Sivarajasingham v. Sivasubramaniam – 1978_79_80 volume 1 page 327

In the case between Sivarajasingham (Plaintiff-Appellant) and Sivasubramaniam (Defendant-Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the proportionate rent fixed by the Rent Control Board for a part of premises let prior to the commencement of the Rent Act No. 7 of 1972 should be given retrospective effect from the date of letting (1.9.71) or operate only from the date of the Act’s enforcement (1.3.1972). It was held that the Rent Control Board’s order fixing the proportionate rent becomes operative solely from the commencement date of the Act, and does not apply retrospectively. The principle reaffirmed is that rent determination orders under the Rent Act have prospective operation unless the statute explicitly provides for retroactivity. Reliance was placed on statutory interpr