landlord to demonstrate a bona fide requirement for immediate demolition of the building. The Court clarified that while the structural condition of the building is a factor, it is not the sole determinant; the landlord's intention for timely demolition and reconstruction must be established. The Court allowed the tenant's appeal, emphasizing that the eviction cannot be justified solely on the landlord's economic motives without evidence of the building's unsafe condition.