Lucknow | May 29, 2025 — In a landmark ruling, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has imposed a penalty of ₹15 lakh on a tenant for deliberately stalling the eviction process of a property for over four decades. The court observed that an entire generation was deprived of its rightful claim to the property due to prolonged litigation.
The case concerns a property located on Faizabad Road in the capital city. According to court records, the tenant, identified as the Vohra Brothers, stopped paying rent in 1969. When the property owner, Kasturi Devi, requested them to vacate in 1981, the tenants instead dragged the matter into legal proceedings. In 1982, Kasturi Devi filed an official release petition, which eventually reached the High Court by 1992.
After nearly 30 years, the High Court has finally dismissed the petition filed by the Vohra Brothers and instructed the District Magistrate of Lucknow to recover the ₹15 lakh penalty within two months. The court further ordered that legal action be initiated if the amount is not paid within the stipulated time.
“A Generation Denied Justice”
While delivering the judgment, the court strongly criticized the tenants, stating that their actions had effectively denied an entire generation of the rightful use and ownership of the property. The bench emphasized that the litigation appeared to have been pursued with the sole intention of retaining control over the property.
Background of the Dispute
The property owner, Kasturi Devi, had initially requested the tenants to vacate the house so that her son could start a business there. However, not only did the Vohra Brothers refuse to leave, but they also stopped paying rent — which was a mere ₹1,887 per month — and filed lawsuits aimed at asserting continued possession.
The court concluded that the tenants’ conduct amounted to an abuse of the legal system and a deliberate attempt to usurp the property under the guise of tenancy.
With this verdict, the decades-long legal tussle appears to be drawing to a close, offering long-awaited relief to the rightful owners.
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