KANNAN & ANR. vs TAMIL TALIR KALVI KAZHAGAM

The Supreme Court examined the applicability of Section 9(3) of the Pondicherry Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1969, in the context of a dispute between tenants and their landlord regarding the proper recipient of rent payments. The Court held that the tenants were justified in depositing the rent due to the bona fide confusion over whom to pay, stemming from a leadership dispute within the landlord organization. Consequently, the tenants were not considered defaulters and could not be evicted based on the landlord's claims.